Historic Win for Le Court-Pienaar at Tour de France Femmes
Mauritian cyclist Kim Le Court-Pienaar made history on Wednesday, becoming the first African rider to win a stage at the prestigious Tour de France Femmes. The 29-year-old secured victory in the fifth stage, a grueling 166 km ride that was the longest in this year’s edition, and reclaimed the yellow jersey, signifying her new status as the overall race leader.
In a thrilling sprint finish, Le Court-Pienaar outpaced strong contenders like Dutchwoman Demi Vollering and Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma. “It’s been a dream start to the Tour, with the stage win and the yellow jersey. I still can’t believe it,” she said, expressing her disbelief at her early success.
Le Court-Pienaar’s journey to the top of women’s cycling has been marked by determination and resilience. She began cycling in her native Mauritius at a young age, inspired by her parents and older brother. However, coming from a relatively small island nation in Africa, the dream of turning professional in Europe seemed distant.
In 2015-16, Le Court-Pienaar ventured to Europe but found the experience challenging. “It was extremely hard for me at first,” she admitted to BBC Sport Africa. Finances and lack of support structures forced her return to Africa, where she rediscovered her form and a love for mountain bike racing in South Africa.
Yet, the dream of elite road racing never faded. Securing a contract with the Belgian team AG Insurance–Soudal for 2024 and winning a stage at the Giro d’Italia Donne in July of that year, Le Court-Pienaar’s star began to rise. “I’m super hungry for more and for new beginnings,” she declared, foreshadowing her current success.
Looking ahead, Le Court-Pienaar aims to win the overall classification in a stage race for the first time at the Tour de France Femmes in 2025. With the construct of this year’s Tour totaling an unprecedented 1165 km and approximately 17,2 km of elevation gain across nine stages, her ambition is no small feat.
Cyclists in this year’s Tour face a significant challenge, but the feats of Le Court-Pienaar serve as a reminder that with courage, perseverance, and a touch of magic, even the seemingly impossible can be achieved. The 2022 Tour de France Femmes continues, with its second half poised to deliver more thrilling moments on two wheels.
