Ferrand-Prévot Dominates Col de la Madeleine, Takes Overall Lead in Tour de France Women’s Stage 8

Ferrand-Prévot Dominates Stage 8 of Tour de France Femmes,seizes Overall Lead

BREAKING NEWS: pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) delivered a commanding performance on stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes,crossing the finish line solo to claim a crucial victory and ascend to the top of the general classification. The French powerhouse attacked with 5km remaining, shedding all challengers to secure a notable time advantage heading into the race finale.

Ferrand-Prévot’s decisive move came after she bridged to the early leaders, overcoming a challenging climb on the col de la Madeleine. Supported by strong teamwork from her Visma-Lease a Bike teammates, including Justine Ghekiere and Marion Bunel who provided vital assistance in the early stages, Ferrand-Prévot demonstrated exceptional strength and tactical acumen. She dropped her last remaining breakaway companion, kim cadzow (now identified as Fisher-Black in the original text), with a powerful acceleration in the closing kilometers, solidifying her claim on the yellow jersey.

This remarkable stage win sees Ferrand-prévot now leading the overall standings by a substantial margin. She holds a 2:37 lead over second-placed rider Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek), who finished fourth on the day, and a 3:18 advantage over Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), who battled valiantly but was unable to match Ferrand-Prévot’s late surge. Last year’s winner, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM), finished eighth on the day, 3:26 behind the stage winner.

Evergreen Insights:

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s victory is a testament to the power of consistent effort and strategic execution in endurance sports. Her ability to not only follow attacks but to initiate and sustain her own powerful moves highlights the importance of peak physical conditioning combined with mental fortitude,particularly in the demanding habitat of a Grand Tour. The tactical support provided by her teammates underscores the basic principle that success in professional cycling is a collective endeavor, with strong domestique work often being the unseen engine of individual triumphs. As the Tour de France Femmes heads into its final stages, Ferrand-Prévot’s commanding lead offers a compelling narrative of resilience and dominance, reminding us that in cycling, as in many challenges, the critical moments frequently enough demand a surge of individual brilliance built on a foundation of unwavering team support.

What tactical adjustments did other teams need to make after Ferrand-Prévot’s attack on the Col de la Madeleine?

Stage 8 Recap: A Climber’s Triumph

Judith Ferrand-Prévot (FDJ-SUEZ) delivered a stunning performance on Stage 8 of the 2025 Tour de france Femmes avec Zwift,conquering the formidable Col de la Madeleine and seizing the yellow jersey. The 138km stage, starting in Saint-Sauveur and finishing in La Toussuire, proved decisive, showcasing the strength of the climbers and reshaping the general classification. Ferrand-prévot’s victory wasn’t just about power; it was a masterclass in pacing and tactical awareness.

Key Moments of the Stage

The decisive action unfolded on the slopes of the Col de la Madeleine. Here’s a breakdown of the pivotal moments:

Early breakaway: A group of six riders established a breakaway early in the stage, building a lead of over three minutes. This included riders like Yara Kastelijn and Silke Eckle, hoping to contest the stage win.

Madeleine Ascent: As the peloton approached the Col de la Madeleine, the pace intensified. Several contenders began to show their climbing prowess.

Ferrand-Prévot’s Attack: With approximately 5km remaining on the Madeleine, Ferrand-prévot launched a powerful attack, instantly distancing herself from the leading group. Her acceleration was relentless.

Chasing Pack: Annemiek van Vleuten (Liv AlUla Jayco) and Juliette Labous (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) attempted to respond,but Ferrand-Prévot’s pace proved to strong.

Solo Victory: Ferrand-Prévot crested the summit and descended with a cozy lead, securing a solo victory and the coveted yellow jersey.

General Classification Shake-Up

Ferrand-Prévot’s win dramatically altered the general classification (GC).

New Leader: Judith Ferrand-Prévot now leads the GC with a time of 32 hours, 15 minutes, and 42 seconds.

Van Vleuten Falls Behind: Annemiek van Vleuten, previously in the lead, finished second on the stage, 1 minute and 18 seconds behind Ferrand-Prévot, dropping to second 1 minute and 12 seconds down.

Labous Remains a threat: Juliette Labous maintained a strong position, finishing third on the stage and remaining third 1 minute and 45 seconds behind the new race leader.

Top 5 GC: The current top 5 in the general classification are:

1. Judith ferrand-Prévot (FDJ-SUEZ)

2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Liv AlUla Jayco)

3. Juliette Labous (DSM-firmenich PostNL)

4. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance – Soudal Team)

5.Demi Vollering (SD Worx Protime)

The Col de la Madeleine: A Stage 8 Decider

The col de la Madeleine, a first-category climb, was the defining feature of Stage 8.Its challenging gradient and length (19km with an average gradient of 8.1%) separated the contenders from the pretenders. This iconic climb has a history of shaping the outcome of the Tour de France, and today, it did the same for the women’s race.The altitude and sustained effort demanded exceptional endurance and climbing ability.Analyzing the climb data – power output, cadence, and heart rate – will be crucial for teams to understand their riders’ performance and adjust their strategies.

FDJ-SUEZ’s tactical Masterclass

FDJ-SUEZ executed a near-perfect team strategy.they controlled the pace for much of the stage, ensuring their leader, Ferrand-Prévot, was well-positioned for the crucial climb.

Protecting the Leader: The team shielded Ferrand-Prévot from the wind and conserved her energy.

Setting the Tempo: they increased the pace on the lower slopes of the Madeleine, softening up the competition.

Supporting the Attack: Once ferrand-prévot launched her attack, the team continued to support her, preventing any organized chase.

Looking Ahead: Stages 9 & 10

The Tour de France Femmes avec zwift is far from over. Stages 9 and 10 promise further challenges:

stage 9 (La Toussuire to Les Gets): A mountainous stage with multiple climbs, offering opportunities for attacks and further GC changes. Expect a battle between the leading contenders.

Stage 10 (Les Gets to Morzine): Another challenging mountain stage, featuring the Col de Joux Plane, a notoriously arduous climb. This stage could be the final prospect for