Kim Le Court Aims for Yellow Jersey Glory at Tour de France Femmes

A Historic Moment for Kim Le Court

Kim Le Court crossed the finish line in Quimper on stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes, expecting to return to the team bus and cool down after securing a podium spot but falling short of the top step. What she didn’t anticipate was the arrival of a yellow jersey waiting for her. This unexpected twist came after she earned a time bonus, moving her into a tie with stage 1 winner Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) on overall time, and ultimately taking the race lead via a tie-breaker.

“I couldn’t believe it. To be honest, I’m still in shock,” said Le Court. Her AG Insurance-Soudal team had a clear strategy to chase the yellow jersey, and finishing third on the stage was enough to close the gap on Vos, who had previously beaten her on stage 1. The tie-breaker resulted in Le Court wearing the yellow jersey, making her the first non-European, African, and Mauritian rider to do so in the rebranded Tour de France Femmes.

“It’s never been on my mind that I want to be the first African,” said Le Court. “It’s a goal that we have with the team and with myself to achieve to wear yellow… but to achieve that is extremely special, and I want to try and keep growing African Cycling.”

While wearing the yellow jersey for a day is a significant accomplishment, the real challenge lies in maintaining it. “Of course, we knew that Kim was in really good shape. She felt strong physically and mentally,” said team sports director Jolien D’Hoore. “But we’ve just got to take it day by day. Right now, it’s day two, and she has yellow, which is pretty remarkable for us as a team and for Kim. We couldn’t imagine having it, but now that we do, we have to defend it.”

The next few stages will test the riders’ endurance. Two expected sprint stages are ahead, followed by hilly terrain on stage 5, leading into the mountains on stage 6. This will present a major GC (General Classification) challenge for all contenders, especially Le Court. The toughest test of all comes on stage 8.

“We have to focus on the last weekend,” said D’Hoore. “The last weekend is really hard with Col de la Madeleine, but also on the last day, a lot can happen. So, we’re ready for it.”

Le Court has been in excellent form this season, with a Liège-Bastogne-Liège win and a stage victory at the Tour of Britain, adding to her impressive performance over the last two days. However, the question remains: how will the 29-year-old handle the longer climbs?

The team is hopeful that Le Court will benefit from her training block at altitude, which was specifically designed to prepare her for the demands of the Tour de France Femmes. “Now she’s better than ever,” said D’Hoore. “So I think it was good preparation. Also, mentally, she’s in a good space. So, bring it on.”

Team Strategy and Other Prospects

Le Court isn’t the only GC contender for AG Insurance-Soudal. The team is also looking to support Sarah Gigante, an incredible climber who recently finished third overall at the Giro d'Italia Women and secured two mountain top stage wins. While Le Court excels on flat terrain, Gigante thrives in the hills, making her a valuable asset for the team.

However, the challenge lies in positioning Gigante correctly for the key stages. She is still working on developing her bunch skills, following several career interruptions, including recent surgery for iliac artery endofibrosis.

“I asked the team to work for Kim today, but I always put one rider next to Sarah to help her,” said D’Hoore. “For example, today she was in the second peloton, and I sacrificed two riders to get her back in the first peloton so we have to adapt a little bit sometimes.”

Despite these challenges, the team remains optimistic about Gigante’s potential. She finished seventh overall in her debut at the Tour de France Femmes in 2024 and is currently within the top 20, just 39 seconds behind her yellow-clad teammate.

“The Giro was a bit of a cherry on the cake; she showed that she was the best climber actually,” said D’Hoore. “So we can’t wait to see what she can do in the Tour.”