Kim Le Court-Pienaar, a 29-year-old Mauritian cyclist, sprinted to victory on stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes 2025 on Wednesday, becoming the first African to win a stage in the world’s biggest cycling race.
The 165.8 km stage, the longest of the nine-day event, ended in a fierce sprint in Guéret, where Le Court outpaced favorites like Demi Vollering and Katarzyna Niewiadoma.
Reclaiming the Yellow Jersey
With her win, Le Court reclaimed the yellow jersey, marking her as the overall race leader. She previously wore the yellow jersey after stage 2, a historic first for an African cyclist. “It’s been a dream start to the Tour.
The stage win, the yellow jersey—I wasn’t even thinking about it when we started in Brittany,” Le Court told BBC Sport Africa.
Early Challenges in Cycling
Le Court started cycling young in Mauritius, inspired by her parents and brother. However, her early European stint in 2015–2016 proved tough. “My teammates still laugh about my results back then. I came last every day and was just surviving,” she shared.
Financial struggles and limited support forced her return to Africa, where she honed her skills in South Africa and found success in mountain bike racing.
Return to Elite Road Racing
Her passion for road racing never faded. In 2024, Le Court joined the AG Insurance-Soudal team and made history by winning a stage at the Giro d’Italia Women, the first African to achieve this in a Grand Tour.
She also became the first African to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April 2025. “I’m super hungry for more and for new beginnings,” she said.
Aiming for Overall Glory
The 2025 Tour de France Femmes marks Le Court’s first attempt to win the overall classification. The nine-stage race spans 1,165 km with 17,240 meters of elevation gain, culminating on August 3. “I don’t know my limits in the mountains,” she admitted, eyeing the challenging climbs ahead, including the Col de la Madeleine.
Inspiring African Cyclists
Le Court’s success inspires young African riders like Georgette Vignonfodo and Tsige Kahsay, part of the UCI’s Africa 2025 project. “She embodies courage and talent,” Vignonfodo said.
Le Court aims to grow African cycling, stating, “It’s never been about being the first African. I want to keep pushing the sport forward.” Her stage win and yellow jersey elevate Mauritius and African cycling on the global stage.
Teamwork and Strategy
Le Court credited her AG Insurance-Soudal team, especially teammate Sarah Gigante, for her stage 5 win. “We had a clear plan: stay safe early, then go for the bonus sprint and stage victory. My kick was the fastest,” she said.
Despite a risky early celebration, she held off Vollering by half a wheel in a photo-finish sprint.
What Lies Ahead
With four stages remaining, Le Court leads the general classification by 18 seconds over Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, with Vollering 23 seconds back.
The upcoming mountain stages will test her limits, but her focus and grit make her a strong contender for the final yellow jersey.
Armenian Dram
Ghana Cedi
Gambian Dalasi
Guinea Franc
Nigerian Naira
CFA Franc BEAC
