Kim Le Court-Pienaar has etched her name into the history books by becoming the first African woman to win a stage and wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes. Born in Mauritius to a Mauritian father and Scottish mother, the 29-year-old cyclist originally made her name in mountain biking before transitioning fully to road racing in early 2024.
After joining AG Insurance–Soudal, Kim Le Court-Pienaar experienced a breakout season, notching victories in races like Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes and stage wins in the Giro d’Italia Women. Her rapid progress and all-round ability have made her a formidable presence in the women’s WorldTour circuit—culminating in her historic appearance and triumph in the 2025 edition of the Tour de France Femmes.
Stage 5 Victory: A Game-Changer
Stage 5 of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, a grueling 165.8 km route from Chasseneuil-du-Poitou to Guéret, became a defining moment in Kim Le Court-Pienaar’s career. Battling through a crash-strewn final 30 km and three late climbs, she surged ahead in a dramatic photo-finish sprint, edging out defending champion Demi Vollering to seize her first Tour stage win.
Notably, she claimed 26 bonus seconds through intermediate sprints and the stage win—critical gains that propelled her to the overall lead by 18 seconds ahead of Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Without those bonuses, she would have trailed in fourth place (Cycling News).
Despite a premature celebration just before the finish line, Le Court-Pienaar held on. “I’m glad for my sake that I didn’t embarrass myself,” she said post-stage. “Next time, I’ll keep sprinting to the line for sure”.
Rising Confidence and Mountain Tests Ahead
Kim Le Court-Pienaar’s rapid ascent has instilled both belief and cautious optimism within her team. Speaking to VeloNews, she admitted to growing in confidence every day but is taking the Tour “one step at a time.” The AG Insurance–Soudal team has been pivotal, especially with strong support from teammate Sarah Gigante, who helped lead her out during Stage 5’s decisive sprint.
However, tougher tests lie ahead. With reigning champion Kasia Niewiadoma, Ferrand-Prévot, and Vollering still in contention, the upcoming mountain stages—including summit finishes at Col de la Madeleine and Col de Joux Plane—will determine if Le Court-Pienaar can hold the yellow jersey and achieve an even greater milestone: winning the Tour de France Femmes.
From an underdog to a contender, Kim Le Court-Pienaar is not just racing for personal glory but redefining what’s possible for African cycling on the world stage.
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