"I even have the impression that we're being walked over” – French legend Jeannie Longo left with negative feeling after Tour de France Femmes
Cycling
Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt ended
decades of French yearning for a home champion by claiming victory at the 2025
Tour de France Femmes. The 33-year-old sealed the win in dominant fashion,
capturing the final two stages to secure the yellow jersey ahead of Dutch rival
Demi Vollering. Her win marks a milestone moment for French cycling, especially
given the long drought in their premier event. But while Ferrand-Prévôt is
rightly being celebrated, there’s a growing chorus reminding fans not to forget
who came before her.
"I was a bit depressed just
now listening to the commentary on France Info," said Jeannie Longo in an
interview with L'Équipe. "It was said that she might become the first
French winner of the Tour since Bernard Hinault (in 1985). While I won again in
1989 (after having already won in 1987 and 1988)."
Longo’s frustration is rooted in a
broader erasure. Despite being the last French rider to win a Tour de France, her
third title coming in 1989, she's often omitted from historical discussions.
“Yes, I even have the impression that we're being walked over...” said the
13-time world champion when asked if she feels forgotten.
Hinault’s last Tour win came four
decades ago, in 1985, and while his name is still venerated, Longo’s titles in
the women’s Tour have largely faded from mainstream memory. The Tour de France
Femmes was revived in 2022, with this year marking its fourth modern edition,
but that shouldn't erase the race’s earlier incarnations, or Longo’s place in
them.
Ferrand-Prévôt’s path to the top
step of the podium was hardly conventional. A dominant figure across multiple
cycling disciplines, she is a five-time mountain bike world champion, as well
as a world champion in gravel, cyclocross, and road racing. She won the Olympic
mountain bike gold in 2024 and returned to road racing this year with one clear
goal: win the Tour. After finishing second at the Tour of Flanders and claiming
a commanding win at Paris-Roubaix, she achieved exactly that.
Read also
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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