"Winning the Tour de France Femmes is ultimate" – Vos celebrates Ferrand-Prévot and a perfect Tour for Visma

Marianne Vos didn’t need the yellow jersey at the end of the Tour to feel like a winner. The Dutch legend lit up the opening days of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, taking stage 1 in emphatic fashion, wearing yellow, and finishing second in the points classification. But for Vos and Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the greatest moment came with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s historic overall victory, making her the first Frenchwoman since 1989 to win the race. It was a result that crowned a dominant week for the Dutch squad and showcased a complete team performance from start to finish.

"This is incredible, this is a very special moment in my career," Vos told Wielerflits after the final stage in Châtel Les Portes du Soleil. "Winning the Tour de France Femmes is ultimate. Pauline is finishing it, but being part of such a team is very special."

Ferrand-Prévot closed the race with back-to-back stage wins, including a dramatic solo effort in the finale of both weekend stages. Her attack came with just seven kilometres to go, after teammate Juliette Labous had been dropped and the group stalled. It was a moment of strength from the French rider, who immediately opened a gap and never looked back.

"This morning, I told my sports directors that I would like to win in the yellow jersey. When the opportunity arose, I thought: why not? I attacked and immediately opened up a gap," Ferrand-Prévot said. "The last five kilometres were very painful, but fortunately I was able to hold on until the finish. Finishing my first Tour de France with a stage win in the yellow jersey is the best feeling ever."

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Earlier in the day, Ferrand-Prévot had found herself in trouble on a descent, stuck in a second group. The situation could have unravelled quickly, but her teammates were alert and selfless. "On the descent, I was a little too far behind, so I ended up in a second peloton. I asked my teammates if they would wait for me, and they did a great job of closing the gap. I am extremely grateful to each and every one of them," she said.

Vos, a multiple-time world champion herself, was full of praise for her teammate, not just for her physical performance, but for who she is behind the scenes. "Pauline is a really good teammate, and a great person. She's very driven, and her professionalism is truly top-notch. But above all, she's a very kind, sweet girl," Vos said. "She's shown what she's capable of, but the others aren't going to sit still either. That creates a really great dynamic and a really great Tour."

Team manager Richard Plugge echoed the sentiment, emphasising the collective nature of the win. "The plan was to be on the podium after nine days, but to be on the top is absolutely fantastic," Plugge said. "We knew Pauline had the ability to go for a top result, but you still have to do it. You need to be tough to climb the Col de la Madeleine as fast as she did yesterday. The team worked extremely well, and it just goes to show: you can't win without a team."

Ferrand-Prévot’s victory capped off an unforgettable Tour for Visma. Vos kicked things off with a sprint victory and wore yellow early, and every rider contributed to one of the most cohesive and effective performances in recent women’s stage racing. In the end, the final image was Ferrand-Prévot crossing the line alone, arms raised, the Maillot Jaune hers. But the whole team around her, including Vos, had a huge part to play.