Mascots, dogs, and cogs: The Tour de France Femmes 2025
Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka of Poland is consoled by her coach after being forced to withdraw due to illness. Photograph:Obligatory sunflower photo: the peloton passing through the flowery landscape on stage five. Photograph: TimMarie Le Net of France signals to her team from the middle of the peloton. Photograph:Gladys Verhulst-Wild celebrates after her teammate Kim Le Court claims the stage five win (and the yellow jersey). Photograph:Pauline Ferrand-Prévot signs autographs for fans ahead of stage six. Photograph:Nadia Quagliotto of Italy shoots some footage before the start of stage six. Photograph: TimFrench riders Dilyxine Miermont and Alison Avoine embrace at the end of the mountainous stage. Photograph:Just paw-fect: Alice Maria Arzuffi of Italy brings along her dog. Photograph:Justine Ghekiere of Belgium is flat out after a hard day in the Alps. Photograph: TimMauritius rider Kim Le Court looks relieved after holding on to the yellow jersey after a tough day in the saddle Photograph: Julien de Rosa/AFP/Getty Images
A spectator has a good view of the passing peloton. Photograph: Julien de Rosa/AFP/Getty Images
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot celebrates after winning the penultimate stage and taking possession of the yellow jersey. Photograph: Julien de Rosa/AFP/Getty Images
Fans of yellow jersey holder Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Photograph: TimSpectators line the route. Photograph: TimSupporters applaud as yellow jersey holder Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and other riders climb the Joux Plane pass. Photograph: Julien de Rosa/AFP/Getty Images
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is overcome with emotion after winning the final stage and become the first French rider to claim the Tour de France Femmes.
Photograph: Pauline Ballet/A.S.O.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
1,001 days and counting - unbeatable England in ideal World Cup shape
One thousand and one days and is how long it has been since England lost a match, which heartbreakingly came in the final of the 2022 World Cup against hosts and perennial champions New is a winning streak that now stretches to 27 games following a comprehensive 40-6 away victory in France, which served as England's final warm-up before the home 2025 World this was a win which, perhaps more than any of the previous 26, sends a statement that the Red Roses are the team to are no slouches. Ranked fourth in the world, they pushed England all the way in a 43-42 thriller during the Six Nations in April. There is a strong possibility these sides will meet at Ashton Gate in Bristol for a World Cup this England side, bursting with physicality, confidence and a sense of destiny, chose this moment to register their biggest winning margin over the French for 30 matches, a run stretching back to 2009."What a psychological blow to Les Bleues that could be," Nick Heath, commentating on BBC iPlayer, said."You got the sense that was a demoralising defeat for the home side. John Mitchell's side have truly dispatched this France team."This XV which started at Stade Andre et Guy Boniface in Mont-de-Marsan is likely to be very similar to the one which commences the World Cup campaign in 13 days' time against the United States at the Stadium of Light in were 11 changes to the team which hammered Spain 97-7, including world player of the year Ellie Kildunne returning to the back was not able to add to a record of 14 tries in her last 10 Tests, but she showed moments that indicate why she could be the star of the World may still have decisions to make over his starting XV, with some big names missing and this match serving as a final audition for some and a dress rehearsal for others. 'England were in total control' One player who stole the spotlight and perhaps inked their name on the cast list for opening night is fly-half Zoe of four players to keep their starting spot from the win over Spain, Harrison did not let seeing her first conversion rebound off the posts to put her off.A large part of England's success in France came through kicking for the corner, dominating the line-out then rolling a maul over the tryline. Harrison's kicking was pinpoint and lengthy, allowing the plan to Aitchison has been the main rival for the 10 shirt in recent years, but Harrison has definitely put her best foot forward in the run up to the World spots are uncertain. Only one of the six tries was scored by a back - centre Megan Jones. Given their wealth of riches in that area, they should produce of course we have been here before. During the last World Cup England were on a long winning run and reliant on tries scored via power, they will need to find other routes in August and are players to return. Wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Aitchison, contenders for starting spots in a first-choice backline, are still managing knocks, as is veteran centre Emily Scarratt, who suffered a head injury before her fifth World may be asking for daily medical updates on those the forwards, it was all positive in the south of France. Following such a dominant display and some standout moments from open-side Sadia Kabeya, it will be fascinating to see if Marlie Packer returns to the back 35-year-old flanker is a Red Roses legend, but was not missed amid a suspension because of her red card against far as headaches go, these are fairly mild for Mitchell. A few things to tidy up, with a mind on those painful final losses to New Zealand, but these are minor script tweaks, not a full rewrite."It wasn't all perfect, but you always felt England were in total control," Rachael Burford - part of the only England side to win the World Cup in 2014 - told the BBC."England had to be patient, they used their kicking game at times."But coming out on top against a good French side - they were really physically challenged today - it puts them in a good position for the start of their World Cup campaign."When the 2025 World Cup final comes around on 27 September in Twickenham there is every reason for England fans to hope and expect their team will be there - and can extend their winning streak to 1,050 days.
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Lark Atkin-Davies doubles up in Red Roses' power-packed win over France
England stormed to a 16th consecutive win over France in their final warmup match before the World Cup kicks off in two weeks. After a close-run Six Nations finale in April England's 6-40 win in Mont-de-Marsan was a reminder of the physical gulf between the cross-Channel rivals, with the visitors' pack instrumental in all six of their tries. It was fitting that the game, a friendly only in name, was scheduled amid the street festival season in south-west France – matches against Les Bleues are rarely dull affairs, even if the Red Roses have dominated Le Crunch for the last seven years. Both teams fielded relatively full-strength sides at the Stade André-et-Guy Boniface, home to the men's Pro D2 side Stade Montois. For John Mitchell's team, Marlie Packer's suspension and the head injury absence of Emily Scarratt were compensated for by the returns of Ellie Kildunne and the captain, Zoe Aldcroft. For Les Bleues, the scrum-half Pauline Bourdon-Sansus was the major absentee, as she serves a two-match suspension for criticism of the refereeing in the French domestic final. The hosts were keen to avoid the kind of lethargic start that has often cost them dear against elite teams. England, though, picked up where they left off in the 97-7 win over Spain, with a physically dominant start, spending most of the first 40 minutes in France's half. France Bourgeois; Grisez, Ménager (Cissokho 59), Neisen, Arbey; Arbez (Tuy 66), Chambon; T Feleu, Champon (Queyroi 66), Escudero, Fall, Raclot (Ikahehegi 70), M Feleu (Maka 59), Bernadou (Khalfaoui h/t), Bigot (Riffoneau 50), Deshaye (Brosseau 50). Sin-bin M Feleu 29. Pen Bourgeois (2). England Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach (Sing 72); Harrison, Hunt; Matthews, Kabeya (Ward 63), Aldcroft, Ward (Galligan 56), Talling (Feunati 56), Muir (Bern 56), Cokayne (Atkin-Davies 56), Botterman (Clifford 56). Tries Talling, Cokayne, Muir, Jones, Atkin-Davies (2). Cons Harrison (5) Referee Aimée Barrett-Theron (SA). The visitors were ahead within four minutes, Morwenna Talling scoring from a driving maul on the left after a lineout five metres out. The Red Roses' second try 10 minutes later came from the same routine, this time from the right and scored by Amy Cokayne. While Les Bleues did admirably to withstand the barrage of England attacks over the next 15 minutes, they were dealt another blow when their captain, Manaé Feleu, was shown a yellow card on the half-hour mark. France managed their first foray into England's 22 a few minutes later, yielding a penalty converted by Morgane Bourgeois. The Six Nations champions eventually made the most of their numerical advantage, though, with another driving maul seeing Maud Muir over the line. As has often been the case recent Le Crunch clashes, France emerged for the second half with a newfound urgency. Bourgeois added another three points within minutes of the restart, after an impressive drive through the heart of the England defence by Teani Feleu. England soon added a fourth try to dash any hopes of a comeback, though, with Megan Jones running in after a quick penalty from a five-metre scrum. The final half-hour was nevertheless a more balanced affair, with France stretching the opposition defence several times but undermining their efforts with repeated handling errors and poor discipline. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Momentum swung back in England's direction in the final 10 minutes. After being held up by excellent France defence a couple of times, Atkin-Davies eventually went over for the visitors' fifth try five minutes from time. The Bristol front-rower soon scored her second. A late break from Joanna Grisez, appeared to promise a consolation try, taking Les Bleues to within five metres of the try-line. The resulting penalty was taken quickly, but a long kick straight into touch dashed any hopes of a score to get the 7,500-strong crowd back on their feet. While both sets of coaches had insisted before the match that the final result would not be their primary concern, a 16th consecutive win for England over France (and their biggest in 15 years) will provide vindication of the work done over their summer-long training camp. For the hosts, their lone warm-up match offered something of a reality check as to the physical and technical domination of the teams they have been aiming to rival. The two sides are expected to meet again in five weeks' time, this time in Bristol for a blockbuster World Cup semi-final. Before then, England face the USA in Sunderland on 22 August in the tournament's curtain-raiser, while Les Bleues take on Italy in Exeter the following day.
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Mason Greenwood has shirt ripped by Tyrone Mings as friendly boils over
In a moment that tears at the term 'friendly', Marseille's Mason Greenwood was flung around by Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings, resulting in a ripped shirt. THINGS GOT HEATED AT THE END OF THE OM MATCH BETWEEN MASON GREENWOOD, MINGS, AND ONANA! 👀 Mason was just playing around their defense tonight 😂 — Kara (@UTDKara) August 9, 2025 During the pre-season match at Stade Vélodrome in the south of France, the former Manchester United striker needlessly kicked out at Amadou Onana as he was passing the ball away. The whistle went for the foul, Onana picked himself up, and questioned a laughing Greenwood. Which is when Mings, 32, arrived on the scene. Getting between the pair, he grabs hold of the attacker's shirt and as players from both sides come together, the defender begins spinning Greenwood round and round. His jersey never stood a chance. The match – Villa's penultimate outing before they host Newcastle United in the opening weekend of the Premier League season – finished 3-1 in favour of the French outfit. Mings may have been hurting from the opening goal, when Greenwood seized on a loose touch by the defender before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting the first goal just five minutes in. Villa captain John McGinn equalised before half-time but the match was ultimately decided by two late goals from Marseille substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. If the players coming together felt feisty, tempers also flared on the touchline, with footage being shared on social media of Villa manager Unai Emery exchanging some words with Marseille's Robert De Zerbi. De Zerbi et Unai Emery. #OMAVFC — Varogh (@VarOM7_) August 9, 2025 This is not Villa's last pre-season match. They now face Villareal on Sunday, in Spain. In their last outing before this, they had defeated Roma 4-0. Having finished eighth last season, Villa have qualified to play in the Europa League this term – their third consecutive season of European competition. Striker Evan Guessand is Villa's headline signing so far this summer, joining goalkeeper Marco Bizot as newcomers.
