Kim Le Court rode to redemption at the Lloyds Tour of Britain to become the first African winner one year on from vowing she would never return.
The Mauritian rider had crashed out of the tour last year but crossed the line in Royal Leamington Spa with the green jersey secure to earn her first-ever UCI Women’s WorldTour race victory.
Redemption on British Roads
Having won stage six at the Tour de France Femmes earlier in August, Le Court continued that form to write a far happier ending to her pursuits on British roads.
“Now I can finally say that I feel like I have redeemed myself. I came here to finish on a high and that’s exactly what I did,” said the 30-year-old AG Insurance-Soudal rider.
“I had a bad experience last year and in 2015 I came here and I came dead last, so I didn’t have a good experience at the Lloyds Tour of Britain.
“This was my third try and I said if I do a good tour and finish on a high then I won’t come back, but it’s just a saying. We never know and we’ll see what the new year brings.”
GC Pedigree Proven
Despite numerous WorldTour stage victories, including on stage one in 2025 and up the Great Orme’s tough ascent on stage three this year, Le Court had so far failed to prove her general classification pedigree at that level.
“It’s really special,” she added. “People always questioned whether I was a GC [general classification] rider or not and it’s good to know. Of course, it’s on a smaller scale, but the mental state of it is still high and I’m really happy I could achieve that for myself and the team.”
Wiebes Takes Record Stage Win
Lorena Wiebes found herself vying for the headlines with nearly as much success as she contested the stages. On the final day, a three-strong group of breakaway riders, including Briton Alice Towers of the Great Britain Cycling Team, threatened her assault on a fourth stage win as they led for 105km.
But having caught them with less than 5km to go, the Team SD Worx-Protime rider won the sprint into Royal Leamington Spa to take the record for most stage wins for men or women at the Lloyds Tour of Britain.
Her 11th-ever stage victory at the tour took her clear of Mark Cavendish and proved her pedigree as one of the best sprinters in the women’s peloton after taking the opening two at the Tour de France Femmes at the start of August.
“Winning feels good so I’m happy to finish this week with four victories. The team worked hard for it, at the end I didn’t have many teammates left, but they did everything they could,” said the 27-year-old.
Other Jersey Winners
Scot Lauren Dickson of FDJ United-Suez won the blue Queen of the Mountains jersey after recovering from a crash on stage four, while Belgian Fleur Moors won the Young Rider jersey.
British Cycling is inspiring riders and fans across the country through the Lloyds Tour of Britain, bringing the sport to life and celebrating the joy of cycling through Britain's biggest free-to-spectate cycling event. Visit britishcycling.org.uk
