Le Court makes Tour history for Africa

Mauritian becomes first woman from the continent to wear yellow and win a stage

- 

Kim Le Court-Pienaar's career has been one of historic firsts. She's the first Mauritian – male or female – to compete at cycling's highest level, after signing for WorldTour squad AG Insurance-Soudal. She's the first African to win a Monument. Now, as of last week, she's the first African woman to lead the Tour de France - and the first to win a stage, too.

Growing up 9,000km away on an island in the Indian Ocean, Le Court's latest two achievements were beyond her fantasies as a child. “I think someone needs to hit me in the face to make me realise,” she laughed in Guéret, the site of her stage win on day five. The victory gave her a second stint in the yellow jersey, a privilege she had first earned three days prior, thanks to bonus seconds she'd taken over the opening weekend. “Stage three, having it on my shoulders, was really a dream come true – I was living it like it wouldn’t happen again, and now it’s happening again. It’s really amazing,” said the 29-year-old.