Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, the reigning champion of the Women's Tour de France, officially withdrew from the competition ahead of Saturday’s eighth stage. The French cyclist, who recently secured a gold medal in mountain biking at the 2024 Paris Olympics, cited feeling unwell as the reason for her departure from the race.

Ferrand-Prévot’s exit marks a significant shift in the event, as she was the defending titleholder following her victory in her debut appearance last year. Her withdrawal comes during the final stages of the tour, leaving the competition without one of its most prominent participants as the field heads into the penultimate day of racing. No further details regarding the specific nature of her illness have been disclosed by her team or race organizers at this time.