After a brief break following her historic win at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Kim Le Court-Pienaar returned to racing in spectacular fashion by claiming a hard-fought victory on the opening stage of the Tour of Britain.

Racing for AG Insurance–Soudal, the Mauritian champion attacked on Lingburn’s Bank – a 2.3km climb averaging 5.6% – and was joined by Kirsten Faulkner (EF Education-Oatly). Together, the duo quickly distanced the peloton, forging a gap with more than 30km still to race into the finish town of Redcar in North Yorkshire.

Working seamlessly together, Le Court-Pienaar and Faulkner held a steady advantage over a determined chase group. As the finish line approached and the gap began to shrink, Le Court-Pienaar remained composed and launched a powerful sprint, securing the win in a nail-biting finale.

Her victory marks a historic milestone – the first ever stage win by a Mauritian rider at the Tour of Britain – and comes a full decade after her first appearance at the race.

“I’m incredibly happy—not just with the win, but to be back racing,” said Le Court-Pienaar after her fifth victory in the AG Insurance–Soudal jersey. “We had a plan coming into the day, and it worked perfectly. I attacked at kilometer 44, Kirsten came with me, and we gave everything to stay ahead. It was tight at the end, but I’m thrilled to take the win.”

Looking ahead to the remainder of the race, Le Court-Pienaar expressed optimism and determination: “This result gives me confidence, and I’m excited for the next stages. We’re here to fight for more.”