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From Rejection to Monument Winner: Kim Le Court's Rise
20 Mar
Summary
- Le Court is the first African woman to win cycling's Monument race.
- Multiple teams rejected her before her historic victories.
- She overcame malaria and a disastrous first pro cycling stint.
Kim Le Court, a cyclist from Mauritius, has defied expectations to become one of the sport's elite. Initially overlooked by numerous professional teams, she has since achieved historic milestones. Le Court is the first African woman to win a cycling Monument, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and also the first to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France Femmes.
Her path to success was fraught with challenges. Le Court contracted malaria as a child and nearly died. Her first attempt at professional road cycling in 2015-2016 was unsuccessful, leading her to step away from the sport for seven years. During this time, she worked as a coach and bike fitter, and notably won the Cape Epic mountain bike race.
Le Court's return to road cycling in 2024 saw her quickly impress. She secured her first professional win on the final stage of the Giro d'Italia and her victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the spring of 2025 marked a turning point. She also led the Tour de France Femmes for several days.
Now 30, Le Court aims for further success in the upcoming Milan-Sanremo and the Tour de France Femmes. She acknowledges she still lacks experience in certain areas, particularly time trials, but is determined to test her full potential as a general classification rider.
