Curepipe, the place where the yellow jersey of the Tour de France Femmes was born and winner yesterday in Guéret of the fifth stage, rises near an ancient volcanic crater in Mauritius. In this enchanting country whose flag recalls the colors of the rainbow, these days the dominant color was yellow. Do you understand Kim Le Court (Pleenaar)? Not content with her victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, here she is, laboriously wiping away tears of joy, the 29-year-old who wrote history, as L'Equipe unequivocally attested with the headline "Pour l'Histoire" on the day of her first yellow jersey. The Le Court phenomenon deserves further exploration in the two months before the world event in Kigali: the first African cyclist to wear the leader's symbol in the Tour captures attention and passion across the entire Continent, which proposed South African Impey in the yellow jersey in 2019. That year, the current queen of the Women's Grande Boucle was still in a much more restricted dimension compared to the international spotlight she now inhabits: her love for cycling was born in 2013, and in 2014 she participated in the world championships in Ponferrada in the junior category.

RETURN HOME IN 2015 AND HIRING VIA EMAIL...

Not even 2015, despite transferring to the British Matrix Fitness Team, hinted at what would happen later. "There was no minimum salary, coming from abroad I had no financial support and I returned to Mauritius" the champion has often recalled, returning to the top group thanks to the perseverance of her ex-professional husband, who by sending emails managed to find a contract for his wife with the Ag insurance - Soudal Team. Papa Bernard, of French descent, has always supported his daughter, like mom Patricia, of Scottish origins, and brother Olivier, whom she joined in South Africa, motivated by her first competitive results to bet on two wheels. How emblematic Le Court's figure is for her compatriots (just over a million people) is testified by a common feeling of media interest and extended pride - why not - even among the beaches of the paradisiacal atolls around the main island.

A MASTERPIECE OF TALENT AND PERSEVERANCE

Mr. Pleenar's telematic perseverance perfectly aligns with that of his wife, who integrated into the professional world with great speed: "I am always oriented to get the best: this is what happened when I went from domestique to captain in just a few races" said the person concerned, without forgetting the sacrifices made during her career).

"Many in Europe do not understand what it means to race with limited support or inadequate equipment and personally I felt strange when someone started thinking about cleaning my bike or inflating the tires for me" added the four-time African road champion. Becoming a model for African cycling girls, present following the Tour Femmes representing the World Cycling Center. When she is at a training camp in Cape Town or Girona, the Mauritian cyclist distracts herself by skillfully fitting together 3D puzzle or Lego pieces. Brick by brick, she has built not only a cycling masterpiece but the fulfillment of a personal dream. Don't cry Kim, smile: that podium is all yours. And it is all well-deserved.

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