France's Pauline Ferrand-Prevot powered to victory on the mountainous stage eight of the Tour de France Femmes on Saturday, dropping her rivals before the Col de la Madeleine summit to claim the yellow jersey on the eve of the finale.

On the last Saturday of the Tour de France, riders battle it out in eastern France to wear the yellow jersey in Paris, but in the west, the Tour de France Femmes marks the start of a completely different race.

French rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt took a commanding lead at the women's Tour de France after launching a solo attack on the final climb of Saturday's penultimate stage. Last year’s event had the smallest winning margin in the history of the women’s and men’s races,