🔥 “SHE HAS BEEN ERASED FROM THE HISTORY OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE!” – The silence surrounding Jeannie Longo is shaking up the cycling world
The French cycling world is in shock. Not because of a crash, a doping scandal, or a surprise victory, but because of the incomprehensible silence surrounding one of its greatest icons: Jeannie Longo. The woman who once stood for strength, perseverance, and dominance in women’s cycling seems to be deliberately erased from the history books of the Tour de France. The protest against this “cultural erasure” has now reached a boiling point – and it was none other than Tadej PogaÄŤar who, with just five words, fanned the flames that have burned all the way to the boardrooms of the cycling federation.
During a press conference after the final stage of the Tour, PogaÄŤar was asked for his opinion on the Tour de France’s legacy. Instead of the usual clichés about the route or his opponents, he simply said: “Where has Jeannie Longo gone?” Five words, delivered with calm determination, yet carrying the weight of a moral bombshell. Within 24 hours, an emergency meeting was convened at the French Cycling Federation, and since then, the silence seems to have given way to shame, anger, and—hopefully—action.
It’s no secret that Jeannie Longo is a controversial figure. With over 1,000 victories to her name, 13 world titles, and seven Olympic appearances, her athletic record is unparalleled. Yet, her name wasn’t mentioned once during the Tour de France Femmes festivities. No tributes, no statues, no references—as if her impact on French and international women’s cycling had never existed.
Reactions from the peloton and the cycling world were fierce. Former riders, journalists, fans, and sports historians spoke out on social media. Hashtags like #JusticeForLongo and #ErkenJeannieLongo went viral. Former world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot called it “a collective disgrace,” while Marianne Vos felt “deeply uncomfortable” with the way history was being rewritten.
According to sources within the organization, the deliberate omission of Longo was partly due to her past, which was overshadowed by doping rumors and legal tensions. But many fans and experts believe this shouldn’t be a reason to ignore her complete contribution to the sport. “If we continue to honor imperfect male riders, why shouldn’t the same be true for women?” an opinion piece in L’Équipe stated.
Pressure on the Tour organizers is mounting. Petitions are being signed en masse, prominent former riders are joining the call for recognition, and Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra stated that “we must not erase our sporting legends, but understand them in their full context.”
Jeannie Longo’s name is once again a topic of conversation—this time not because of her achievements, but because she nearly faded from our collective memory. Thanks to five simple words from a Slovenian cyclist, a movement has been launched that will hopefully lead to justice, rehabilitation, and the reappraisal of a woman who, despite everything, put women’s cycling on the map.
The question now is no longer, “Where has Jeannie Longo gone?” but “When will we finally give her the place in history she deserves?”
