Pauline Ferrand-Prévot on weight debate and why she will skip the Worlds

Domestique joined a small group of invited media to sit down with Ferrand-Prévot in a rare moment of pause. She talks about the rise of the women’s peloton, the preparation that carried her to yellow, and her plans for the rest of the season, offering a clear glimpse into the mindset of one of cycling’s most complete champions.

The first two days after the race were strange, she admits. “You spend so much time with the team and with your teammates, and you wake up, you are just alone. You achieve your goal and you think: ‘What is next? Now what am I going to do?’ For two days I felt a bit lost, and after it was better. I went home, enjoyed normal life, and got back on the bike.”

Returning to Visma’s high-performance center is a reminder of where this journey began. “Everything started here last year. I did my bike fitting in the room next door. It’s always great to come back and see what you have done and how much you worked for it. I have the yellow jersey, but we have the yellow jersey. It’s not only me, not only my teammates, but a full teamwork. Everyone worked really hard for that.”

When Ferrand-Prévot last stepped away from road racing in 2018, the women’s peloton was a smaller, more stratified place.

“Few years ago, we were not so much at this level. Maybe three or four women could win big races. Now it is much more. You need a full team to protect you and keep you fresh. A few years ago, you could do it by yourself. Now it is impossible to survive alone.”

Her win also fulfilled a childhood dream. “As a child, I wanted to be a boy to do the Tour de France. Winning it as a woman is very big for me. I think it is big for the country too. I hope I can be a motivation for people who want to do cycling.”

In the days after the race, her preparation and in particular her physical transformation became a topic of public debate. She is unruffled.

“I did it in a smart way with the nutritionist and the team. We have chefs, we have everything. It’s our job to be the best possible for that day. Everyone can think what they want, and everyone is able to speak loud and say what they want to say. For me, I don’t feel like I’m sick. I just prepared for the biggest race of the calendar in the best way possible. It was a lot of noise, but I don’t take it personally. It’s good to speak about it, and I don’t take it as something against me.”

When asked if raising the subject could help young cyclists learn from her example, she points to the role of those around them. “It’s to the parents to educate kids and to explain. We are professional athletes, so it’s our job to be the best possible. You have to find a way to do that. The last two days of the Tour were very difficult and the watts per kilogram were very important. You have to make the most of it and be the best for that day. After that, I continue with my life. It’s just a process.”

Ferrand-Prévot does not hesitate when asked to compare her Tour victory with last year’s Olympic mountain bike gold.

“Olympics were a career goal with huge pressure. The Tour was more like a dream. Maybe it’s possible, maybe I can achieve this. I had less pressure and enjoyed the preparation and racing more. Tour de France was, for me, more enjoyable.”

That enjoyment was rooted in the work, much of it at altitude. She spent six weeks in Andorra before joining the team for two weeks in Tignes. “When you suffer together, it’s easier than alone in the mountain. Training with the girls kept me sharp without making that last big step too soon.” 

There were lighter moments in the days after the race, like meeting Tadej Pogačar on her first ride back. “Even he said he was tired. He told me not to listen to social media too much.” At home, her partner Dylan van Baarle was another quiet but important presence. “He was so happy for me, and he’s not the type to show emotions easily. That meant a lot.”

Her programme for the rest of the season will be selective, and it will not include the World Championships in Africa. “I also have to be smart and I need to enjoy this one,” she explained. “I don’t want to travel to Africa and I want to do the European Championship in France. So I will prepare for that and make the most of it.”

Immediately after the Tour, the idea of going through the whole process again felt daunting. Now she is already thinking ahead. “Yes, I want to do it again. I love what I’m doing. The preparation is the best part of my job. You don’t know if you will win, but you give your 100% to be able to win. For me, this is the best.”

In her mind, yellow is not a destination, it is a starting point.