Pauline Ferrand-Prévot undergoes surgery ending incredible comeback road season

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has undergone ankle surgery to address an injury sustained during her crash at Strade Bianche in March, forcing her to withdraw from the European Championships and ending her stellar 2025 comeback road season.

"There's been ups and downs but overall I've always had trouble with my ankle since my fall in March on Strade Bianche," Ferrand-Prévot wrote. "I got sick on the way back [from Rwanda], and I had to have surgery today."

The surgery comes after Ferrand-Prévot finished 16th at the World Championships in Rwanda, revealing that she has also been ill since the race last Saturday.

"Relieved to get this over with and start my recovery protocol (approx 3 weeks no exercise)", she added, while thanking the medical staff who performed the operation and her Visma | Lease a Bike Women team for their flexibility in managing her injury throughout the season. "Now time to rest after an intense season."

The timing means Ferrand-Prévot will miss competing at the European Championships in her home country, where she would have been among the favourites. Despite this disappointment, she sent encouragement to her French teammates: "Wishing the girls of the French team all the best for the European Championships. With the level of fitness and spirit of this group, they will make us dream."

The surgery brings an end to what has been a remarkable comeback season on the road for the French star, who claimed victories at Paris-Roubaix Femmes and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, along with two stage wins.

The surgery and subsequent recovery period now give the French star time to fully heal before focusing on her 2026 campaign.