Pauline Ferrand-Prevot arrives at this weekend's Tour de France Femmes with a clear objective: to become the first rider to defend the title in the race's short history. The French star claimed her first yellow jersey last year, ending a 34-year wait for a home winner in the women's event. Now, with a fresh target, she’s stacking the odds in her favor by dialing in all season for this one race.
Ferrand-Prevot's calculated build-up
That decision paid off when she became the first French winner of the event since 1989. This year, she’s skipped most of the classics, opting for a strategic buildup that included a second at the Tour of Flanders and a third at Paris-Roubaix, before exiting competition after a 35th at the Vuelta Femenina in May.
She has never aimed to be a season-long winner, Ferrand-Prevot made clear in an online press conference. 'I just choose one big goal and commit,' she said. That goal is now the Tour de France Femmes.
Vollering the top challenger
Vollering arrives in Lausanne as the pre-race favorite, her form seen as sharper than anyone else in the peloton. Other contenders include Marlen Reusser, Paula Blasi, and former champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney. Even the returning Elisa Longo Borghini and Anna van der Breggen could make a move, their experience and resilience giving them a chance in the unpredictable race dynamics.
Toughest course yet on the line
This year’s route starts in Lausanne and ends in Nice, with the first-ever inclusion of Mont Ventoux in the women’s race. The climb is expected to play a pivotal role, with nearly 19,000 meters of elevation and a demanding final stage around Nice adding to the intensity.
Race director Marion Rousse described the course as 'the toughest women's Tour so far,' a statement that speaks to the growing strength of the peloton and the desire to test it fully.