Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, the French cyclist, aims to repeat her 2025 Tour de France Femmes title win this weekend.
Ferrand-Prevot has carefully tailored her schedule around the Tour, finishing second at the Tour of Flanders and third at Paris-Roubaix before stepping away from competition after the Vuelta Femenina in May.
The 36-year wait for a French champion has ended, and Ferrand-Prevot wants to maintain her momentum, but she faces stiff competition from Dutch rider Demi Vollering, who has enjoyed a stellar season, winning the Giro d'Italia and several marquee one-day races.
Vollering is viewed as the pre-race favourite, and she will be joined by other strong contenders, including Swiss rider Marlen Reusser, Vuelta winner Paula Blasi, and former Tour champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney.
Ferrand-Prevot's Team Visma-Lease a Bike squad has been built around another bid for yellow, with triple stage winner Marianne Vos on board.
In an online media conference, Ferrand-Prevot explained her approach to the season, saying, "My goal, since the beginning, is to be able to be 100% for the Tour de France, so I never really had in mind to win other races."
She added, "I know that I need a specific preparation to be able to win races, so I just pick my battle, and I choose the Tour de France as the battle."
Ferrand-Prevot's focus on the Tour has been deliberate, and she is determined to be at her best for the race, which starts in Lausanne on Saturday and finishes in Nice on August 9.
The route features nearly 19,000 metres of climbing, an individual time trial in Dijon, and a potentially decisive summit finish on Mont Ventoux, which will be the first time the legendary climb features in the women's race.
Race director Marion Rousse described the route as "the toughest women's Tour so far," adding that "every stage has a potential trap."
The competition will be fierce, and Ferrand-Prevot will need to be at the top of her game to take the title.
The Tour de France Femmes begins on Saturday in Lausanne, with the riders set to face a grueling nine-stage route that promises to be one of the most challenging in the history of the women's race.
Source: Yahoo Sports