Pauline Ferrand-Prévot reflected on the past year in an interview with Marca. Winning the Tour de France Femmes fulfilled a big dream for the French rider, but she still had something to get off her chest: "It was unfair that so much was said about my weight."
"Being lightweight is important in endurance sports, but it was taken out of context. Weight is just one factor; you also have to train, eat well, and recover. With women, there is quicker talk about appearance and weight, which is unfair," she explained. "It’s important to stay healthy, but not to use that as a point of discussion right after a victory."
The weight discussion is a small blemish on an otherwise amazing season for Ferrand-Prévot. "It was incredible. First, I won Paris-Roubaix and then also the Tour. I had aimed to achieve that in three years, but I managed it all within one year. After the Tour, I did notice my body was worn out."
Looking ahead to 2026, the Frenchwoman is already planning forward. "I want to win more monuments, like Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and of course the Tour again. For now, I am fully focused on the road. Combining disciplines is no longer feasible. I enjoy what I do and want to keep racing for at least two more years," she concluded.
