Pauline Ferrand-Prévot Abandons Tour de France Femmes After Disaster Title Defense

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot abandoned the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift on Saturday.

Visma-Lease a Bike confirmed before the start of Saturday’s 8th stage that the defending champion is out, sick.

“Unfortunately, Pauline was not feeling well this morning. In consultation with the medical staff, it has been decided that she will not start today. We wish Pauline a speedy recovery,” read a note on social media.

Ferrand-Prévot’s early exit marks the end of a yellow jersey defense that never truly got started.

The 34-year-old hemorrhaged time to her pre-race rivals in every key GC stage of the Tour.

She finished atop Mont Ventoux on Friday in 14th overall, 15 minutes behind new GC leader Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney.

Ferrand-Prévot and her entourage might be left wondering what went wrong Saturday.

The Frenchwoman followed a similar path toward this year’s Tour de France Femmes as she did in 2025.

Last year, her “race less, train lots” approach to her road comeback brought her marquee victories at Paris-Roubaix Femmes and the Tour.

This year, Ferrand-Prévot hit podium finishes at Flanders and Roubaix in April, but her 2026 palmarès went south ever since.

Unpacking a meticulous training program and power bests

It soon became apparent that something was up with Ferrand-Prévot at this year’s Tour de France Femmes.

Even a huge block of TT training and work on her aero tuck couldn’t save her from significant losses against the clock on stage 4.

One day later, PFP dropped to 5 minutes back on Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser after a hilly 5th stage that should have suited her.

Ferrand-Prévot conceded defeat after she was blown away Wednesday on stage 5.

However, she insisted her preparation wasn’t the problem.

“I think my level is quite good,” Ferrand-Prévot told reporters at the finish Wednesday. “It’s just that the others are better.

“I think my level is great. Yesterday I did my best 10-minute power on the last climb. So I think I’m not too bad, but it’s just that the level is much higher.”

Ferrand-Prévot’s racing schedule for the remainder of 2026 is unknown.

The MTB world championships at the end of this month might come too soon for the reigning Olympic cross-country champion. The Montréal road worlds in September could be an option.

But first, the uncomfortable Tour de France Femmes debrief.

“I’ll need to take a step back, draw the right conclusions, and come back stronger next year,” Ferrand-Prévot told reporters Friday after her title defense fully crumbled on Mont Ventoux.