Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, a cycling powerhouse, has a unique philosophy when it comes to victory. In a recent revelation, she shared her plans to limit her goals for the 2026 season, aiming for a second Tour de France Femmes win. But here's the twist: it's not about the fear of failure, but a deliberate choice to manage pressure.
Ferrand-Prévot, in an interview with Ouest-France, unveiled her strategy to focus on just a handful of targets annually. This approach, she believes, is the key to her success. Instead of spreading herself thin, she narrows her sights, ensuring every race counts. And this is where it gets intriguing: the Tour de France is her primary goal, but she also has her eyes on the spring classics, having already secured impressive results.
Her motivation stems from a precise focus, a stark contrast to the typical mindset of many professionals. While most riders might aim to win as much as possible, Ferrand-Prévot finds her drive in specificity. She relishes the moments of intense preparation, like months of altitude training, knowing it's all in service of a few key races.
Her aspirations are selective, with races like Strade Bianche, Flanders, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège on her dream list. Interestingly, she's less drawn to the Vuelta a España and the Giro d'Italia, a perspective that might spark debate among cycling enthusiasts. And this is the part most people miss: her approach is not just a personal preference but a strategy endorsed by her team, Visma-Lease a Bike, who also support a similar philosophy for their men's team leader, Jonas Vingegaard.
Ferrand-Prévot's approach challenges conventional wisdom, leaving us with a question: In a sport where winning is everything, is it better to aim for a few significant victories or spread your energy across numerous races? What's your take on this controversial strategy?
