Pauline Ferrand-Prรฉvot Downplaysโ Title Talk Ahead of Kigali road Worlds
KIGALI, โRWANDA – Pauline Ferrand-Prรฉvot arrives in Kigali โthis Saturday, โseeking a potential ninth elite world โtitle, but the French cycling star โinsists sheโค isn’t focused on the historical โimplicationsโ as โshe prepares for the women’s road race onโค September 27.โข Despite being installed asโ a six-star favorite,โฃ Ferrand-Prรฉvot is approaching the challenging, mountainous course with โa relaxed mindset, aโฃ shift she credits to a renewed focus on mental freedom.
Ferrand-Prรฉvot lastโ claimed a โroad worldโ title โin 2014,โฃ defeating Lisa Brennauer.She initially planned to โskip the race due to the long travel distance but reversed her decision last month. โฃ”It’s strange, thinking that I still feel good now,” she โsaid. The french team boasts โคsignificant strength, with support from Juliette Labous and Cรฉdrine Kerboal, allowing Ferrand-Prรฉvot to share the responsibility.
The upcoming race seesโฃ a reshaped field, with defending champion Lotte Kopecky sidelined due to a broken โback. Ferrand-Prรฉvot’s change โof heart, she revealed onโ social media, stems from aโฃ departure from โขpast pressures. โฃ”Last year,โค I put a lot of pressure on myself โคfor the Games, where, for me, โthere was no other option than to win,” Ferrand-Prรฉvot told L’รquipe. “Thisโฃ yearโฆthe goal was more to โขprepare for it as well as possible and to be more mentally free.”
National coach Paul Brousse noted Ferrand-Prรฉvot’sโค limitedโฃ racing schedule this year contributed to her feeling capable of regainingโค full strength. She recentlyโข completedโข aโข three-week solo training โblockโ at altitude in Andorra, โa period she โfound beneficial for preparation. Ferrand-Prรฉvot โฃwill be looking to overcome rivals such as Demi Vollering and Elisa Longo Borghini on the demanding course.