With Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt headlining, the French discover the status of favorites

After a historic tour of France, the seven French runners selected for the Worlds are favorite around Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt, but not only.

A five -star France team. With Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt headlining, the French people are favorites for the online race of the world cycling championships, Saturday September 27 (live on france.tv From 12:05 p.m. and on France 3 from 1:35 p.m.), in Kigali in Rwanda. “This favorite team status is new to us. We have exchanged on it with the girls to adapt to it, because it changes the situation but it is a force”appreciates Paul Brousse, coach of the Bleues since 2018.

“It doesn't change our way of working”specifies however the coach, who often exchanges on this subject with Thomas Voeckler, coach of the French male team. “Boys have this experience of this status, which helps us to better understand this event”specifies Paul Brousse, who will have an XXL team led by Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt, winner of the last Tour de France, supported by two other climbers of the leading, Juliette Labous and Evita Muzic, but also by the revelation Maëva Squiban (winner of two stages on the Tour) and the free electron Cédrine Kerbaol. Without forgetting the two sure values ​​that are Léa Curinier and Marie Le Net, expected in a role of teammates.

“We go there with the feeling that we will really be able to weigh on the race, which was not necessarily the case in other years. Even if there are other collectively tough nations such as Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and also individualities like Katarzyna Niewiadoma or Liane Lippert“, lists Paul Brousse, aware that his runners will have” the sign “in the eyes of the rest of the peloton. Especially Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt.

At 33, the Champenoise is one of the major favorites of these surveys, disputed at 1,500 meters above sea level (a first for 30 years and the Worlds of Duitama in Colombia), with 3,350 meters of elevation gain to swallow in 165 km. The winner of the last Tour de France does not come to do tourism.

“We come here to win the title. Afterwards I think my season is already more than successful so I take it more as a bonus. Of course it is a goal for me but it is also a team goal.”

Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt

at a press conference

A halo of 15 world champion titles all disciplines, Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt aims for a sixteenth rainbow jersey, a year after the 2024 Worlds in Zurich, which she had not finished, sick, as for her very first road race after her mountain bike title. “It allowed me to ask myself the right questions and progress during the winter. It's always good to have failures to learn. Today, I am a different cyclist”, recognized the Rémoise in Rwanda.

Released since its Olympic title in mountain biking in Paris, and even more after its final victory from its first participation in the Tour de France, PFP wants “Continue on its momentum” taking “Pleasure” All “By also thanking the French public somewhere for having given wings”. So many motivations that pushed her to return to his initial decision not to make the trip to Rwanda, encouraged in this sense by his Visma-Lease A Bike team, before returning to his decision.

“Everyone was moaning a little by saying that it was necessary to do the vaccines, do this, do that. But I find it good to adapt to another country. There is a real bicycle culture here. Everyone uses old bikes to transport bananas, water, lawyers. It is incredible to see the box they have to take everything on their bike.”

Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt

at a press conference

After taking the time to descend from her post-tour of France, Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt did a three-week internship at altitude to prepare for these Worlds. “For the moment I am pretty well well. But it is for everyone the same thing: we are at the end of the season, everyone is tired and a little worn mentally”, However, warns the leader of the Bleues, which will not be the only cartridge in the tricolor barrel. Especially since the Rwandan context can rebatter the cards at any time, recalls coach Paul Brousse: “We are on eggs with heat, humidity, pollution here, which vary the states from one day to the next, for us as for other nations.”

“We have a complete team, which aims for the same objective: that France shines. We will take the risks that it takes, depending on the capacities on the D -Day of our daughters and adversaries”continues the coach, who built his team on a central principle: “We wanted girls ready to put ourselves at the service of others, whatever they are. It is the heart of my job. We discussed with each of the girls possible strategies, and on the fact that we come to the French team to make the blue jersey shine above all.”

A responsibility that runners can largely assume like Evita Muzic, Juliette Labous, Cédrine Kerbaol, or Maëva Squiban. Especially since these last three have all shone during the time trial by mixed teams, at the end of which they have adorned with money. “This silver medal is launching well during the week, it creates a good spiralnote Paul Brousse. It did good at the heads, especially for Juliette who was not well on the day of the individual time (7th), but who was in an exceptional form in teams. “

The Bleues therefore have in mind “Several scenarios mentioned with the runners”which will evolve according to the vagaries. And at least five runners cut to play the win, against the Dutch, Italian and the other isolated stars. Because, unlike men, the gratin of the female peloton will be almost complete at the start of these Worlds. With at the end, perhaps, a first French world champion on the road since the coronation in 2014 of a certain … Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt.