"I know the area quite well": Pauline Ferrand-Prévot sounds optimistic about yellow jersey defense

The 2026 Tour de France Femmes route has been revealed and it has quite a few differences compared to 2025. This year, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was a cut above the rest on the long mountain passes and ultimately won with nearly 4-minute advantage. In 2026, a new challenge with Mont Ventoux will stand between her and yellow jersey, but also a time trial, first of a kind since 2023.

"It’s a super nice route. It’s going to be beautiful, and I really like it. I’m already excited to work hard towards defending my title. Finishing in Nice is fantastic. It means a lot to me, since I live in the area. I know the roads extremely well, which is an advantage. Mont Ventoux is also climb I’ve done many times. It’s actually quite easy for me to train there and to get to know the climb even better," Ferrand-Prévot said on team website after the big presentation.

The race will then move into France, where one of the key stages awaits on day four: a 21-kilometre individual time trial finishing in Dijon - the second-longest time trial in the race’s history, and a day Ferrand-Prévot is ready to take by the horns.

"I think it’s great to have a time trial, especially in this region. I know the area quite well, riding through the vineyards is amazing. I’m really happy about that stage and looking forward to it. I’m ready to put in the work on the time trial. It’s a chance to ride a different bike and develop yet another discipline, which is something I really enjoy," the defending champion remarked.

"It’s a complete Tour, and that’s the challenge. In terms of the parcours, there’s not much that’s dramatically different from last year. It’s never really flat, not even in the first stages. There’s one ultimate test with the Mont Ventoux, which will make the big separation. It’s comparable to Col de la Madeleine from this year, perhaps slightly tougher due the temperature and the wind," team manager Rutger Tijssen reflected.

"Everything takes place in a relatively small area, with few transfers, which is nice. The time trial is back, which is a great challenge and requires a slightly different preparation compared to last year. We need to take a step forward here, also with Pauline. It’s very trainable, and Pauline has shown that she can make great strides when she sets her mind to something," were the words of Tijssen.  

That ability of Ferrand-Prévot has been proven over and over this year. After more than five years completely away from road cycling, the Frenchwoman returned from the world of mountain biking with complete palmares. In 2025, her initial goal was only to get back into the rhythm on road, but a champion such as Ferrand-Prévot doesn't race for just a participation trophy.

And so, she not only won the Paris-Roubaix, but later in summer also the 4th Tour de France Femmes. And she had done so with authority, winning the queen stage on Col du Madeleine by a difference of class.