“I was certainly nervous in the car too" - Visma admit tense moments in Pauline Ferrand-Prévot scare at Tour de France Femmes
CyclingTuesday, 04 August 2026 at 12:15
Visma | Lease a Bike endured some tense moments on stage 3 of the Tour de France Femmes as defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was put on the backfoot as the favourites jousted for some early bragging rights, but they have insisted that all is well heading into the time trial on Tuesday.
With Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset's remarkable 88-kilometer solo effort seeing her cruising to victory, the French rider was part of the group of favourites as they broke free from the peloton in the finale of the stage, but it wasn't plain sailing from there.
Mauritian champion Kim Le Court started the fireworks with an aggressive attack, which Ferrand-Prévot followed. But Kasia Niewiadoma's attack soon after put her under pressure as she only returned to the favourites group with 13 kilometers to go.
Although admitting that there were some moments of worry in the team car, Visma are happy with the first three stages of the race and insisted that the rider felt good and comfortable.
“She said she felt good and that everything went according to plan,” Sports Director Jos Van Emden told Sporza.
Ferrand-Prévot ready for those moments
Ferrand-Prévot had been prepared for these moments on the team bus. Van Emden noted that in 2025, she found herself in similar situations before her legs did the talking on the longer climbs.
"These were scenarios we had discussed beforehand," Van Emden said. "Then it becomes a matter of seeing how the competition responds, and our analysis of the rivals was confirmed.
"It costs them energy too. Last year, she also had to close a gap several times after an acceleration. That is simply part of the type of rider she is. When the climbs become longer, it will be different again."
Reflecting on Le Court's aggression, Van Emden admitted it's nothing out of the ordinary and that the team remain confident of besting her despite Monday's scare.
"Le Court is impressive now,” he said. “She was last year as well, until the climbs became longer. I am not saying we will beat her. It is simply about the characteristics of each rider."
Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset wins stage 3 of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes
"I was certainly nervous"
"I was certainly nervous in the car too, but I was not surprised," he said.
For Le Court, she had targeted a yellow jersey but was left frustrated by the favourites and their team's lack of urgency to chase the rider ahead given that her team had already played all their cards.
Read also
"The stage did not unfold as I expected,” Le Court told Eurosport. “We knew the gap to the race leader had to be less than a minute at the finish for me to take yellow.
"Unfortunately, my teammates had already done so much work early in the race that they were no longer there when I needed them in the final.
"I expected the other teams to do something because there was an opportunity for them as well."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Tadej is not (still) the potential G.O.A.T. ... Stop stuttering... He is THE G.O.A.T. - The Greatest Of All Time.PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- Hey Jumpyjohn, this is how he should do it: Pogi says "This year I want to do the Giro again, I just love this race and the Italians." He does the Giro, wins, and then goes to the Tour. He talks nothing about the Vuelta, if asked he says "No, I'm not doing the Vuelta, I will focus on the WC." After winning the Tour he never mentions the Vuelta. Pogi and his trainer see if Pogi is feeling good and strong, if he still has good legs, then they decide. If they think he can do it... LET'S GO, POGI IS DOING THE VUELTA. OMG!!! Pogi will say "I love the Spaniards!!!" Everyone is going crazy. But if Pogi isn't feeling the best, no one says anything, he just won't go, skip the Vuelta, prepare for the WC and win it. It's a win-win situation.PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- When it comes to winning a Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, Maurizio Fondriest is sending a warning to Pogačar!?!? First of all, who is Fondriest to send "warnings"? Pogi doesn't know or care about him. Pogi and his trainers will be the ones to decide if he will take on all three GT's in one season. No one knows what will happen because it's never been tried before. I have the feeling that many former BS cyclists and commentators are smarter then Pogi and his team of cycling specialists.PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- You're wrong, it's not too late. This is how it's done: Pogi says "This year I want to do the Giro again, I just love this race." He does the Giro, wins, and then goes to the Tour. He talks nothing about the Vuelta, if asked he says "No, I'm not doing the Vuelta, I will focus on the WC." After winning the Tour he never mentions the Vuelta. Pogi and his trainer see if Pogi is feeling good and strong, if he still has good legs, then they decide. If they think he can do it, LET'S GO, POGI IS DOING THE VUELTA. OMG!!! Everyone is going crazy. But if Pogi isn't feeling the best, no one says anything, he just won't go, skip the Vuelta and once again win the WC. Capish?PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- yeah I was thinking the same - fairly audacious headline.mij04-08-2026
- So we have a cycling equivalent to the Penisgate storm in a teacup at the Ski Jumping event of this year's Winter Olympics!Cooldude04-08-2026
- Tadej doesn't have to win the Vuelta with a lead of more than five minutes over the first runner-up. This means he can ride leisurely, or rather, let it be his preparation for the World Championships. In addition, Remco won San Sebastian just seven days after the Tour, the World Championships are 14 days after the Vuelta... So the chances are not even close to 50/50.MajorPayne04-08-2026
- With all the possibilities that are never discussed and would create endless discussion as to whether it would be real doping, I will NEVER lay my hand in the fire to claim ANY rider is clean (especially having experienced something unexpected myself with over the counter medication as an amateur runner whilst sick). People also seem to have very short memories about what has already happened and wasn’t detected (sometimes for decades) until a mistake or thoughtless act occurred or past material was reviewed. It’s a sad fact that almost all those who want to deny the possibility there is doping, do almost ZERO research on the subject but then claim they know the facts. I don’t believe he’s consciously doing anything but that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. As for why he is so successful? He knows his forte and exploits it predictably. The sad thing is the others haven’t yet understood how to neutralise him but I won’t go into that unless someone else starts it off.Mistermaumau04-08-2026
- That’s a lot of assumptions but the 3 in a row combination has also already been achieved, not sure that would be specifically desirable to Jonas but am sure Pogi would love to have been the first/only to get all 3 GTs, something Jonas would also maybe have aimed for had Pogi not existed. Legacy is often the result of doing the right thing at the right time and for that you have to be born right. Imagine if Bubka and Duplantis had been of the same generation?Mistermaumau04-08-2026
- Was yesterday a snooze fest for you? One of the most interesting results ever in ALL of cycling.Mistermaumau04-08-2026
Loading
Write a comment