"Last year's victory doesn't guarantee anything": Pauline Ferrand-Prévot sets sights on back-to-back Tour de France Femmes titles

After making history with overall victory at the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot returns this year aiming for a back to back. The French star heads into the race after months of preparation and with the backing of a squad specifically selected to support her bid for a second consecutive title.

While Ferrand-Prévot acknowledges that last year's success was unforgettable, she insists it offers no guarantees for the challenge ahead.

"Starting the Tour as the defending champion is something very special and something I'm incredibly proud of. At the same time, last year's victory doesn't guarantee anything this time around. Everyone starts from scratch again," she said in an official statement shared by the team.

Since finishing the Vuelta a España Femenina, the Frenchwoman has devoted her entire season to preparing for her home Grand Tour. A high-altitude training camp in Tignes formed a key part of those preparations.

"We trained incredibly hard, but we also shared a lot of great moments together. It's inspiring to see how motivated everyone is. That gives me a great deal of confidence and energy heading into the Tour. I'm looking forward to chasing our goals together."

The 34-year-old believes she arrives at the start line in Lausanne having left no stone unturned. "I've done everything I could to arrive at the start in the best possible shape. Together with the team, we've prepared meticulously, and I've received tremendous support from everyone around me. Now it's about trusting that preparation and being ready when the Tour gets underway in Lausanne."

Team manager Rutger Tijssen expects the 2026 edition to be the toughest in the race's history, pointing to its demanding parcours, challenging time trial and the iconic summit finish on Mont Ventoux.

"It's going to be a very demanding Tour, especially with the expected heat. The route has everything: a time trial, several punchy stages, a stage that resembles Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and a summit finish on Mont Ventoux."

Although Ventoux is expected to create major time gaps, Tijssen believes the overall classification will be shaped throughout the entire week.

"I wouldn't necessarily say the Ventoux stage will decide everything, but naturally we expect significant time gaps to emerge there. There are more climbs throughout the race, although they're likely to be less decisive because they come earlier in the stages."

The Dutchman also made it clear that every rider has been selected with one purpose in mind: helping Ferrand-Prévot defend her title. "Our entire plan is built around achieving the best possible general classification with Pauline. Of course, she can't do that alone, we'll need the support of the other six riders. Everyone has a specific role to play."

Tijssen outlined how each teammate will contribute across the different terrains. "Femke will be Pauline's final domestique in the mountains, with Sarah supporting just ahead of her. Marianne will act as road captain, while Lieke and Daniek will focus primarily on positioning. Marion's role is to stay with Pauline for as long as possible in the high mountains."

While Team Visma | Lease a Bike expects opportunities to fight for individual stage victories, Tijssen stressed that they will never come at the expense of the overall objective.

"Our team has been selected to ensure Pauline is supported on every type of terrain. That doesn't mean there won't be opportunities for the other riders as well. If you're racing at the front, you're always in contention for victory."

He pointed to last year's opening stage, where Marianne Vos claimed victory while Ferrand-Prévot also finished on the podium, as evidence that the team can pursue multiple goals simultaneously. "Of course, we're targeting stage victories again this year, but the general classification is, without question, our number one priority."

Finally, Tijssen expressed confidence that Ferrand-Prévot's extensive preparation has left her well positioned to once again shine on home roads. "Pauline has had a long and excellent preparation. Since the Vuelta, she's focused heavily on sharpening her race fitness. We've also worked extensively on her time trialling with the help of several specialists."

"Now it's a matter of seeing how that preparation translates into race conditions. A time trial is always different from training or simulation, but we're confident in the work we've done and can't wait to get started."