Pauline Ferrand-Prévot set to miss World Championships after difficult 2026 season
CyclingThursday, 10 September 2026 at 03:00
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will not line up for the World Championships in Montréal on September 26, bringing an increasingly difficult 2026 season closer to its conclusion. The Frenchwoman did not express an interest in being selected for the road race, meaning she will be absent when the French Cycling Federation announces its squad later this week.
The decision is notable because the Montréal course, with its demanding climbs, could have suited Ferrand-Prévot’s characteristics.
Instead, the former world champion appears to have decided that it is better to skip the World Championships after a season that has fallen well short of the level she showed during her spectacular 2025 campaign.
Ferrand-Prévot has not raced since abandoning the Tour de France Femmes on August 8. The defending champion was suffering from illness and did not take the start of the eighth stage, having already slipped well down the overall standings. She was 14th at the time, more than 14 minutes behind yellow jersey holder Katarzyna Niewiadoma.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot during recon for Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2026
A season that never reached the level of 2025
The contrast with last year has been particularly stark. Ferrand-Prévot returned to the road in 2025 and immediately produced one of the most remarkable seasons of her career, culminating in victory at the Tour de France Femmes. In 2026, however, the Frenchwoman struggled to reproduce those performances.
Her spring campaign still produced two major results, with second place at the Tour of Flanders and third at Paris-Roubaix. But those podium finishes were followed by a difficult period, including a disappointing Vuelta Femenina before her problems intensified at the Tour.
Ferrand-Prévot had already made it clear that her 2026 program was designed to give her flexibility after the Tour de France. The World Championships were not included in the schedule she announced in January, leaving the possibility of extending her season depending on her condition and motivation.
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Montréal absence could signal the end of her season
Ferrand-Prévot’s decision leaves the French team to build its World Championship plans without one of its most experienced riders. The squad is expected to be built around French road race champion Célia Géry, who impressed during the summer after winning the U23 national title in 2025 and taking on an important supporting role for Demi Vollering at FDJ United-Suez.
For Ferrand-Prévôt, meanwhile, the next question is whether she will race again at all in 2026. Visma | Lease a Bike said last week that no final decision had yet been made and that a return to competition remained possible.
However, with the World Championships now ruled out and the European Championships in Ljubljana on October 3 requiring a separate selection process, there are few major targets remaining on the calendar.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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