Amazing to see @FERRANDPREVOT racing in our colours today. #Koppenbergcross proved to be a tough race with some mechanical issues but Pauline never gave up. True grit and determination on display. Next stop: European Champs 👊🇫🇷🔜
"Today it didn't work, so we still have some things to do" - Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has horrific start to cyclocross season
CyclocrossWednesday, 02 November 2022 at 17:30
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot made her debut in the cyclocross season and in the INEOS Grenadiers colours yesterday at the Koppenbergcross, where she finished 12th. However, it was a race that was more eventful than anyone had predicted.
"Today, the first day of school. It's going to be brutal and painful for the body, but I guess I have to start somewhere," Ferrand-Prévot admitted in a post-race interview. "It was my first cyclocross race, so I wasn't sure how it was going to go. I didn't have much rest after the mountain bike season, but I felt good right away. Unfortunately, I had some mechanical problems."
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Despite starting towards the back of the field, the French rider found herself swiftly moving up the field, and into the Top10 quite quickly. Soon however disaster struck, as she could not get her chain back in the tough course, losing minutes - added by a lengthy run through the pit area, where a lot of uncoordination seemed clear.
She made her way through the tough cross once again and was up to 7th place in the final lap, however disaster struck a second time. It was a disaster for Ferrand-Prévot, who ended up running to the finish line, crossing it in 12th place, over 6 minutes behind race winner Fem van Empel.
"I even thought for a moment that I wouldn't make it, because my racing shoes slipped on the Koppenberg. My chain kept blocking. The last time the derailleur jammed, and my gears stopped working. So I put my bike on the shoulder and walked," she continued.
It was a test race for the French rider, but the mechanical difficulties she found were unlike anything seen so far this season. It will be a task for INEOS and Pinarello to work through, whilst Ferrand-Prévot already has a key goal this weekend at the European Championships. "It was good to pick up the rhythm again and test the equipment. Today it didn't work, so we still have some things to do," she concluded.
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