Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Ineos Grenadiers) won the elite women’s cross country race at the UCI World Cup in Nové Město na Moravě, riding to a dominant solo victory in her World Champion stripes ahead of US rider Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) in second and Alessandra Keller (Thomus Maxon) in third
Completing the 26.45km loop in 1:24:44, Ferrand-Prevot was a full 1:02 ahead of Batten following her initial attack on the main climb of the start loop. Behind them, a battle ensued between Saturday’s short track winner Keller and young talent Puck Pieterse - but a rear wheel slip and dismount for Pieterse on the final lap put her out of contention as she settled for fourth.
Ferrand-Prevot’s race was excellently executed, with only a brief dismount on the third lap drawing attention, but failing to make any reasonable dent in her considerable leading margin.
Pieterse has been the only rider to keep pace with Ferrand-Prevot’s initial attack, if only briefly, and the effort was no doubt the reason the young Dutch rider struggled on the final lap.
“It was a great race,” Ferrand-Prevot said after the race finish. “I wanted to go at my own speed. I knew also I wanted to do the first downhill at the front. So I just push at the start and try to maintain this pace.”
Despite the impressive display, the French World Champion didn’t feel confident of her form in the race. “I can’t say I was feeling good,” she said. “But I was just doing my own race and trying to push as much as possible.
“I think it’s a kind of lap which suits me. It’s quite a steep climb and you can really push and then recover,” she added. “I think it’s my strength, and it’s a nice atmosphere and everything here.”
The win is Ferrand-Prevot’s third on this course, and the win positions her as a clear favourite ahead of the Olympic Games this summer.
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