Sunday, July 28, 2024, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot triumphed in the cross-country mountain biking final at the Paris Olympic Games, bringing a second gold medal to France. After the disappointments of London, Rio, and Tokyo, the cycling prodigy finally asserts herself with determination. From her beginnings in Reims to Olympic gold, her journey is worthy of the greatest sports sagas. Portrait of a champion who once again proves her resilience and passion for the sport.
Childhood
Born on February 10, 1992, in Reims, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot grew up in a family passionate about cycling. From a very young age, she started cycling, inspired by her relatives. At just 5 years old, she participated in her first local races. Her early successes in youth competitions quickly caught the attention of cycling clubs. At 12, she won the French minimes-cadettes championship, thus launching her career.
Junior Career
Pauline joined her first cycling club, ASPTT Reims, where she was able to develop her skills under the supervision of experienced coaches. Her dedication and natural talent quickly set her apart from her peers. She progressed at an impressive rate, winning regional and national titles in youth categories.
The early years of competition for Pauline Ferrand-Prévot revealed her talent. At 16, she won her first national title in cyclo-cross, demonstrating her potential to become a champion. Her ability to excel in various cycling disciplines became evident. Her performances in junior and under-23 categories quickly attracted the attention of national selectors and sponsors.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot continued to progress rapidly in national competitions. She accumulated French championship titles in various categories, including mountain biking, cyclo-cross, and road racing. After a successful stint in the junior ranks, the Frenchwoman won four French championship titles and a world road championship title, as well as two world titles in mountain biking. She turned professional in 2011, at 19 years old.
Entry into the Elite
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s selection for the French national team marked a turning point in her career. By representing France, she had the opportunity to compete at the highest level in international competitions. This included the World Championships and the Olympic Games. Pauline did not just win individual titles; she also played a key role in the national team’s successes.
In 2014, she became the first cyclist to simultaneously hold world titles in cyclo-cross, mountain biking, and road cycling. This achievement made cycling history. This triple crown solidified her place among the greatest cyclists of all time. At the Olympic Games, although she had not yet won a medal, her participations and performances demonstrated her determination and talent. In 2022, she won another world title in cross-country mountain biking.
Personal Life
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is in a relationship with Dylan Van Baarle, a renowned Dutch cyclist. She also shared her life with Vincent Luis, a triathlon specialist, between 2012 and 2015.
Injuries That Could Have Been Fatal to Her Career
Like any high-level athlete, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has faced difficult moments and injuries during her career. In 2019, she suffered from iliac artery endofibrosis, a condition that significantly affected her performance and required surgery. This injury marked a difficult turning point in her career. It forced her to step back and focus on her recovery.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot also faced controversies, particularly regarding her relationships with certain sports federations and her career choices. In 2019, she publicly criticized the French Cycling Federation for its lack of support and training conditions. Pauline has always been frank and direct in her communications, which has earned her both support and criticism.
The Frenchwoman has often been cursed at the Olympic Games. In 2012 in London, she realized her dream by starting the road race at 20 years old, where she finished 8th. She also participated in the mountain biking event, finishing in 26th place. In 2016, personal issues hindered her performance, and in 2021 in Tokyo, she finished only 10th due to technical problems.
For Paris 2024, she changed her approach by isolating herself to focus solely on her training and recovery. This strategy aimed to optimize her performance for the Olympic Games. "The goal was to be calm, to keep all my energy for training and recovery. These will be my last Games; I didn’t want to have any regrets."
Paris 2024 Olympic Games
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games were the scene of fierce competition in mountain biking. The event attracted the best cyclists in the world. The cross-country final took place on a demanding and technical course. This course was specially designed to test the competitors’ skills. Among the favorites were renowned athletes such as Jolanda Neff, the reigning Olympic champion, and Kate Courtney, one of the best American cyclists.
This Sunday, July 28, on the Élancourt Hill, two Frenchwomen were lined up in the women’s cross-country mountain biking event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Loana Lecomte, four-time consecutive French champion, and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, her mentor and multiple world medalist.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot delivered an exceptional performance during this final. As a favorite at home, she dominated the race from start to finish, breaking several records. Pauline finished the race in 1h20m45s, setting a new Olympic record and creating a gap of 2 minutes and 57 seconds with the American Haley Batten. The podium was completed by the Swedish Jenny Rissveds, who had won Olympic gold in Rio 2016 in this event.
Pauline’s strategy, combining lightning accelerations and perfect mastery of technical descents, allowed her to widen the gap with her competitors from the first lap. This approach gave her a decisive advantage for the rest of the race.
The reactions after Pauline’s victory were unanimous: admiration and respect. Pauline’s opponents, although disappointed not to have won gold, praised her talent. Pauline, in her post-victory comments, expressed her immense joy and gratitude to her team and supporters. She stated that "this victory puts an end to a long curse."
The president of Paris 2024, Tony Estanguet, expressed his enthusiasm after the race: "It’s great, it’s incredible, what a champion! Seeing this, it’s true that for a few minutes, I turned my organizer’s cap to let myself be carried away by my emotions. She really wanted to approach this last year with a lot of desire, so it’s good to see her win this gold medal that was missing from her record. It’s so well deserved!"
A Historic Victory
This victory marks a turning point in Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s career. Already a multiple world champion, this Olympic gold medal crowns an exceptional record.
The coming months will be crucial for Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. She has already expressed her desire to participate in other competitions before the end of the year. Her goals include defending her world titles and a possible participation in the Tour de France, a competition where she could also shine.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s journey demonstrates the crucial importance of perseverance and passion in sports. It is essential to continue following and supporting athletes like Pauline. Their performances elevate the level of the sport and inspire the next generations of champions. The country needs it right now…
