When we talk to Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, a quick question comes up:
When to track cycling?
"For the moment, no," she replies.
This Frenchwoman from Reims, a city in the north of France, with its superb Gothic cathedral and link to the quintessential drink, champagne, was once the pioneer of the type of cycling that is now popular among the big stars, circular cycling, which does not distinguish between modalities.
World champion in MTB, road and cyclo-cross.She has never said no to anything to do with a bicycle. A way of understanding cycling that has made its way, as we have seen, and that she has taken to the maximum expression. The parish still echoes in the parish that trident of jerseys iridescent that she won between 2014 and 2015, when it was world champion in the three modalities.
"Those three world titles between 2014 and 2015 is my way of showing how I conceive cycling, I love to change modalities because when I get on the bike I'm not looking for anything in particular, it's love, it's passion" she begins commenting.
And he proves it with facts: "A moment that I especially like are those road rides with the sole purpose of resting from the MTB series. I take the opportunity to look up and appreciate the scenery. It's a way to escape from the worries of the day and stay motivated for the technical sessions on the mountain bike.
A cyclist escaping from the routine on a bike.
MTB is still the goal
"This year I haven't done cyclocross, with BMC we've put it on hold for the moment. The competition is focused on MTB and for training I'm incorporating the road" continues Pauline, who admits that cyclocross still occupies a special place in her heart.I miss it a lot. I got hooked on cyclocross because I hated that moment when the road and MTB campaigns come to an end. I wanted to continue racing and here I had a good outlet, and it was also very rooted in my area, because cyclocross is practiced a lot in the Reims region. I grew up in a cyclocross culture".
However, when the pressure of training is not on her, she enjoys "a lot the moments outside of competition, taking my road bike and resting from the MTB sessions. Those are ways of looking at it over time."
That's why she doesn't lose sight of the horizon: "My goal is on the MTB, to improve as much as I can, to go faster...".. Training is a gift, I am passionate about it, even in the hardest moments".
After several years with Canyon, the Frenchwoman is the big star of the Absolute Abasalonnow on a BMC, aiming for the top. With the team of Julien, her partner, she has had the opportunity to get to know the clothing of Gobik.
"I must admit to being surprised by the quality of the bib shorts, the best I've ever worn. -The biker describes the team's clothing. I like their I like their designs, they are elegant and modern, but I value the materials, that they feel good, they are easy to handle and above all they look good.”.
Now the goal is the five rings, in a palmarés as his only missing Olympic gold. She has been in two events, the last ones: eighth in London and abandoned in Rio de Janeiro, where the chronicles say that she felt the pressure. Be that as it may, Tokyo, although a year late, is engraved in her heart.
“The goal is the Olympic Gameswithout a doubt," he concludes without hesitation. It's the most special race. It's clear that the pressure is brutal because it's held every four years, but it's the only big one that's missing from my palmares and I always want more.
Texts: JoanSeguidor's Notebook
Photos: Paul Foulonneau
