'I was just not strong enough' – Pauline Ferrand-Prévot bettered by Demi Vollering's Kwaremont power to finish second in Tour of Flanders again

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot once again finished second at the Tour of Flanders, narrowly missing out on victory to Demi Vollering in a two-up sprint in Oudenaarde. The French rider, who had ambitions to win the race after placing runner-up last year, acknowledged that she simply lacked the strength to match Vollering’s decisive move on the Oude Kwaremont climb. Despite the disappointment, Ferrand-Prévot expressed satisfaction with her effort and the performance of her Visma-Lease a Bike team, recognising that she was at her limit but could not respond to Vollering’s power. Both Ferrand-Prévot and Vollering had prepared for the race with altitude training, but their approaches differed slightly. Vollering returned to racing earlier by contesting Dwars door Vlaanderen, while Ferrand-Prévot went straight into the Tour of Flanders, which she felt may have left her short of race rhythm and the explosive power needed on the cobbles. She noted that while her form on the asphalt was solid, she was missing a bit of strength on the cobblestone sections, which proved crucial in the race’s defining moments. Ferrand-Prévot praised her team’s tactical execution, highlighting the efforts of teammates like Lieke Nooijen in maintaining good positioning amid the race’s chaos. She welcomed the opportunity to compete at the front of such a prestigious classic and remains optimistic about her prospects in the season ahead. The focus now shifts to the Ardennes classics, with Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège next on her calendar, where she hopes her training on longer climbs at altitude will better suit her physiology and racing style. There is also uncertainty surrounding Ferrand-Prévot’s participation in Paris-Roubaix, the race she won last year in a surprise victory. Originally set to skip the event and hand leadership back to Marianne Vos, Ferrand-Prévot may be called upon to race again due to Vos’s current absence following a family bereavement. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider remains open to the possibility but emphasised that the team’s decisions will depend on Vos’s condition and wellbeing. Looking ahead, Ferrand-Prévot’s season remains ambitious, with high hopes for the Ardennes classics and potential opportunities in other major races. Her consistent performances underline her status as a leading contender in women’s cycling, even as she continues to seek the extra edge needed to convert podium finishes into victories at the sport’s most demanding events.