Former road, MTB and CX world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot will continue to combine disciplines when she joins Canyon-SRAM in 2017.
The Frenchwoman raced both the MTB and road events at the Rio Olympics in August but failed to finish the first and was 26th in the latter. She wrote on social media a week later that cycling “had become a nightmare” and she hasn’t raced since.
“The days after [the Olympics] were the first. I stayed in Paris for two weeks at my best friend’s house, without seeing anyone. The worst two weeks of my life, I think,” Ferrand-Prevot said. “On the day of the race […] I was only disappointed with myself. But afterwards, even though I avoided social networks and switched off my phone, I heard what was being said, very hurtful things from people who spoke without knowing.”
Ferrand-Prevot will ride the Mégavalanche mountain bike event on November 27, but will not return to competition proper until March or April next year.
“That [Mégavalance] gives me an objective, because I can’t go the whole winter without one, but there’s no pressure,” she said. “The idea is to go on feeling and train without obligation. If I feel ready, I’ll return to competition in March or April. If not, I’ll take all the necessary time. But I’ve signed for four years with Canyon and I don’t think they’re going to pay me to do nothing for four years.”
