Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's 2026 Tour de France Femmes: Title Defense Cut Short by Illness

The Illness and Withdrawal

On the morning of Stage 8, Ferrand-Prévot was assessed by the team's medical staff and deemed unable to continue. Visma | Lease a Bike confirmed in a statement: "Unfortunately, Pauline was not feeling well this morning. In consultation with the medical staff, it has been decided that she will not start today. We wish Pauline a speedy recovery!"

Speaking after her withdrawal, Ferrand-Prévot explained: "I had to abandon the race because I became ill on Friday evening. It was a difficult decision because I had really been looking forward to racing on my training roads, but making choices is part of life, and they are rarely easy."

An Honest Assessment of Her Form

Ferrand-Prévot was candid about her performance during the race, acknowledging that her preparation and level on the road were not up to the standard required to compete at the front.

"The preparation was extremely intense, but my level during the race was nowhere near good enough to play a role in this Tour," she said .

Despite the disappointment, she expressed no regrets about her effort: "I have no regrets because I gave my best every single day."

Looking Ahead to 2027

The defending champion made clear her intention to return to the Tour de France Femmes in 2027, issuing a message of determination to her supporters.

"You all make me a better athlete, and I'll come back stronger next year and try again," she said . She also thanked fans on social media: "I'm grateful for all your support along the road. You can't imagine how much it means to me."

Team manager Rutger Tijssen indicated that Visma will conduct a full review once Ferrand-Prévot is back to full fitness, evaluating what could have been done differently and carrying those lessons into 2027 .

What Went Wrong for the Reigning Champion?

Ferrand-Prévot's struggles in the 2026 edition were not solely due to the late-stage illness. From the opening time trial, she was unable to match the pace of rivals like Marlen Reusser, Demi Vollering, and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney . After losing time on Stage 5, she admitted to France TV: "I can't even say I felt bad. I felt at my level. I think the others are simply a notch above."

The Mont Ventoux stage, where she finished nearly 11 minutes behind the leaders, effectively ended her general classification hopes . By the time she fell ill, her title defense was already effectively over, with the gap to yellow beyond realistic recovery.

What Happens Next

Ferrand-Prévot's withdrawal leaves Visma | Lease a Bike without its star rider for the final two stages. The team will now focus on supporting other riders and using the remainder of the race to gain experience for the future . For Ferrand-Prévot, the immediate priority is recovery from her illness, after which the full review into her preparation and racing strategy will begin.

Her stated commitment to return in 2027 offers a clear signal that, despite this setback, the 2025 champion intends to compete for the yellow jersey again. As she put it: "I'll come back stronger next year and try again."