The elite men’s cross country race at the UCI World Cup in Nové Město na Moravě saw Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of Ineos Grenadiers take home the gold. She rode to a dominant solo victory, finishing the 26.45km loop in 1:24:44, ahead of US rider Haley Batten from Specialized Factory Racing and Alessandra Keller from Thomus Maxon.
Ferrand-Prévot’s impressive performance was marked by her ability to maintain her pace throughout the race, with only a brief dismount on the third lap. She executed her race excellently, making her initial attack on the main climb of the start loop and never looking back. Behind her, a battle ensued between Saturday’s short track winner Keller and young talent Puck Pieterse. However, Pieterse slipped on a rear wheel and had to dismount on the final lap, putting her out of contention as she finished in fourth place.
After the race, Ferrand-Prévot commented that she wanted to ride at her own speed and push from the start to maintain her pace. Despite her impressive performance, she didn’t feel particularly confident in her form during the race. She mentioned that the course with its steep climb and opportunities to push and recover suited her strength. Ferrand-Prévot’s victory on this course marked her third win, cementing her as a clear favorite ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games this summer.