In a surprise twist to the 2025 women’s cycling season, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot lined up at Paris-Roubaix last Saturday — an appearance no one had anticipated. But with a rider like Ferrand-Prévot, expectations rarely follow a straight line. After six years away from road racing, she has made a stunning return, and in doing so, added an extra spark to an already dynamic season.
Ferrand-Prévot spent those six years dominating the mountain biking world. Her return to the road came after she captured Olympic gold in Paris last summer, completing her career sweep. With that major milestone behind her, she decided it was time to swap her wide mountain bike tires for the narrow ones used on the road — and reenter a racing world that has changed significantly since she left in 2018.
A former world champion on the road, Ferrand-Prévot’s talent was never in question. But in her absence, a new generation of stars had taken center stage — riders like Demi Vollering and Lorena Wiebes, who’ve redefined the standards of elite racing. The big question was whether Ferrand-Prévot could match their level. The answer, it seems, is a resounding yes.
A Podium Streak with Momentum
Her performances this spring have been remarkable. She finished third at Strade Bianche, followed by a strong second-place showing at the Tour of Flanders. And then came Paris-Roubaix — her biggest statement yet. There, she rode away solo to take a commanding victory on French soil.
Each race has shown a clear progression. At Strade Bianche, she sprinted to a podium finish from a small group. In Belgium, she joined an elite breakaway and came second in the final sprint. But in France, she took full control, dropping her rivals and crossing the line alone. It was the kind of win that signals more than just good form — it announced that she’s back at the top.
Reactions from the Peloton
Lorena Wiebes, one of the top sprinters in the world, acknowledged how hard it is to react to such aggressive tactics.
“I struggled at one moment because I was leading into the sector and Lotte attacked, so then it’s really hard to accelerate again to follow,” Wiebes said after the race. “So later I said to her, please don’t do that when I’m leading at the front.”
Her comment reflects a deeper truth about racing dynamics. In today’s peloton, reacting often puts riders at a disadvantage.
When one team takes the initiative — especially with a powerful rider like Ferrand-Prévot — the others are left scrambling.
A More Open Field in 2025
The return of Ferrand-Prévot adds even more unpredictability to a season already full of surprises. Carmen Small, sports director at EF Education-Cannondale, put it clearly after Paris-Roubaix.
“A lot of times, we’re going to have situations where the solo person is going to win,” she said. “Because SD Worx doesn’t have the depth like they did before, and you put in new people like Ferrand-Prévot, it’s equalizing the big teams almost.”
That shift has made the 2025 women’s road season one of the most exciting in years. SD Worx is still a powerhouse and will continue to win races. But they no longer dominate in the same way, and other teams — thanks to riders like Ferrand-Prévot — are rising to the occasion.
A Changed Landscape
The women’s peloton has evolved rapidly. Where once a few teams controlled the pace and the results, now the field is wider, deeper, and more competitive. Ferrand-Prévot’s return reinforces this evolution. She’s not just a throwback to an earlier era; she’s actively reshaping the current one.
Her ability to match — and beat — the best riders of today shows how much the sport has grown and how much it continues to change. More importantly, her style of racing — bold, aggressive, and unpredictable — is helping to define a new rhythm for the peloton.