Pauline Ferrand-Prévot withdraws from Tour de France Femmes

Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot did not start stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes, as announced by her team, Visma-Lease a Bike, on Saturday morning, August 8, 2026. The Frenchwoman withdrew from the race due to illness, following a decision made in consultation with medical staff. In their social media post, the team stated, "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!"

Ferrand-Prévot had commenced the Tour with aspirations of defending the yellow jersey she secured in 2025, which marked her first participation after returning to road racing from an extended stint in mountain biking. However, she struggled throughout the race. After finishing the stage 4 time trial in 10th place, she lost over two minutes to stage winner Marlen Reusser (Movistar). The following day, she fell further behind during the challenging slopes of Beaujolais, ultimately dropping to 17th place, five minutes adrift of the leaderboard.

Her troubles continued, as she lost 10 minutes and 44 seconds to stage victor Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) during the queen stage to Mont Ventoux, hinting at the extent of her struggles. Although Ferrand-Prévot maintained that her physical condition was satisfactory—reportedly achieving a personal power best—she faltered against her rivals for the yellow jersey.

With two stages remaining in the race, Visma-Lease a Bike will need to re-evaluate their strategy in light of Ferrand-Prévot’s departure. There is potential for a regrouping on Saturday, where, despite two late climbs, a bunch sprint finish is anticipated, with star rider Marianne Vos looking to secure her first stage win after two second-place finishes. Ferrand-Prévot’s absence marks a significant alteration in the team’s approach as they pursue a successful conclusion to the event.