"She always had that something extra": Marion Rousse salutes an "exceptional" Pauline Ferrand-Prévot

The 2025 edition and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's victory : "I think I'm really going to need a few hours before coming back down. Since yesterday (Saturday), it's just incredible what's been happening for sport in general, for French sport. Since the first day, since the start in Vannes, everything has been perfect. The crowd is there and there. The riders put on an incredible show for us. Plus, when you have four French victories in a row, Pauline coming to get the yellow jersey... You have the impression that everything was written, it's so beautiful! (...) I think what we saw today shows to what extent, and throughout the week, shows to what extent women's cycling has its place on television, in the Tour de France category. What I saw is not a Tour de France Femmes, it's a Tour de France. That's the greatest success we could have. I was with Pauline's parents, at the foot of the podium. They said to me: "Do you remember, 20 years ago, when you were both fighting against boys?" It's a beautiful journey that has been made. They summed it up well. The most beautiful Tour de France? It's the most accomplished and the most accomplished. It's a real Tour de France that I've seen."

On whether "PFP" will be back next year : "I saw her. We had a good chat. I think she also needs to come back down a bit. But knowing Pauline, I think she's even more eager to make an impression. But still, winning Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, in the same year, she's still extraordinary."

Also read : Cycling: After Olympic gold, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot becomes a legend in the Tour de France

The keys to Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's success : "What makes the difference? I think it's talent. I've known her since she was little. Since we started competing together, she's always won every race. She's always had that extra something. When you combine that with seriousness, perseverance, and a champion's mentality, you often end up with exceptional riders, and Pauline is one of them. Her competitors are happy for cycling because they all told me that cycling won. And above all, they're extremely revengeful for next year. They told me they know they have to work even harder to reach Pauline's level."

She truly made her mark on the history of her sport.

Marion Rousse

If "PFP" savored the Tour de France or the Olympic gold last year more : "I have no idea how she experienced her Olympic title. Me? I was in front of the TV in 2024. You experience it differently. Both were exceptional. What I liked was experiencing it from the front row, putting so much intensity into it. I don't just work for a week to prepare for the race. It's work that we do all year long. It's real teamwork. When it's rewarded with such great races, such great winners, you want to give even more for the years to come. It's great. When you work hard and your work is rewarded, it's magnificent. It's true that today, she had achieved a little more than yesterday (Saturday). There was perhaps more of a shock of having the yellow jersey for the first time in her career than today."

Also read: Tour de France Women: “Bravo champion,” Emmanuel Macron congratulates Pauline Ferrand-Prévot on social media and... on the phone (video)

Her place in cycling history : “She didn’t even need our competition to make history in her sport. She had already won everything. What’s great about her is that she won in different disciplines. She won in cyclocross, mountain biking, road racing… She’s exceptional. We’re not even talking about a female athlete or a French athlete. We’re talking about an athlete, period. She really made history in her sport. We’ll all remember that.”

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