Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France accomplished an incredible feat on Saturday in winning the Elite women's Cross-country world title in Vallnord, Andorra. The young rider now holds, concurrently, four world titles across three cycling disciplines: Team Relay and Cross-country in Mountain Bike, the Elite Road title and the Elite Cyclo-cross title.
After a week of rain, the skies finally cleared for the Elite races, however, the damage had been done, leaving the forested sections heavily soaked, muddy and treacherous. Almost every rider crashed at some point, and the women's race ran to nearly two hours - 20 minutes longer then normal.
World Cup champion Jolanda Neff (Switzerland), always a fast starter, jumped into the lead on the first climb, but the steep climbs, combined with almost 2000 metres of altitude, saw her fade quickly and drop out of contention.
Ferrand-Prevot and defending world champion Catharine Pendrel (Canada) moved to the front, initially joined by Yana Belomoina (Ukraine) and Maja Wloszczowska (Poland). When Ferrand-Prevot laid down a blistering second lap, she was away on her own, and would stay away until the finish line.
Pendrel moved into second, holding that spot until the end of the fourth lap, when she was joined by Wloszczowska, Irina Kalentyeva (Russia) and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Norway), with Belomoina coming up quickly from behind. When Kalentyeva attacked, Pendrel tried to follow, but was fading, and caught by Belomoina in the sixth and final lap, leaving the Russian with the silver medal and the Ukrainian with bronze.
"Well, I gave it everything," stated Ferrand-Prevot. "With the altitude, the climb and the slippery downhill it was so hard. I really gave it everything because I wanted this title. I want to say a big thank you to French staff and French Federation because they believed in me and that was a really big help."
She was also asked if she would try track racing, and said with a laugh, "No, for sure not [on the velodrome]. I now have to concentrate to keep my world title on the Road. After I will try to be very good for the Olympics."
Results
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) | 1:52:44 |
| 2 | Irina Kalentyeva (Rus) | 0:00:58 |
| 3 | Yana Belomoina (Ukr) | 0:01:36 |
| 4 | Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) | 0:02:15 |
| 5 | Catharine Pendrel (Can) | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
| 6 | Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) | 0:02:52 |
| 7 | Emily Batty (Can) | 0:03:42 |
| 8 | Sabine Spitz (Ger) | 0:04:02 |
| 9 | Jolanda Neff (Swi) | 0:04:57 |
| 10 | Lea Davison (USA) | 0:05:14 |
| 11 | Helen Grobert (Ger) | 0:05:56 |
| 12 | Daniela Campuzano (Mex) | 0:06:14 |
| 13 | Adelheid Morath (Ger) | 0:07:14 |
| 14 | Esther Süss (Swi) | 0:07:27 |
| 15 | Blaza Klemencic (Slo) | 0:07:58 |
| 16 | Annika Langvad (Den) | 0:08:16 |
| 17 | Githa Michiels (Bel) | 0:08:45 |
| 18 | Tanja Zakelj (Slo) | 0:09:36 |
| 19 | Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) | 0:10:01 |
| 20 | Anne Terpstra (Ned) | 0:10:31 |
| 21 | Annie Last (GBr) | 0:10:36 |
| 22 | Georgia Gould (USA) | 0:10:49 |
| 23 | Eva Lechner (Ita) | 0:12:15 |
| 24 | Lisa Mitterbauer (Aut) | 0:12:27 |
| 25 | Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) | 0:12:56 |
| 26 | Julie Bresset (Fra) | 0:13:13 |
| 27 | Sandra Walter (Can) | 0:14:20 |
| 28 | Raiza Goulao-Henrique (Bra) | 0:14:35 |
| 29 | Ekateryna Anoshina (Rus) | 0:14:53 |
| 30 | Mary Mcconneloug (USA) | 0:14:56 |
| 31 | Rose Grant (USA) | 0:15:28 |
| 32 | Elisabeth Osl (Aut) | 0:15:43 |
| 33 | Serena Calvetti (Ita) | 0:16:21 |
| 34 | Iryna Popova (Ukr) | 0:16:50 |
| 35 | Nataliia Krompets (Ukr) | 0:17:04 |
| 36 | Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) | 0:17:20 |
| 37 | Karla Stepanova (Cze) | 0:17:29 |
| 38 | Janka Keseg Stevkova (Svk) | 0:17:37 |
| 39 | Erin Huck (USA) | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
| 40 | Anna Oberparleiter (Ita) | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
| 41 | Kate Fluker (NZl) | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
| 42 | Jovana Crnogorac (Srb) | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
| 43 | Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg) | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
| 44 | Mio Suemasa (Jpn) | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
| 45 | Tereza Hurikova (Cze) | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
| 46 | Anna Konovalova (Rus) | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
| 47 | Rocio Martin Rodriguez (Spa) | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
| 48 | Chloe Woodruff (USA) | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
| 49 | Paula Gorycka (Pol) | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
| 50 | Cherie Vale (RSA) | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
| 51 | Barbara Benko (Hun) | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
| 52 | Mariske Strauss (RSA) | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
| 53 | Isabella Moreira Lacerda (Bra) | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
| 54 | Rotem Gafinovitz (Isr) | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
| 55 | Maaris Meier (Est) | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
-
2025 gravel national champions index
A guide to who is wearing the jersey of a gravel national champion and when the title battles take place -
UCI Gravel World Series: Nicole Frain and Mads Würtz Schmidt claim solo victories at Houffa Gravel
Esmée Peperkamp and Loman Mathijs take runner-up spots in Belgium -
'Can somebody launch me?' - Visma-Lease a Bike delighted after Jonas Vingegaard catches Vuelta a España rivals napping with powerful surprise attack
Dane's acceleration 10 kilometres from line completely unplanned, team say -
'I felt a lot better than on the previous mountain stages' – Jonas Vingegaard back in full flight for 40th career victory at Vuelta a España despite mistimed attack
'Maybe I didn't do my homework good enough, because I thought it was closer to the finish' says Dane after making gains on all GC rivals with solo move
