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Pauline Ferrand-Prevot navigates a rock garden at the Nové Mesto World Cup round.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot rides to dominant victory in Nové Město World Cup XCO 

World Champion puts field on notice ahead of the Paris Olympic Games.

Ryan Simonovich
by Ryan Simonovich 26.05.2024 Photography by
Piper Albrecht
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Ineos Grenadiers’ Pauline Ferrand-Prévot rode to a dominant solo victory in Nové Město na Moravě, besting Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing) and Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) for the top step of the podium in the Frenchwoman’s first World Cup XCO race of the season. 

It was also a return to the World Cup for Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who raced on the road instead of traveling to the first two rounds in Brazil. Pieterse put pressure on the doubletrack climb during the startloop, but it was Ferrand-Prévot who led into the singletrack descent. She was followed by World Cup series leader Batten, Loana Lecomte (Canyon CLLCTV), and Martina Berta (Santa Cruz-RockShox).

Batten brought back the Frenchwoman heading into the first full lap and Pieterse and Berta joined the lead group. Ferrand-Prévot immediately got to work in distancing the others, gaining a double digit lead. 

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot climbs a long, straight section at the Nové Mesto World Cup. It's relatively untechnical with some roots, lots of passing lanes, and lined by fans. In the far distance under a sponsor gantry is a lone, blurry rider in pursuit.

Batten and Pieterse gave chase, but Batten faded and was overtaken by Alessandra Keller and Specialized’s Laura Stigger. Keller, a previous World Cup overall winner,  looked the strongest up Nové Město’s brutal technical climbs. Pieterse eventually faded as well, potentially paying for her earlier efforts. 

Meanwhile, Ferrand-Prévot rode as if she was unbothered by the rest of the field, bolstering her lead by over a minute. 

Batten and Pieterse both caught the chasing duo of Keller and Stigger heading into the penultimate lap, and Batten attacked into second position. As Ferrand-Prévot prepared to cross the line in victory, Pieterse’s rear wheel washed out on a technical climb during the last lap, putting Keller in a prime spot for third place. 

Brief Analysis 

Results

  1. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Ineos Grenadiers)
  2. Haley Batten (Specialized Factory)
  3. Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon)
  4. Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
  5. Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory)
  6. Candice Lill (privateer)
  7. Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory)
  8. Martina Berta (Santa Cruz-RockShox)
  9. Greta Seiwald (Decathlon-Ford)
  10. Nina Benz (Lexware)

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