pauline ferrand-prevot is a three-time world champion cross-country mountain bike racer. In 2015, she became the first cyclist in history to win the elite road, cyclocross, and mountain bike world championships in the same year. pauline won the elite women’s xco mountain bike world championship again in 2019 and 2020.
cyclist profile:
name: pauline ferrand-prevot
nickname: pfp, paupau
age: 29
Date of birth: February 10, 1992
place of birth: reims, france
Shoe size: 39
helmet size: s-m
marital status: with julien absalon
current address: fréjus
car(s): mini cooper convertible
Started running or competing: 5 years ago
turned professional: in 2011 in mtb with lapierre and in 2012 with liv rabobank for mtb, road and cx
racing/riding speciality: mtb xco
favorite course or riding area (North America): mont-sainte-anne
favorite course or riding area (europe): les vosges in summer and fréjus in winter
favorite food: sushi, healthy food with fresh vegetables or pizza when there is no season
goals: to be happy as often as possible
heroes: no one in particular—human beings can be both heroic and pathetic in everyday life, so I try to watch the first part and neglect [ neglect] the second
favorite artist: I have eclectic musical tastes
favorite movie: same as music. I’m not the kind of person who stays in the same: movies, food, sorry! life is too rich!
favorite hobbies: training and spa!
work done (other than pilot): will reply in a few years
Most embarrassing moment: You mean the kind of moments where you’re confronted with someone with a piece of salad between your teeth and you don’t know them well enough to tell them? well, I hope it hasn’t arrived yet and never will!
he always goes on a trip: my complex things, my airpods
what you would be if you weren’t a runner: I love being a runner! I enjoy it more every day, so I can’t imagine choosing a different life.
pauline ferrand-prevot’s bmc fourstroke
frame: bmc fourstroke, carbon, size small, 100mm rear travel, 29-inch wheel
“I love the bmc geometry, modern and perfect for the technical tracks we now find on the world circuit! I really feel more comfortable and confident with those bikes.”
Weight: 10.04 kilograms (22.13 pounds)
front brake: sram level ultimate, 160mm disc
rear brake: sram level ultimate, 160mm disc
brake/shift levers: sram level ultimate
fork: rockshox sid ultimate 100mm, 32mm
shock absorber: rockshox sid lux ultimate, 100 mm
front chainring: sram xx1 axs—32 tooth or 34 tooth, depending on the track
rear derailleur: sram xx1 axles
cassette: 10-50
wheels: new duke carbon sls, 28mm inner (front), 30mm inner (rear); swiss dt rims; boost 148(r), 110(f); sapim radios
rims: vittoria mezkal, 29×2.25 inches (most of the time)
handlebars: bmc carbon, 700 mm (27.56 inches)
stem: bmc, 50mm (1.97 inches)
headphones: bmc
ribbon/grips: mtb 90
pedals: time
saddle: prologue pas
seatpost: bmc rad, 0-20mm at 80mm drop
mba questions and answers
mba: where did you grow up?
pauline ferrand-prevot: in reims, in france, famous for champagne wine!
mba: What kind of work do (or did) your mother and father do?
pfp: my father owned a bike shop and my mother worked for a national insurance company.
mba: when did you start riding a bike?
pfp: at 5 years old.
mba: If you rode other types of bikes before mountain bikes, how long did you do that?
pfp: I started with cx and xc, so no need to change.
mba: what have been your best results in competition on non-mountain bikes?
pfp: I love road racing so I guess my best result there is winning la flèche wallonne in 2014.
mba: when did you start racing mountain bikes?
pfp: back in 2005. I used to race with older drivers and guys as there were few girls on the track.
mba: how did your first mountain bike event go?
pfp: I was very excited, because I have always been a competitor, I love to train, so I wanted to show my parents that a mtb race was the right place for me, just like my mother. I’m not too happy to have a daughter riding mtb, even though she rides a bike too! but, she wanted me to [do] ice skating. I tried, less than a year. no way! he couldn’t bear to be judged by someone. I prefer when the clock is the answer!
mba: what have been your best national and international mountain bike results?
pfp: maybe seven elite world titles in xc, cx and road. They are all great memories, but I really enjoyed the last two of 2019 and 2020, as they have been for me the sign of a resurrection in my career after three difficult years fighting injuries and doubts.
mba: where did you go to school?
pfp: in reims. i love french. I was a pretty good student, I loved school, although I soon got involved in a mixed bag of school sports. That’s why I hate it when I post some French mistakes on my social media! but I must admit that I haven’t really worked in my “cool fancy language” for years.
mba: do you have any other professional training?
pfp: #
mba: Did you get any sports or academic awards while you were in school?
pfp: it was after school. i had the opportunity to be nominated for the sportel awards in monaco last year. good memories.
mba: what other sports do you practice besides mountain biking?
pfp: road bike, cyclocross, a bit of motocross. I also love trail running.
mba: have you competed in any of them?
pfp: road and cx, yes.
mba: If so, how well have you done?
pfp: world champion in 2014 and 2015,
mba: If possible, tell us something interesting or unusual about yourself or your family that is not well known.
pfp: I love salted butter caramel macaroons and have always loved riding a special bike. it was one of my demands when i signed with bmc, but none was as special as my bmc! it was a fantastic experience working with the curveless artist to create that unique version of my fourstroke and twostroke. I had to associate images with traits of my character, not always qualities! it was like an invitation to take my place in his artistic universe. I don’t think I have a creative side, but I have to admit I really got into the game. but I didn’t see the creation until it was finished, so I discovered it after my mechanic and so on. it was a very special moment. There is always the fear of discovering a custom bike: will you like it or not? it’s a bit like a gift. It also comes to say if the person who gives it to you knows you well or not, and if you have given him the means to know you as you are. and even if i knew all the investment made by bmc, no curves and all the people who worked on this bike, and for whom i thank you with all my heart, i would never have been able to ride a bike that they didn’t like, so there was a lot at stake!
So finding out was a moment of intense truth, and a real relief! I am very happy, because in addition to being beautiful, this bike is also a way for people to get to know me a little better, behind appearances or what they think they know about me without knowing me deeply. everything makes sense, and there I find myself fully. I was already in love with the geometry of my bmcs; now, i am more proud than ever, honored and happy to ride them every day.