Pauline Ferrand-Prévot ‘still struggling’ after ankle surgery, not yet training again

It has been an extended low season than anticipated for Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who lower her racing season quick to have ankle surgical procedure, and confirmed this week that she shouldn’t be but again coaching as she continues to get better.

Regardless of profitable the Tour de France Femmes in August, Ferrand-Prévot revealed that she had been struggling all season with an ankle damage after crashing in Strade Bianche in March.

After racing the Highway World Championships, she was slated to start out the Gravel World Championships, however forfeited that to have surgical procedure on October 3.

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Initially, the Frenchwoman was anticipated to be unable to train for 3 weeks, however in an replace posted to Instagram three weeks after the operation, she confirmed that she’s nonetheless not coaching, and is more likely to be out of motion for one more three weeks.

“Tips on how to go from a high-level sports activities physique to a sedentary one within the area of some weeks,” she joked in her put up, accompanied by pictures of a enjoyable and friends-filled low season.

“Three weeks put up op, and nonetheless 100% low season. The reality is that I get pleasure from each second to the fullest, as a result of I’ve the possibility to go to distinctive locations,” she mentioned of the vacation time she’s spending off the bike.

“However I nonetheless wrestle with my ankle which isn’t totally recovered. I get very drained, and there are days I really feel weak and sick. Based on the surgeon, we nonetheless need to be affected person for 3 weeks in order that all the things might be positive.”

She hooked up a photograph of the injured ankle, wanting swollen and with a big scar.

She has not been anticipated to race a cyclocross season this yr, however the newest replace appears to categorically rule out any appearances within the mud.

Given she received Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de France Femmes, Ferrand-Prévot’s damage did not appear to have an effect on her comeback season too negatively, however wanted to be addressed earlier than she heads into her second yr of her return to street racing.

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The Frenchwoman has already been outlining her objectives for 2026, which is able to naturally embrace a Tour de France title defence – she’s mentioned she must “work on the time trial” earlier than that – and one other tilt on the spring Classics.

The Highway World Championships are one other large aim, however she’s eyeing the occasion in 2027, when it’ll happen in France, greater than subsequent season’s Worlds in Montréal. She has additionally identified her lack of need to race for racing’s sake, and is anticipated to have one other programme of focused, purposeful races.

Earlier than any of that, although, she faces this restoration from damage after which the return to coaching forward of the season restarting. Although she won’t kick off her season in January, the Spring Classics begin as early as the beginning of March.

Ferrand-Prévot does not appear swayed by the setback, however conceded that she has a troublesome method again to her greatest.

“Mentally I’m doing nice, it’s additionally tremendous cool spending time with Dylan [van Baarle, her partner], his household, my buddies and soon-to-be household,” she mentioned. “However restoration positive is gonna harm.”