Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of France won the Olympic Cross-Country World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne on Saturday, August 31st, near Quebec City, Canada, claiming a fourth world title, four years after latest.
"I knew it was my day"
"I think it's my best title in the world," said Pauline Ferrand-Prévot immediately after her race, letting even a few tears fall on the podium. "I've already lost the last four years, I knew it was my day, "she added.
The new quadruple world champion is coming back after a January operation of an iliac endofibrosis, a pain that, she says, has ruined her previous three seasons.
Yet in 18th position, the French cyclist was explosive throughout the race to climb to the top of the standings, ahead of Switzerland Jolanda Neff and Australia's Rebecca McConnell, leaving the race's favorite, the American Kate Courtney in 5th place.
The 27-year-old Champenoise has recently returned to the podium with a bronze medal on Wednesday (August 28th) in the mixed relay national team event and winning a World Cup event in early August in Italy. On the national level, the companion of the cyclist Julien Absalon, remained sovereign and won a sixth title of champion of France on July 21st.