How is your form and preparation, what’s new?
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (PFP): I’m already in good shape, but not my best shape at the moment; it is still my aim to be the best for the UCI Cycling World Championships in August. In Leogang [Pauline won the cross-country short track (XCC) then finished 7th in the XCO], I wasn’t good, I knew already on the rollers in the warm-up, I could feel that it was not my best day. So I tried to make the best of it and take it like training. You can’t always be successful and even when it is hard you have to keep pushing. It’s frustrating but it’s also good...
If I’m not in my best shape but I can still be in the top 5 in UCI World Cups it’s promising!
Nino Schurter (NS): So far so good. I did the Cape Epic [mountain bike stage race in South Africa] which gave me a good base. Because of the long season I did not race a lot prior to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. But now it’s go time! [Nino certainly did ‘go!’, winning his record 34th UCI World Cup at the Lenzerheide round in Switzerland.]
How does the UCI World Cup prepare you for a UCI World Championships?
PFP: For me it’s totally different, there are many UCI World Cups but there is only one UCI World Championship, so you have only one chance in the year to be the best in the world. I like it because it’s a bit more pressure, but when you are UCI World Champion it’s for life.
NS: It’s in many ways the same. The big difference for us athletes is that we are with our trade team all UCI World Cup season long, but at the UCI World Championships we are racing for the national team.
Is every one of your rainbow jerseys equally special?
PFP: When I look back I would say that last year’s in Les Gets was the one, because it was in France, in front of my family, and everyone was waiting for me, and to make it the big day was just so cool. To be able to share the happiness with my family was such a nice moment.
NS: Each one of the 10 was special. But the first one in 2009 in Canberra (Australia) at my first Elite UCI World Championship and the last one in Les Gets because it was “la decima“ are standing out. However, the absolute greatest winning experience was 2018 becoming UCI World Champion in front of my home crowd [Lenzerheide].
What does this year’s UCI Cycling World Championships mean for you?
PFP: The Olympic distance XCO is still my main focus for the UCI World Championships, but I’m also enjoying the XCC. In one way it’s good training for the XCO race and it’s a super-nice discipline because it’s 20 minutes, full gas, all out. I also think for the spectators it’s fun to watch. NS: I’m curious about the first multi-discipline UCI Cycling World Championships. I’m sure it’s going to be a great experience!
Who and what should we watch out for in August?
PFP: It’s so hard to say because in XCO right now there are probably 10 women who are able to win the UCI World Championships! Our discipline is growing, and you can see the young riders coming and already being good. It’s a big motivation for me because it’s always good to see new faces. Right now I know why I’m training, it’s because I want to be UCI World Champion, but I also know that these young girls also want to be UCI World Champion. Puck Pieterse, for me she looks like the new star of MTB, she rides with no fear, just goes full gas. In the men’s, Nino is just amazing, 34 UCI World Cup wins is crazy and he’s the big star. And Tom Pidcock, my Ineos Grenadiers team mate, watch out for him, and Mathieu Van der Poel, it will be great to see what he can do at the UCI Cycling World Championships.
NS: Everything! August will be the month of cycling! I’m pretty sure the road race will be epic, especially with the UK’s cycling enthusiasm!