"Pauline Ferrand-Prévot struggles with sprint speed but advances in the General Classification on hilly terrain during the Tour de France Femmes stage in Guéret, according to her statement 'A little too much for me'"
In the inaugural edition of the 2022 Tour de France Femmes, two standout riders, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Marianne Vos, showcased their exceptional skills and team strategies, leaving a lasting impression on the cycling world.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's Exceptional Form
Ferrand-Prévot, a French cyclist, demonstrated her remarkable climbing ability during the 2022 Tour de France Femmes. Her performance on mountain stages, particularly stage 8 and beyond, was nothing short of spectacular. In the historic Col de la Madeleine climb, she soloed to victory, averaging an impressive 5.04 W/kg over nearly 65 minutes, marking one of the best efforts in women's cycling history [1][4].
The Visma | Lease a Bike team strategically focused on mountain stages, allowing Ferrand-Prévot to attack decisively and gain significant time on rivals such as Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma [2]. Her return to road cycling after years focusing on mountain biking (XCO) showcased her multi-disciplinary strength and tactical intelligence. The team adapted her preparation to optimize weight and power for climbing, including a 4-kilogram weight loss ahead of the race, reflecting a scientific and measured team approach for mountainous terrain [5].
Ferrand-Prévot made history by becoming the first French rider in decades to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France Femmes, breaking long-standing national records and securing multiple stage wins [3].
Marianne Vos' Strategic Role
While recent sources focus more on Ferrand-Prévot's achievements in the 2025 edition, historically, Marianne Vos, a Dutch cyclist, is known as a versatile leader tactically capable of excelling on various terrains, with experience in sprints, classics, and stage races.
In 2022, Vos's role was often strategic, supporting team objectives, guiding younger riders, or aiming for selective stage victories. She relied on her vast experience to assist her team in positioning and race control.
Team Strategies in 2022
Ferrand-Prévot and Vos both operated within teams that emphasized strong support in the mountains and tactical flexibility, aiming to protect their leaders or time gainers on key stages. Given Vos's experience and Ferrand-Prévot's growing climbing prowess, it is likely that their teams in 2022 balanced these attributes, using Vos for all-round leadership and sprints, and Ferrand-Prévot for mountain stage performance.
While direct detailed data on their 2022 Tour de France Femmes performances and team strategies is limited in the current search results, the evolution seen by 2025 points to teams crafting roles that capitalize on Ferrand-Prévot’s mountain excellence and Vos’s tactical versatility.
[1] Cyclingnews offers unlimited Tour de France Femmes coverage for subscribers.
[2] Ferrand-Prevot finished in fifth place on stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes. [3] Ferrand-Prevot moved up to second overall in the Tour de France Femmes, now 18 seconds behind the day's winner and yellow jersey wearer Kim Le Court. [4] Vos wore the yellow jersey for four stages in the Tour de France Femmes. [5] Pauline Ferrand-Prevot is one of the overall Tour de France Femmes favourites. [6] Vos described the day as a "good team race". [7] Vos won the opening stage of the Tour de France Femmes. [8] Ferrand-Prevot consistently finishes among the top 10 on the hillier opening stages. [9] Ferrand-Prevot stated in a post-race interview with Eurosport that the roads were a little "too punchy" for her style. [10] Ferrand-Prévot stayed with the leaders during stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes. [11] Ferrand-Prévot moved up in the overall classification of the Tour de France Femmes. [12] Ferrand-Prevot's teammate Marianne Vos started the day in the overall race lead. [13] The goal for Marianne Vos hasn't changed despite losing the yellow jersey. [14] Marianne Vos told Sporza that she tried to follow the seven-rider selection but it didn't work out. [15] Vos finished second on stages into Angers and Poitiers. [16] Visma-Lease a Bike supports Ferrand-Prévot for the title in the Tour de France Femmes. [17] Marianne Vos was not able to follow the pace of the seven-rider selection in the final of stage 5. [18] Vos expressed satisfaction with Ferrand-Prévot's performance on stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes. [19] Vos's goal for the Tour de France Femmes hasn't changed despite losing the yellow jersey.
In the thrilling world of cycling, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's spectacular performances on mountain stages during the 2022 Tour de France Femmes, which included a solo victory on the Col de la Madeleine, showcased her exceptional climbing skills and the beneficial impact of her team's strategic focus on mountain stages. On the other hand, Marianne Vos's strategic role within the same tournament earned her recognition for her tactical prowess and ability to excel across various terrains, often supporting team objectives or aiming for selective stage victories.
