Cyclist Says Winning Obsession Cost Her Joy
Elite athletes who chase results may lose enjoyment of training and daily life, as one rider's candid account shows.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Cycling
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Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has said she lost the joy of everyday life while chasing another Tour de France Femmes win. She withdrew from the 2026 Tour after stage 7 and did not race again for the rest of 2026.
Why it matters
Ferrand-Prévot's account describes how an intense focus on winning can crowd out well-being, a pattern relevant to any athlete or active person whose goals become all-consuming. Her reflection came after her husband, Dylan van Baarle, was injured in a training collision, which led her to rethink what matters beyond racing.
This is a first-person account from the rider, supported by her 2026 race results and competition-day total. It describes her personal experience and is not a controlled study, so it reflects one athlete's perspective.
The players
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot
A French professional road and cycle-cross rider who won the 2025 Tour de France Femmes and Paris-Roubaix.
Dylan van Baarle
A Dutch professional road cyclist and Ferrand-Prévot's husband, who was injured in an October 2026 training collision.
The details
Ferrand-Prévot wrote about her obsessive focus in an Instagram post, explaining that after a strong 2025 she became so fixated on winning the Tour again that she stopped enjoying everyday life. Her 2026 season included podium-level classics results, but her performances in later Tour stages fell short, and she withdrew after stage 7. She has said the most important thing now is to rediscover the joy of riding.
Timeline
2025 season: won the Tour de France Femmes and Paris-Roubaix.
Early 2026: took second place at the Tour of Flanders.
2026 Tour de France Femmes: withdrew after stage 7.
October 2026: van Baarle was injured in a training collision in Tiel, Netherlands.
October 31, 2026: Ferrand-Prévot posted her reflection on Instagram.
Health Landscape
Ferrand-Prévot's account reflects a broader concern in elite endurance sport about how relentless focus on results can affect an athlete's sense of wellbeing. Her case adds a first-person example to the conversation about balancing high performance with mental health and life outside competition.
If you are training hard toward a goal, it is worth noticing whether the pursuit still brings you enjoyment in daily life. Persistent loss of interest or joy is worth discussing with your doctor or a sports-psychology professional.
The takeaway
Ferrand-Prévot's experience is a reminder that enjoyment of an activity can be lost when results become the only measure of success. If you notice that pressure is crowding out rest and enjoyment, consider a conversation with a qualified health professional.
Further reading
For more on the sport behind this story, explore our Cycling coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Velo.
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