Pauline Ferrand-Prevot is under no illusions about how much effort it will take to contend for victory at the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Hogelheide on February 4.

"The World Championships is totally my goal. That's why I came here. I wanted to judge myself and see what I had to do to get better. I'm not going to be here all the time," said Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, who finished seventh at the UEC Cyclocross European Championships.

The Frenchwoman made a brutal return to cyclocross, finishing 12th in the midweek Koppenberg Cross after suffering mechanical problems before finishing seventh in the elite women's race at the European Championships in Namur on Saturday.

The 30-year-old, who won the cyclocross world title in 2015, finished 2:26 behind newly crowned European champion Fem van Empel.

Van Empel, competing in her first elite women's race at the European Championships, recovered from a puncture on the second lap to overtake the Frenchwoman on the cobbled climb to the Namur Citadel and take the win.

It was the first elite cyclo-cross crown for Van Empel, who had been promoted from the under-23 category at the championships. Fellow youngster Blanca Kata Vas (21) also moved up an age category with the elite riders, finishing third.

"I didn't get to see it today, so I'll have to watch the replays," Ferrand-Prevot said after the race.

"It's really good to see a new generation coming through and some new faces. My last cyclocross world championship was in 2017, a long time ago.

"Obviously I'm not in the form to win, but I know I need to rest now and I have to try to fight for first place."

Ferrand-Prevot has been in the mountain bike cross country, short track, and marathon this season She has already won world titles in the categories, and last month she also won the gravel world title.

She signed a two-year contract with Ineos Grenadiers this week, marking her debut as the first female rider on the off-road team.

In a nightmarish debut run up the Koppenberg, she finished six minutes behind Van Empel.

"It's the beginning and the start of my 'cross season," Ferran-Prevot explained after a series of mechanical problems at the Koppenberg Cross, problems with the Shimano groupset on her new Pinarello-Crossista F.

"It wasn't easy to find a good set-up because it was all new bikes and new stuff for a week.

Ferrand-Prevot said he was satisfied with his seventh place finish in Namur as he begins preparations for the World Cyclocross Championships in February.

"I didn't know what to expect," he said.

"I was just tired, just at full throttle. I did another spin on the rollers this morning and I was already feeling tired."

"The World Championships is totally my goal. That's why I came here. I wanted to judge myself and see what I needed to do to get better. I came here to observe what I need to do to get better."