During her first media engagement with her new team, Visma-Lease A Bike, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot outlined her biggest goal on returning to the tarmac to win the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

The 32-year-old French woman has not raced on the streets since 2018 and has won 4 XCO World Titles and Olympic gold in Paris while away. Ferrand-Prevo has signed a three-year contract with Visma Rees for the 2025 season.

"I signed here for three years and I want to bring out the best version of myself to see if I can try to win the Tour de France. That's the main goal for these 3 seasons," she told Wheeler Fritz and other assembled press during the team's first offseason camp.

"I wouldn't have taken this step had I not been convinced that I could do it," she added.

The Women's World Tour has come a very long way since Ferran Prevo raced the La Course in Le Tour in 2018 on May 7. However, she is confident that after a period of re-mastery at the Peloton, she still has the abilities needed to compete at the very top level.

The 2014 world champion has decided to compete in the Elite Women's Road Race at the recent Zurich World Championships. Lotte Kopecky (SD Works Pro Time) won two consecutive titles. 

It was her first taste of how the level of competition has developed over the last few years. She struggled, but Ferrand-Prévot will use this event as a measure of where she needs to go in the coming months.

"The level is also much higher. I rode the World Championship in Zurich, but I dropped out after two hours of racing. I watched more of that race on TV than myself. Right after the start, the throttle was wide open," said Ferrand-Prévot.

"After 1 hour, I felt my leg completely exploded. Now it's a completely different sport."

"I have to work hard and the competition is also very strong. But when I look at my power data, I know that I am a good WorldTour rider. It's only a matter of time before I can ride the Peloton again well, study the race and really get back on the road," she added.

Despite the current gap between her and the best, Ferran Prevo believes she can reach a level where she can compete in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift within the next three seasons. 

Jonas Vingegaard In their experience propelling into the Tour de France victory of two men, Ferran Prevo believes the Visma-Lees bike is perfect to get her into the form of the Tour de France women's victory.

"I need to master all the details to the best of my ability. So Visma-Lease A Bike is a very good fit for me. They won the tour for men 2 times with Jonas Vingegaard. They know how to do it. It all comes to me having to work hard. But to go for a possible tour victory, that's what I do every hard training session.

Ferran Prevo confirmed that the current plan is for her to participate in the 2025 tour. Te to find out how close she is to the likes of Demi Vollering, who races for her new team FDJ-Suez, and defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM)

She has already researched the route and is happy with what she has seen.

"For me, it's good to take one step at a time. Return to the road first and find my optimal position on a regular racing bike. It will only work on improving the time trial settings. Let's say this course is good for me and makes the transition a bit easier. The mix between a short slope and a long climb should suit me well. I'm interested in seeing how far I can get and what I need to work to be the best."

"If I make a choice, I'll get on the tour.”