Pauline Ferrand-Prévot takes commanding victory in Banyoles at Shimano Super Cup XCO

Ineos Grenadiers rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took a dominant win at the latest round of the Shimano Super Cup mountain bike XCO race. Taking place just outside Girona, Spain at Banyoles, the racing was fast in the dry and dusty conditions.

The start list for the race closely resembled that of a World Cup XCO with the bulk of the World Cup field using this event as a tune-up ahead of the UCI World Cup season kicking off in Brazil in April. Joining Ferrand-Prévot on the start line were the likes of Jolanda Neff and Evie Richards, both previous World Champions in the discipline.

• Read more: Mountain Bike World Cup XC bikes ranked: cheapest to most expensive

From the start, the racing was fast with a small group breaking ahead. From here it was Ferrand-Prévot who quickly asserted herself as the rider to beat, stringing the race out with only the US champion Savilia Blunk able to follow. This was short-lived, with Ferrand-Prévot heading off on her own in search of victory.

That would be the last time that Ferrand-Prévot would be seen by any of her competitors until after the finish. Crossing the line, Ferrand-Prevot finished 1:03 ahead of Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory Racing) and 1:25 ahead of Savilia Blunk (Rockrider Racing Team).

• Read more: Tom Pidcock comes from behind to win opening round of Shimano MTB Super Cup

This win marks Ferrand-Prévot’s second win at the Shimano Super Cup this year, aswell as her second win at Banyoles.

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INEOS Grenadiers

• Nationality United Kingdom
• Founded 2010
• Team Principal David Brailsford
• UCI Code IGD
• Bike Sponsor Pinarello