It was a blazing hot sunny day in eastern France when Cédrine Kerbaol won the biggest race of her career. The crucial attack came with just 13 kilometres of stage six of the Tour de France Femmes remaining when she crested the final climb and the rest of her breakaway companions started to tire. Initially, just Pauliena Rooijakkers could follow Kerbaol, but not for long. When the descent began, the Frenchwoman came into her own, speeding around corners and switchbacks with unrivalled skill and precision. Quickly, she was alone, sprinting towards the finish line and the fans who waited to congratulate her in Morteau.
This is how Kerbaol does it. Her four road wins this season have all been solo, products of impeccable timing, glorious race craft and, as she says herself, “winning the mental fight”. For the Ceratizit-WNT rider, cycling is about far more than just having the strongest legs. That, according to her, is why she thrives when others begin to struggle, be that in the closing kilometres of a brutally tough Tour stage, or in the pouring, lashing rain at Tre Valli Varesine a few weeks ago, or when she’s racing against the clock in a tricky time trial.
“When we’re in tough conditions, I’m just thinking that others are disappointed about the weather and that I need to use that as a strength,” Kerbaol explains. “It’s not because I like it more, it’s more like I try to use everything I can to win. That stage of the Tour, it took a lot of patience. I think that’s always what makes me win, I really wait for a good moment.”
It’s for this same reason that Kerbaol believes she thrives in stage races when it’s about maintaining mental focus and concentration for a prolonged period.
“I prefer GC races, because for me, it’s not only a physical fight, it’s also a mental one,” she says. “After a few days, it’s a bit like the Hunger Games and I find that quite fun. Anything can happen. You need to take care not to crash and not to be injured, or fall sick. It’s a big challenge but I like this type of challenge.”
The 23-year-old is acutely aware of the number of elements that come into play when building herself into the best bike rider she can be. While physicality is important, tactical nous and technical skill is also imperative to winning races. She proved that when she won the white jersey in last year’s Tour de France Femmes, and again in 2024 when she fought hard to finish in sixth place on the general…