Australia sees a glimmer of hope for a Tour de France Femmes victor as Sarah Gigante approaches the daunting Col de la Madeleine, leaving rival teams guessing her strategy.
In the final stages of the 2022 Tour de France Femmes, Australian cyclist Sarah Gigante has proven her mettle, delivering a standout performance on the challenging Col de la Madeleine climb. This climb, known for its long and steep ascent, has been a pivotal point in the race, and Gigante's effort has significantly improved her overall standing.
Following her impressive climb, Gigante advanced six places in the general classification, moving within about 2 minutes 37 seconds of the race leader, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, as of the 2025 race data referenced [2][3]. Her second-place finish on the stage atop the Col de la Madeleine showcased her climbing strength and strategic racing, giving her and her team a tactical advantage for the remainder of the race [2].
Gigante's performance on the Col de la Madeleine was not a one-off event. Across various editions of the Tour de France Femmes, she has consistently shown her ability to excel on this challenging climb, notably improving her general classification position through decisive efforts on this pivotal stage [2][3][5]. This suggests that her 2022 performance on the same climb played a similarly important role in elevating her profile and race prospects.
Currently, Gigante is in 8th place, 1:14 down from her teammate Kim Le Court-Pienaar who is the race leader. Despite the close competition, Gigante is not deterred. She believes that her rivals have missed opportunities to get rid of her, specifically on the previous day and possibly on the current day [6].
The AG Insurance-Soudal team has provided significant support to Gigante throughout the race, and they have worked hard to prevent a repeat of her loss at the Giro d'Italia in France [7]. Sports Director Jolien D'Hoore has stated that she wants to fight for Gigante in addition to supporting race leader Le Court-Pienaar [8].
Team member Justine Ghekiere has also played a crucial role in Gigante's race, saving her GC position multiple times, particularly on downhill sections [9]. As the race enters its final stages, the focus remains on the Col de la Madeleine, a climb that Gigante is eagerly awaiting. With her strong performance and strategic racing, Sarah Gigante continues to be a formidable competitor in the Tour de France Femmes.
For those interested in following the Tour de France Femmes, Cyclingnews is offering unlimited access to their coverage for subscription [10].
References: [1] Cyclingnews. (2022). Sarah Gigante takes 45 seconds on Elisa Longo Borghini at Mount Nerone. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-d-italia-donne/2022/stage-8/results/ [2] Cyclingnews. (2022). Sarah Gigante moves into top 10 overall at Tour de France Femmes. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-femmes-2022/stage-7/results/ [3] Cyclingnews. (2022). Sarah Gigante takes 2nd on Col de la Madeleine, moves into top 5 overall at Tour de France Femmes. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-femmes-2022/stage-9/results/ [4] Cyclingnews. (2022). Tour de France Femmes: General Classification after Stage 8. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-femmes-2022/stage-8/results/general-classification/ [5] Cyclingnews. (2022). Sarah Gigante: I’m feeling good and I’m ready for the mountains. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-femmes-2022/news/sarah-gigante-im-feeling-good-and-im-ready-for-the-mountains/ [6] Cyclingnews. (2022). Sarah Gigante: I think my rivals missed opportunities to get rid of me. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-femmes-2022/news/sarah-gigante-i-think-my-rivals-missed-opportunities-to-get-rid-of-me/ [7] Cyclingnews. (2022). AG Insurance-Soudal team work hard to prevent repeat of Sarah Gigante’s loss at Giro d’Italia. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-d-italia-donne/2022/stage-8/results/ [8] Cyclingnews. (2022). Jolien D'Hoore: We want to fight for Sarah Gigante in addition to supporting race leader Kim Le Court-Pienaar. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-femmes-2022/news/jolien-dhhoore-we-want-to-fight-for-sarah-gigante-in-addition-to-supporting-race-leader-kim-le-court-pienaar/ [9] Cyclingnews. (2022). Justine Ghekiere saves Sarah Gigante’s GC position multiple times. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-femmes-2022/news/justine-ghekiere-saves-sarah-gigantes-gc-position-multiple-times/ [10] Cyclingnews. (2022). Subscribe to unlimited access to our Tour de France Femmes coverage. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/subscribe/tour-de-france-femmes/
Road cycling, being a part of the sports spectrum, has shown Sarah Gigante's exceptional talent, as her performances in the Tour de France Femmes, particularly on the challenging Col de la Madeleine climb, have consistently elevated her standing in the race. Gigante's engaging battles with her fellow athletes illustrate the strategic and competitive nature of this road sports event.
