Climbing prodigy Maeva Squiban, the woman causing a commotion in the Tour de France Femmes. Who is this climb-master sending shivers down the competition?
In the ongoing Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, French cyclist Maeva Squiban has stolen the spotlight with her impressive performances, particularly her back-to-back stage victories. The 23-year-old from Brest, Brittany, has made history by becoming only the third professional cyclist to achieve consecutive stage wins in the event[4][5].
Squiban's journey to prominence began at the tender age of 13 when she started cycling in her local club in Brittany[2]. Her talent was evident from the start, and she quickly rose through the ranks. Her career took a significant leap forward when she signed a two-year deal with UAE Team ADQ ahead of the 2025 season[7].
The 2025 Tour de France Femmes has been a challenging one for UAE Team ADQ, with illness causing their team leader, Elisa Longo Borghini, to withdraw after stage 2[1]. However, Squiban has stepped up to the challenge, demonstrating fearless and aggressive riding that has paid off handsomely[5].
Squiban's first stage win came on the gruelling Col du Granier stage, where she reached speeds of 90kph while staying in complete control[6]. Her second win came on the Col du Chansert, marking France's first stage victory of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift[3]. In addition to these victories, she also earned the Queen of the Mountains (QOM) points atop the Côte de Saint-Franc and Côte de Berland[4].
Squiban's performances have significantly improved UAE Team ADQ's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift experience, despite the team currently sitting seven minutes down on the General Classification (GC) with two brutal mountain stages ahead[6]. One of the team's standout riders, Dominika Włodarczyk, is currently in 11th place overall, less than 2 minutes behind yellow-jersey wearer Kim Le Court-Pienaar[4].
Despite her success, Squiban's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has not yet ended, suggesting she may compete in more stages. Her team manager, Mike Pridham, has said that the team's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has been saved by Squiban's performances[8].
Before her breakthrough performances at the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, Squiban made her debut in the event in 2022 but had to withdraw due to a crash that resulted in a broken sacrum[9]. Her career progression includes strong results in junior races, including a silver medal at the French junior national time trial championships and a win at the Chrono des Nations juniors in 2019[7]. She also spent time as a stagiaire with the Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime continental team before receiving a full-time contract in 2021.
In summary, Maeva Squiban's career has grown from promising junior achievements to breakthrough WorldTour victories in 2025, highlighted by her remarkable back-to-back stage wins and combativity during the Tour de France Femmes, confirming her as a rising star and elite climber in women's cycling[1][2][3][4][5].
Sports have provided Maeva Squiban with a platform to showcase her exceptional talent, as evidenced by her back-to-back stage victories in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Her promising career in cycling began at the age of 13, and she continues to excel in this arena.
