Rallying cooperation, a selfless display of valor in yellow attire, and adversarial communications - Sarah Gigante's thrilling journey from recuperation to attaining a podium finish in the Tour de France Femmes, dressed in yellow
Sarah Gigante Finishes Second in Queen Stage of Tour de France Femmes
Sarah Gigante, the rising star of AG Insurance-Soudal, put on a strong showing in the queen stage of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes. Despite initial disappointment, Gigante was emotional about her second-place finish on the challenging Col de la Madeleine climb.
Gigante, who had recently recovered from iliac artery endofibrosis surgery, attacked on the Col de la Madeleine, a hors categorie-ranked climb. Her impressive performance earned her a spot on the podium at the Tour de France Femmes. However, on the final day's Joux-Plane descent and climb, she lost ground to the leaders and finished the stage seventh, ending the Tour in sixth place overall, 6 minutes and 40 seconds behind the winner, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.
Ferrand-Prevot, who also won Stage 8 on the Col de la Madeleine, pulled away from the field with 6.7 km to go on Stage 9 and finished 20 seconds ahead of second place, securing the overall victory. Niamh Fisher-Black (LidlTrek) finished in third place, 30 seconds after Gigante, while Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) finished in fourth place.
Gigante's team, AG Insurance-Soudal, went all out to ensure she was well-positioned for the queen stage. Kim De Koninck sacrificed her own position to help Gigante on the climb, and Gigante expressed gratitude towards her team for helping her maintain position during the descent.
Gigante's rapid rise at AG Insurance-Soudal has been remarkable, and she has thrived in the environment. However, she has had to battle through a career filled with injuries, illness, and complications. Despite this, she remains confident about her performance in the upcoming stages.
Despite her strong performance in the queen stage, Gigante has received negative messages and comments about her descending skills. However, she remains focused on her goal of becoming a top contender in women's cycling.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevéot (Visma-Lease a Bike) also finished the queen stage of the Tour de France Femmes, securing her dominant win. Gigante currently stands in second place overall in the Tour de France Femmes, with a 2:37 gap to the French stage winner.
As the Tour de France Femmes continues, Gigante will look to build on her strong performance in the queen stage and challenge for the overall victory. With her determination and resilience, there is no doubt that Gigante will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in women's cycling.
Sarah Gigante's impressive second-place finish on the queen stage of the Tour de France Femmes showcases her strong presence in the world of sports. Despite a tough challenge ahead, Gigante aims to build on this performance and continue making waves in women's cycling.
