"Sarah Gigante loses top spot at Tour de France Femmes but finds encouragement in performance improvements ahead of next year"
Sarah Gigante Falls Short of Podium at Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
Australian cyclist Sarah Gigante finished sixth overall in this year's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, narrowly missing out on a podium spot after being in second place before the final stage.
Gigante lost significant time in the last stage, ultimately dropping from second to sixth in the general classification. Her disappointment was palpable as she expressed her regret at losing her podium spot and top five position in the final stage.
The final stage was a challenging one for Gigante. She struggled physically on the mid-stage hors catégorie climb of Col de Joux-Plane, where she fell behind her main GC rivals. Following the climb, she couldn’t keep pace with the leading group on the difficult descent, and had to rely on "time trial mode" efforts to limit her losses.
Earlier, Gigante had performed exceptionally on the queen stage with a strong attack on the Col de la Madeleine, taking second place on that summit finish behind Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. However, Ferrand-Prévot’s superior strength on the climb and sustained effort outpaced Gigante, who acknowledged Ferrand-Prévot as stronger that day despite the team’s hard work to support her.
Gigante’s climbing power, teamwork, and tactical aggression were on display throughout the race. However, the accumulation of fatigue in the final stage’s mountain terrain and descents, combined with the strength of rivals like Ferrand-Prévot, contributed to her dropping from a potential podium finish to sixth place.
It's worth noting that Gigante recovered from iliac artery endofibrosis surgery earlier in the year, which may have impacted her endurance over the full race.
Despite the disappointing finish, Gigante's performance in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift could be a building block for the future. Cyclingnews offers breaking news, reports, and analysis from the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, providing fans with unlimited access to coverage of next year's event.
[1] Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Official Website - Link [2] Cyclingnews - Link [3] Cycling Weekly - Link
Sarah Gigante's sixth-place finish in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift was marred by her failure to secure a podium spot, having been in second place before the final stage. Her attempts to regain her position were hindered by a physically challenging final stage, particularly on the Col de Joux-Plane climb and the subsequent steep descent.
Gigante's spectacular climb on the queen stage's Col de la Madeleine, where she finished second, showcased her climbing power, teamwork, and tactical aggression. However, the combined effects of fatigue, tough terrain, and stronger rivals like Pauline Ferrand-Prévot foiled her chances of reaching the podium.
