Tour de France Femmes with Zwift leader, Kristen Faulkner, quits after enduring 5 difficult days of misfortune amidst her championship run.
Kristen Faulkner, the reigning Olympic champion, has had a challenging Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, with multiple setbacks affecting her performance. Faulkner, who was tipped as one to watch in the early stages, has been battling illness and was involved in crashes during the race.
Faulkner's struggles began before the Tour, as she started with less-than-ideal fitness and health. Despite this, she pushed through, often found at the back or in crashes during the race. The U.S. national champion nearly missed the time cut on Stage 2 and was involved in two crashes in the first four stages.
However, the final blow came during the neutral roll-out before Stage 5, where Faulkner was involved in another crash. Despite her resilience, she was forced to abandon the race and return home to focus on rest and recovery. Her team announced that she had given everything to support her teammates during the race.
Faulkner's withdrawal is the latest in a series of notable withdrawals due to illness and injury during this year's Tour. Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) is another top contender who has been sidelined due to injury. Meanwhile, Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) withdrew from the race due to illness.
As of August 8, 2025, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has seen the withdrawal of Faulkner, Rebecca Koerner (Uno-X Mobility), and Longo Borghini. Koerner withdrew ahead of Stage 4 due to illness, after developing a fever overnight following Stage 3.
Looking ahead, Stage 6 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will be the first mountain day, featuring four categorised climbs on a 13.7-kilometer route from Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert. The race continues to be a tough fight for those who remain, with each day presenting new challenges.
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Sports-analysis reveals that Kristen Faulkner's performance in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has been significantly affected by multiple setbacks, including illness and crashes, which may have been exacerbated by her less-than-ideal fitness prior to the race. Despite these challenges, Faulkner engaged in sports-analysis to constantly improve her racing strategy and support her teammates in the competition.
