Unfortunate setback for Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner as she experiences another crash during her participation in Tour de France Femmes for the second time
Kristen Faulkner Endures Two Crashes in 2022 Tour de France Femmes
Kristen Faulkner, a rider for EF Education-Oatly, faced a challenging Tour de France Femmes as she experienced two crashes during the race. The incidents occurred on stage 2 in Quimper and later on stage 4 near the finish in Poitiers.
On stage 4, with approximately 6km to go, Faulkner was involved in a crash. Television footage showed her being squeezed into the curb on the left-hand side of the road just as the peloton bunched up near the back. After the crash, Faulkner sustained abrasions on her left arm and leg. Despite the injuries, she remounted, requested mechanical support, and finished the stage, albeit in last place, 4 minutes and 22 seconds behind the winner.
The team did not release a detailed medical update at the time, but injuries were reported as abrasions, not severe trauma. No new medical update about Faulkner has been released since her crash on Tuesday.
Prior to the Tour de France Femmes, Faulkner had not been in the best form due to an illness. She started racing later than usual at Milan-San Remo after recovering from a concussion sustained in training in the off-season. Despite the setbacks, Faulkner demonstrated resilience and determination by completing both stages following her crashes.
Faulkner's performance during the race was hampered by the crashes. On stage 4, she crossed the line last in a 130.7km race with visible signs of physical pain. However, she showed her fighting spirit by finishing the stage. No further detailed reports of lasting injury from these crashes during the 2022 race appear in the sources.
Before the challenges of the Tour de France Femmes, Faulkner had achieved success in the sport. She won a second consecutive elite women's road race title at the USA Pro Championships in May. Faulkner had also hoped to perform in stages and provide support for her teammate Cédrine Kerbaol.
Faulkner's first crash occurred on stage 2 in Quimper. She finished last place on that day, 24:16 after stage winner Mavi García (Liv AlUla Jayco), and just inside the time limit. Faulkner sat at the side of the road for a few moments before she unclipped from her pedal and stood up.
Despite the setbacks, Faulkner subscribed to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to Tour de France Femmes coverage. She continues to be a determined rider, striving to overcome the challenges she faced during the race.
Sports took a toll on Kristen Faulkner in the 2022 Tour de France Femmes, with two crashes causing her physical pain and resulting in abrasions. Despite the injuries, she displayed resilience and determination, finishing both stages.
