It just hasn’t been Kristen Faulkner’s week. The reigning Olympic champion struggled with illness in the lead-up to the nine-day Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. And while she still took to the start of women’s cycling’s biggest event, she did so with less-than-ideal fitness and health.
Things only went downhill when racing got underway. The 32-year-old American was involved in two crashes in the first four stages, nearly missed the time cut on Stage 2, and has come out saying that every day has been ‘a fight.’
“I hope it’s relatable, and reminds people that even the strongest struggle, whether you’re an Olympic medalist or not. Every champion, every leader, every Instagram model has moments like this. We’re all human.”