French flair for a solo win, and it comes with Aussie pride
The show includes a touching fan interview from Mauritius, reflecting the sport's global reach. With the general classification heating up, we look ahead to the decisive stages to come.
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In the latest episode of the SBS Cycling Podcast, Christophe and Macka delve into the drama and emotion of the Tour de France stage in Chambéry. The highlight of the day was a stunning victory by French rider Maeva Squiban, whose performance on the steep climbs and technical descents marked her as a standout talent and a hopeful symbol for French cycling. The episode also dives into the intensifying general classification battle, with Kim Le Court currently in the yellow jersey but under mounting pressure from her rivals as the race heads into the weekend. The hosts offer sharp insights into team tactics, rider form, and the unpredictable dynamics of the Tour. Special guest Jeremy Ford discusses the growing impact of African cycling and how Le Court's visibility is inspiring a new generation of athletes.
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an hour ago
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Local hero Squiban storms to second straight Tour win
Australia's Sarah Gigante has kept pace with the Tour de France Femmes leaders as France's Maeva Squiban delighted home fans with a solo victory in the seventh stage. Friday's victory was Squiban's second in two days, making her only the fourth rider to claim back-to-back stages at the race. Gigante, who moved into the leading group after finishing in the leading pack on Wednesday, came home in 16th place for the second day running, 1 minute 11 seconds behind the winner. The result meant the AG Insurance-Soudal rider slipped a place to eighth in the general classification, 1 min 14 sec behind yellow jersey wearer Kimberley Le Court Pienaar. The 23-year-old Squiban attacked on the upper slopes of the Col du Granier (8.9km at 5.4%) to reach the finish of the hilly stage alone, which lifted the UAE Team ADQ rider to second in the polka dot jersey standings, level on 17 points with Dutchwoman Silke Smulders. "Honestly, winning once on the Tour is already huge and now a second was an incredible day. I think it was one of the hardest days of my life, mentally as well as physically. But you have to give everything," Squiban said. "On the last climb, I just wanted to lie down on the ground, and by the end, I think for the last 15km, I was barely present - I couldn't hear anything in my ear." It was another French one-two as Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) crossed the line 51 seconds behind Squiban to take second place and American Ruth Edwards was third. A 17-rider breakaway had lit up the 159.7km stage from Bourg-en-Bresse, with Fiona Mangan (Winspace Orange Seal) becoming the first Irish rider to win an intermediate sprint at the Tour. The move split on the Cote de Saint-Franc before Squiban's decisive attack on the final climb. Mauritian rider Le Court Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) lost ground on the Granier but finished sixth to retain the yellow jersey. Le Court is ahead of Frenchwoman Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) by 26 seconds and Poland's Katarzyna Niewiadoma Phinney (Canyon-SRAM) by 30 seconds. Mountains classification leader Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) endured a difficult day and was distanced from the peloton before Squiban's climb. Ruby Roseman-Gannon was the only other Australian rider to finish inside the top 100 and she is 68th overall. Saturday's mountain stage will be from Chambery to Saint-Francois-Longchamp.
