ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – One year after dropping out of cycling\u2019s most iconic race midway through, Kristen Faulkner completed a sensational bounce-back on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The Olympic gold medalist from Homer finished the 2026 Tour de France Femmes in 26th place, faster than any other American in the race and her best career placing in the nine-day journey through the Swiss and French Alps.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I\u2019m 80 years old, I\u2019ll look back on this day and remember your cheers, costumes, homemade signs, high fives, smiles, jerseys, group waves, screams, bottle baskets, flags, custom T-shirts, arm tunnels, and music,\u201d she wrote to her fans and supporters in a post on her Instagram. \u201cMostly, I\u2019ll remember how you made me feel.\u201d<\/p>\n
It comes a year after Faulkner dropped out<\/a> of the 2025 race after crashing during the second stage and battling illness and fatigue throughout.<\/p>\n This year, the Alaskan rebounded after a 70th-place first stage by not finishing below 48th in any stage the rest of the way, and peaking with a sixth-place split in the hilly stage 6.<\/p>\n She finished 54 minutes and two seconds behind race winner Demi Vollering of the Netherlands, and over 40 places clear of her closest American competition.<\/p>\n \u201cEven when my legs hurt, I wanted to hold onto the moment forever,\u201d she wrote. \u201cI\u2019ll cherish this memory, and your support, for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n