Racing
Cédrine Kerbaol climbs to fourth overall at Vuelta Femenina
Young French rider shows off climbing prowess on tough final stage
May 10, 2025
Cédrine Kerbaol capped off a brilliant week of racing with a standout ride on the final stage of the Vuelta Femenina, securing fourth place overall in the general classification.
If this week taught us anything, it’s that Cédrine is a rider to watch in grand tours. After a strong performance on the stage 5 summit finish on the Lagunas de Neila, Cédrine knew that today was all or nothing.
“We knew it was going to be a hard race,” said Cédrine after the finish. “A lot of climbing, a lot of downhill, technical sections. But the girls covered all the moves. We were in front on the downhills, in front before the climbs, and I just gave my maximum on the last climb. I have no regrets because the girls in front were definitely stronger. But for sure, we’ll be back. And with a team like that, I feel grateful and confident for the future.”
From the start, Cédrine was backed by a committed team that barely put a foot wrong all day. Henrietta Christie, Kristen Faulkner, Letizia Borghesi, Babette van der Wolf, and Sarah Roy marshaled her through the opening kilometers, keeping things calm and controlled all the way to the Alto de la Colladiella. Then it was Magdeleine Vallieres’ turn. Mags took over in the valley, guiding Cédrine to the base of the final climb and dropping her off in perfect position–first wheel on the Alto de Cotobello.
That’s when Cédrine went to work.
The final stage of the 2025 Vuelta Femenina was always going to be decided on the ten-and-a-half-kilometer grind up Cotobello, with its relentless 8% average gradient. As the group thinned and rivals cracked one by one, Cédrine held her ground and soon it was only her and the top three contenders in the overall left. She showed tremendous grit and determination and stuck with them as the pressure ramped up. She got distanced with 500 meters to go but not after trying a few moves herself.
“Every day, we were all together as much as possible,” said Cédrine. “All the girls followed the plan–it was just amazing. They were taking care of me every day. I had a designated babysitter. It removed a lot of the stress I could have had during the race. Collectively we’ve seen that the girls are very strong, and they also have this team spirit you can’t find everywhere. I tried to give them confidence in me, and I think they got it. And I have confidence in them too. They worked so well—so yeah, thanks to them.”
The result sheet won’t do the ride this team put in this week justice. Everyday they raced aggressively at the front and they raced together.
“To pull off a fourth with Cedrine is a really good result to start the season,” said head sport director, Carmen Small. “Going into the rest of the Grand Tours, it’s really helpful—to have that confidence for her. But the team just rode really great for her as well. They kept her calm, they kept her safe, they kept her out of the wind. It was a huge team effort. Definitely deserves a fourth for the team, not just Cedrine. All in all, a really solid week.”
“We really believed in Cédrine, and the team worked so well the whole week,” said teammate Magdeleine Vallieres. “I think it’s the best teamwork we’ve had since I’ve been on the team and it shows with the end result. We’re really happy. I think if we continue on this path and keep working on the small things we can still improve, then it’s not going to be a fourth place next time, it’s going to be a podium. And then it’s not going to be a podium, it’s going to be a win. I think we’re on the way to get there.”
The future is bright for this squad.