Kristen Faulkner has drawn the curtain on her 2025 season after undergoing surgery on her shoulder, bringing a difficult year to an early end. The American had been targeting the Tour de France Femmes and World Championships, but will now turn her focus to recovery and preparing for 2026.
The 32-year-old’s struggles followed a remarkable 2024 season, where she became Olympic champion in both the women’s road race and the Team Pursuit on the track. However, her build-up to 2025 was disrupted by a concussion suffered in a training crash last December, which delayed her start to the season.
Faulkner’s form appeared to be improving when she claimed the US Pro Road National Championships in May, but her Tour de France Femmes ambitions unravelled after a series of crashes saw her abandon the race on stage 5.
EF Education-Oatly’s head doctor Jon Greenwell explained the extent of her injury. “Kristen injured her shoulder at the Tour. After she’d had a few days’ rest, she noticed that her shoulder was still pretty painful, so we organised an MRI scan that showed some damage to the cartilage, which could potentially cause some shoulder instability.”
Photo Credit: GettyAs a result, Faulkner had to decline her place on the USA Cycling team for the World Championships in Rwanda. With just Chloé Dygert and Ruth Edwards confirmed, only two of the six available American spots in the elite women’s road race will be filled.
The decision to undergo surgery was made with her long-term future in mind. “After consulting with USA Cycling and a couple of orthopaedic doctors in America, we decided that the best thing to do for her long-term health was an operation to repair the cartilage,” Greenwell said. “We didn’t want to leave it and then have her suffer from pain and instability later, so now was the best time to do it. The rehab process will be about six weeks before she can get back on the bike, and then she’ll be ready to go for a full preseason to race next year.”
Faulkner remains positive despite her season ending early. “The surgery was very successful,” she said. “I am recovering now, and with the timing of it, I’ll be able to start next season on a normal timeline. I’ll be healthy and fully recovered going into next season.”
