French rider Ségolène Thomas has announced her retirement from professional cycling, bringing an early close to a brief but notable career. The 26-year-old from Thaon, in the Vosges, confirmed that she will now devote herself fully to her work as an agri-food engineer, a profession she has pursued alongside racing for the past two seasons.
The announcement came on Tuesday morning, only a few months after Thomas made her debut in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with Saint Michel–Préférence Home–Auber 93. Her race ended prematurely after illness forced her to abandon following the second stage, but the appearance represented the culmination of a rapid ascent from late starter to professional.
A former middle-distance runner, Thomas only took up cycling four years ago. After joining Grand Est–Komugi–La Fabrique in 2023, she quickly established herself as a capable all-rounder, moving to Saint Michel–Préférence Home–Auber 93 the following year. In 2024, she impressed at the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées, finishing fifth overall, and returned to the same race in 2025 to place fourth.
This year she also recorded several strong one-day performances, taking third at the GP de Plumelec-Morbihan and tenth at the GP Féminin de Chambéry, along with top-ten finishes at the Vuelta a Burgos and Alpes Grésivaudan Classic.
“I have indeed made the choice to end my career to focus full-time on my job as an agri-food engineer,” Thomas told Vosges Matin. “I never really dreamed of a professional career. I always knew it would be a break because I love real life and my job. I’m stopping peacefully, on a beautiful year.”
Her time in the peloton may have been short, but Thomas leaves with a record that reflects both talent and determination, rising swiftly through the domestic scene to reach the WorldTour’s biggest stage before choosing to step away on her own terms.
