As Maëva Squiban soloed to a second consecutive stage victory at the Tour de France Femmes, Ruth Edwards lit up the race in her own way, charging into third place on the streets of Chambéry. For the 32-year-old from Human Powered Health, the result marked not just a breakthrough performance, but also a moment of personal and professional redemption.
Edwards was part of the day’s early 17-rider move that formed after a flurry of attacks inside the opening hour. With riders like Kopecky, Dygert, Van Anrooij, and Meijering for company, the group built a lead of over five minutes before the peloton – led by Fenix-Deceuninck, Lidl-Trek and EF Education-Oatly – began the chase.
The decisive action came on the Col du Granier. Edwards responded to the surges at the front, initially following the pace of Squiban and Meijering as the group fragmented. While Squiban went solo over the summit, Edwards pushed on. “I didn’t want to look around and think anyone was stronger than me,” she said. “So I just wanted to stay in the moment and follow the moves.”
Her descending skills kept her in the fight for a top result. After distancing Meijering on the downhill, she held off the GC group behind and found herself locked in battle with Shirin van Anrooij for second place – until Cédrine Kerbaol arrived in the final moments with a perfectly executed descent to snatch the runner-up spot.
“I don’t really know where Cédrine came from,” Edwards admitted. “She must have been descending like a bat out of hell.”
Still, third place represented Edwards’ best result in her two Tour de France Femmes appearances. A year ago, she was forced to abandon the race, sick and demoralised. The turnaround in 2025 could hardly be more stark. “Oh, it was a terrible race, to be honest,” she recalled. “I was super sick and super sick for two weeks afterwards, and wondered what I was doing returning to cycling.”
This time, she is fully involved. “I’m obviously really part of the race, and it feels really fun to get a result.”
The podium appearance also marked a significant first for her Human Powered Health team – their maiden Tour de France Femmes top-three finish. “We’ve been riding together super well, and we have a good atmosphere here,” Edwards said. “We’ve been trying our best, and this is the best result we’ve had so far.”
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Thomas MaheuxFamily motivation and personal meaning
There was extra emotion for Edwards in the wake of her result. She spoke of what it meant for her family, watching the race back home. “The Tour has brought the fame that comes with it, and that’s cool,” she said. “To know my family is at home, able to watch, is so encouraging. My grandparents in the UK have been big cycling fans for so long. My grandfather has passed away, but my grandma sent me a message to say, ‘Grandad Barton would be so proud that his daughter’s name was on the TV.’”
It’s been a long road back for Edwards. After stepping away from the sport in 2021, she returned last season with Human Powered Health, winning the Lotto Thüringen Tour and earning a two-year contract extension. Her resilience and experience have turned her into a key rider for the team – both on the road and as a support for younger talents.
Next, it’s Malcotti’s turn
Looking ahead to the queen stage on the Col de la Madeleine, Edwards will shift back into a team role, riding in support of Barbara Malcotti. The Italian climber currently sits 14th overall, with hopes of climbing into the top 10 on the legendary Alpine summit.
“I expect to drop the climbers off at the bottom and enjoy the views,” Edwards joked. “It’s totally fine that I’ve burnt matches going into tomorrow, because for me, the big goal here is supporting Barbara and climbing GC.”
Even with tired legs, she’s looking forward to the challenge. “It’s a famous climb and we’ve never done it, so tired or not, I’ll enjoy it.”
And whatever happens next, Edwards knows she has already made her mark on this year’s Tour.
“To have a breakthrough helps the good vibes,” she said. “We’re going to keep trying.”
