Kristen Faulkner: “My victory in Zaragoza was instrumental for my Olympic gold ride”

April 25 ^th 2025 - 13:00 [GMT + 2]

Sometimes we, the spectators, don't get to appreciate the extent, the nuances or the repercussions of the performances of the athletes we watch. Likewise, athletes can’t really figure out what their feats and actions may mean for spectators. You can hardly hear the noise out in the street when living inside the elite sport bubble, on which everything and everyone is focused on performance. Yet, if you are reading this, you can probably sympathise with the feeling of your life changing by witnessing the success or the failure of someone you have never met -nor will never meet- in person.

When Kristen Faulkner (1992, Homer - Alaska) won the fourth stage of La Vuelta Femenina 24 by Carrefour.es, few of us could imagine this success would be instrumental for her to go on and triumph in the Paris 2024 Olympics by conquering two golds in the road race and the team pursuit. It was a foundational week that put her in touch with a different dimension of the athlete - the one that involves being a point of reference and a source of inspiration for others.

The American champion path to cycling stardom is anything but typical. She didn’t take up competitive riding until the age of 27. Raised in Alaska, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in computer science from Harvard and initially set her sights on venture capital, working in New York before relocating to California. But even as she climbed the financial ladder, a passion for cycling took hold—strong enough that she eventually swapped boardrooms for bike races, committing fully to the sport.

A few years on, she’s now firmly established amongst cycling’s landmark athletes and ambassadress: a role that fits her, as after so many years being an outsider she knows the demands and also the possibilities it confers. In this interview with La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es, she speaks to us from her European base in Girona, a necklace with the five Olympic rings resting just above her chest. As the EF Education–Oatly leader prepares for her return to the Spanish Grand Tour on May 4th, she reflects on how Olympic success has reshaped her life—and how La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es helped pave the way.First things first: how are you?I’m fine. I spent the last few weeks training in altitude at Sierra Nevada, and then participated in De Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race to put a little racing in my legs ahead of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es

Your season has had a slow start, without much racing up until now. Why?

I had a really busy off-season because of my Olympic medals, with many commitments off the bike and appearances in speaking events, so along with the team we decided that it was better if I took my season start easier than in previous years. Then, in December, I had a crash during a gravel ride in California and came away with a concussion. I wasn’t able to train properly until mid-February as a result. The plan was for me to start late and then the concussion just made it even later.

At what point is your shape now, then?

I think I'm still in an evolving phase, and not in full fitness. Altitude definitely helped to get some base fitness back, but I still need to get a boost and some racing in my legs just to get some speed back - the kind of speed that you don’t get from altitude training or in race practice. Hopefully, with some further racing and training, and a little bit of time, I will be back to my best.

Let’s go back to 12 months ago. What would be your recollections of the previous edition of La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es?

We, the EF Education-Oatly team, had a very strong race last year. We did very well in the TTT and that set us up to win two stages [with Alison Jackson in Moncófar and Faulkner herself in Zaragoza] and finish second in another one. We had a really strong team, we were really tight together, and I'm hoping we can come back and repeat all that this year.

Your stage win in particular came on a frantic, breathtaking day - the fastest-ever stage in the history of the UCI Women's WorldTour, ridden at 46,754 kph between Molina de Aragón and Zaragoza. How much did you enjoy the day on the bike? 

I loved that day. It’s so fun when you feel strong and you are ready to race, both mentally and physically. That alone makes the stage fun, regardless of the result. But winning is fun, too - after all, we are athletes and we love to win. It was a fun ride and a fun celebration in the evening for the whole team. The fans were very supportive, too, and created a really great environment.

What did that victory mean to you? What did you learn about yourself that day?I have always been an attacking rider, but what happened in La Vuelta Femenina was interesting. I accelerated with some of the world’s best riders on my wheel. I think most people would have looked back and stopped trying once they realized everyone was following them, but I kept pushing and was eventually able to ride them off my wheel, create a gap and grow it. That was actually quite instrumental at the Olympics road race. When I attacked, many people were close to my wheel and my draft. I basically had to ride them off my wheel the same way I did in the Vuelta. The Vuelta showed me what I was capable of doing. It really helped me understand I need to give my 100% even if I have a slight shade of doubt in my mind.

How much has your life changed with these gold medals?

Paris 2024 didn’t necessarily change my perception of myself, but it changed people’s perception of me. From a media perspective, I get more requests and have had to learn how to balance that with my career and my personal life. I get recognised by fans when I am out riding, and some people send me messages in social media to approach me seeking advice on how to pursue their dreams or how to change careers like I did on my day. I am busier off the bike, but in my life and on the bike I am the same person. I am as motivated as ever and still in love with the sport just as much. Some people may lose their motivation after such big victories. For me, it didn't change my motivation at all. I am a cyclist and I still have big goals to accomplish.

What would those be?

I want to win a stage in the Tour de France to complete the Grand Tour set, since I have already done so in the Giro and the Vuelta. I want to win a Monument. I want to win Strade Bianche. I’d like to go on the podium in the UCI ITT World Championships. And I want to win the GC of a stage race at some point in my career.

Does the fact that you are a particular inspiration for some people because of your trajectory add a layer of motivation to your career?

I think so. I have always been motivated to be a cyclist, but now it’s different because my career is not only about the results, but also about inspiring people and encouraging them, and showing them the path that can get you wherever you want - a path they can take. I want to get more women on bikes. People in America can now watch more female cycling races than ever, and I’d like to show them how far they can get on it if they decide to undertake a career. I also like to think I’m giving people a reason to unite, cheer together for something and share the excitement at a time where there is a lot of division in society.