Juliette Labous

Juliette Labous is a French professional cyclist whose climbing strength, time-trial ability, and fearless racing have made her one of women’s cycling’s most inspiring modern champions.

Juliette Labous

Juliette Labous was born on November 4, 1998, in Besançon, in the Doubs region of eastern France. She grew up surrounded by the hills and rural roads that would later become the training ground for her career as a professional cyclist. From an early age, she showed a natural love of riding, competing, and pushing herself beyond her comfort zone.

Juliette Labous began her competitive journey with the regional club VC Morteau Montbenoît, where she developed the foundations of her cycling technique and racing instincts. As a junior rider, she quickly attracted attention by winning national titles in both the time trial and road race. Those early victories showed that she was not simply a promising talent, but a versatile athlete capable of excelling in different disciplines.

Her progress was steady rather than sudden. Instead of chasing immediate fame, she focused on learning, building fitness, and gaining experience against stronger competition. That patient approach became one of the defining features of her career. It helped her develop into a rider who could perform consistently across Grand Tours, one-day classics, and national championship events.

In 2017, she joined the professional team then known as Team Sunweb. The move gave her access to elite coaching, international racing, and a team environment designed to develop young riders. Over the following years, the organization became Team DSM and later Team dsm-firmenich PostNL, while Labous grew from a promising newcomer into one of the team’s most trusted leaders.

Her rise reflects the power of persistence. Juliette Labous did not become a top cyclist overnight. She earned her place through years of training, sacrifice, and a willingness to learn from every race. Her story shows that meaningful success often comes from consistent effort, even when progress feels gradual.

Juliette Labous French Cyclist and Giro Star

Juliette Labous first made a major impact in stage racing, where her climbing ability and tactical intelligence could shine. In 2020, she became the French national time-trial champion, proving that she possessed the power, precision, and mental focus required to succeed against the clock.

Her breakthrough at the highest level came in 2022. That year, she won the overall classification at the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas, her first Women’s WorldTour stage-race victory. She also won a mountain stage at the Giro d’Italia Donne, one of women’s cycling’s most demanding Grand Tours. Later that season, she finished fourth overall at the inaugural Tour de France Femmes.

Those results established Juliette Labous as one of France’s leading stage racers. She was no longer viewed only as a promising young rider; she had become a genuine contender in the biggest races in the sport. Her ability to climb with the best riders while also supporting teammates made her especially valuable in multi-day racing.

In 2023, she delivered one of the strongest results of her career by finishing second overall at the Giro d’Italia Donne. The performance confirmed her status as a world-class Grand Tour rider. It also demonstrated her resilience, because success in a Grand Tour requires more than one strong day. It demands recovery, consistency, tactical awareness, and the ability to respond when conditions become difficult.

Juliette Labous continued to build on that success in 2024. She finished third overall at Itzulia Women and fourth overall at La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es. She also won the French national road race title, adding another major honor to a career already filled with significant achievements. Her ability to succeed in both time trials and road races made her one of the most complete French riders of her generation.

At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, she finished fourth in the women’s individual time trial. The result was a powerful reminder of her elite level and her ability to perform under the enormous pressure of an Olympic competition. Representing France on home roads, she showed the same determination that had carried her through years of professional racing.

Racing Style, Teams, and Major Achievements

A Complete Stage Racer

Juliette Labous is best known as a climber and stage racer, but her strengths extend well beyond the mountains. She can time trial, descend with confidence, position herself well in the peloton, and make intelligent tactical decisions during decisive moments. That combination has allowed her to compete for overall victories rather than simply chase individual stage wins.

Her climbing is particularly important in the sport’s biggest races. When roads tilt upward, she has repeatedly shown the ability to stay with the strongest riders and respond to attacks. That quality has made her a dangerous contender in races such as the Giro d’Italia Women, La Vuelta Femenina, and the Tour de France Femmes.

She is also recognized for her team spirit. In professional cycling, success often depends on riders sacrificing personal ambition for the good of the group. Juliette Labous has shown both sides of that role: she can lead a team in a stage race, but she can also work tirelessly for a teammate when the team’s best chance of victory lies elsewhere.

From Team Sunweb to FDJ United Suez

Juliette Labous spent nearly eight seasons with the Sunweb, DSM, and dsm-firmenich PostNL organization. During that time, she developed into a reliable all-rounder and became one of the team’s most important riders. The long partnership gave her stability and allowed her to mature into a leader capable of guiding teammates through the complexities of elite racing.

In 2025, she returned to France by joining FDJ-SUEZ, later competing under the FDJ United Suez name. The move brought her together with fellow French riders and placed her in a team with serious ambitions in the biggest women’s races. It also gave her a new opportunity to compete for overall victories while contributing to a strong collective effort.

Her first season with the team showed her value immediately. She recorded top-five finishes at prestigious races including Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold Race, then helped France win gold in the mixed team time trial at the European Championships. Those performances demonstrated that she could succeed in one-day races, stage races, and national team events.

Major Results and Career Highlights

Juliette Labous’s list of achievements includes winning the 2022 Vuelta a Burgos Féminas, taking a stage at the 2022 Giro d’Italia Women, and finishing second overall at the 2023 Giro. She also finished fourth overall at the 2022 Tour de France Femmes and fourth overall at the 2024 Vuelta Femenina.

Her national championship record highlights her versatility. She won the French time-trial title in 2020 and the French road race title in 2024. Those victories show that she can excel in very different formats: one requires sustained individual power and aerodynamic efficiency, while the other demands tactical awareness, positioning, and the ability to respond to a constantly changing race.

She has also represented France at the Olympic Games in both 2020 and 2024. Her fourth-place finish in the Paris 2024 time trial was especially significant, placing her among the best riders in the world on one of sport’s largest stages. That performance reflected years of preparation and a deep commitment to representing her country with pride.

Influence, Teamwork, and Lasting Inspiration

Juliette Labous has become an important figure in French women’s cycling. Her success has come during a period of major growth for the women’s professional peloton, including the return of the Tour de France Femmes and increased global attention on women’s racing. She has helped show that French riders can compete for the sport’s biggest prizes.

Her influence is also visible in the way she races. Juliette Labous combines ambition with generosity, often putting the team’s goal ahead of personal glory. In 2025, she was widely praised for her work supporting Demi Vollering during major stage races, including the Vuelta and Tour de France Femmes. That willingness to sacrifice individual results for collective success has earned her deep respect within the peloton.

For young cyclists, her career offers a valuable lesson. Talent matters, but development matters more. Juliette Labous progressed from regional racing to national titles, Grand Tour podiums, and Olympic competition by continuing to improve year after year. Her path encourages young athletes to focus on learning, patience, and long-term growth.

Her story also highlights the importance of resilience. Professional cycling is physically demanding and emotionally challenging. Riders face crashes, bad weather, mechanical problems, tactical setbacks, and the constant pressure to perform. Juliette Labous has shown that the ability to recover, adapt, and keep moving forward is just as important as raw athletic ability.

Today, Juliette Labous stands among the leading French cyclists of her era. From the roads of eastern France to the summits of the Giro, the cobbles and gravel of major classics, and the Olympic time-trial course in Paris, she has built a career defined by courage, consistency, and teamwork. Her journey continues to inspire riders who believe that steady effort, belief in oneself, and a generous team spirit can turn potential into lasting achievement.