Domestique Awards 2025: Most Entertaining Rider Women - Le Court, Gigante, Squiban or Koch?

This year has been one of the most unpredictable and exciting seasons on the women’s side of the sport that we have seen for some time, featuring a number of amazing breakout performances as well as some of the most fantastically entertaining rides we’ve seen in the sport. 

After a season of such gripping action, selecting just four riders for the award of Most Entertaining Rider was a real challenge, but we have narrowed it down to the following nominees.

All four riders are worthy winners. But, who will you pick to take the crown?

Cast your vote on X or Instagram.

Perhaps the biggest talent to come out of the African continent in cycling, AG Insurance-Soudal’s Mauritian champion Kim Le Court has enjoyed exceptional form in 2025, taking wins in races like Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Giro dell’Emilia, but also wearing the fabled yellow jersey and taking a stage at the Tour de France Femmes. Throughout the season, she has been one of the most consistent and versatile riders in the peloton. 

A rider who isn’t afraid of an attack in some of the biggest races against the biggest of names, Le Court also backs herself in a sprint, and the 29-year-old has been one of the most notable riders in the peloton this year. She has made a massive step up in her ability, especially in races at the highest level.

If you have watched any cycling from the women’s side of the sport that has involved any climbing, the likelihood is that the amazing Australian climber, Sarah Gigante, has been involved. She has shown on multiple occasions that she is one of the very best when the road goes up. (The less said about descents the better). 

The Giro d’Italia Women and the Tour de France Femmes this year have been the standout displays for Gigante. When Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) went early at the Giro to try and take the stage, the maglia rosa and a huge time gain on GC, Gigante slowly worked herself back to the Italian champion and flew by her to take the stage in emphatic fashion.

At the Tour she went toe-to-toe with the dominant winner, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) on the Col de la Madeleine where she held on for as long as she could to the French megastar. The day after was also an amazing effort but, unfortunately, Gigante's rivals put her to the sword on the descents and she was unable to close the gap on her own.

Bringing France their second and third win at their home race with back-to-back breakaway efforts, the attacking style and amazing climbing ability of Maëva Squiban brought some amazing results for her UAE Team ADQ squad this summer.

Stages 6 and 7 at the Tour de France Femmes were her big moments and she even tried to continue the amazing run on the eighth stage too but she imploded in the breakaway trying to follow her rivals in the mountains jersey classification.

Her attacking flair and admirable ascending skills have made Squiban one of the underdog riders to watch this year as she has used her top form to really deliver on the biggest of stages.

Quite possibly the most attacking rider of the entire year across the whole sport of cycling, German champion Franziska Koch has just been on fire with her riding this season, trying to force breaks and to take whatever opportunities she can in any race she competes in.

At the Tour de France Femmes she was a serious contender for the Queen of the Mountains jersey which, for a Classics and flat terrain rider, is truly exceptional. She was launching a move whenever she had an opportunity and was a regular name in breaks at the Tour and in various other races across the season. 

From an entertainment point of view, I would say that she has been one of the most noticeable riders for her all-out aggression, trying to bring the race to her rather than waiting for it to come like so many of the bigger names often do. For this reason, Koch has earned a place in our shortlist of nominees.

Also have a look at the other categories of the Domestique Awards!

Most Entertaining Race Men
Most Entertaining Race Women
Most Entertaining Rider Men