2025 Tour de France Femmes: Race Underway!
The fourth edition of the prestigious Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift officially commenced today, Saturday, July 26, 2025, and is set to captivate cycling fans until Sunday, August 3, 2025. This year's race marks the longest edition yet, spanning 1,165 kilometers across nine challenging stages, with a formidable total elevation gain of 17,240 meters.
Route and Stages: A West-to-East Challenge
The race begins on France's scenic west coast in Vannes, Brittany, and will traverse the country in a generally west-to-east direction. The grand finale will take place in the high-altitude ski resort of Châtel Les Portes du Soleil in the Alps. This year's parcours is particularly demanding, featuring two distinct high-mountain stages.
Here's a detailed breakdown of the nine stages:
Stage 1: Saturday, July 26 - Vannes > Plumelec (78.8 km, Hilly) - A punchy opener, tackling multiple ascents of the iconic Côte de Cadoudal.
Stage 2: Sunday, July 27 - Brest > Quimper (110.4 km, Hilly) - While categorized as flat in some initial listings, this stage includes four significant climbs, making it more suited for "puncheuses" (riders good on short, steep climbs).
Stage 3: Monday, July 28 - La Gacilly > Angers (163.5 km, Flat) - A calmer day likely to culminate in a fast-paced sprint finish.
Stage 4: Tuesday, July 29 - Saumur > Poitiers (130.7 km, Flat)
Stage 5: Wednesday, July 30 - Chasseneuil-du-Poitou Futuroscope > Guéret (165.8 km, Hilly/Mid-mountain) - The longest stage of this year's race.
Stage 6: Thursday, July 31 - Clermont-Ferrand > Ambert (123.7 km, Mountain)
Stage 7: Friday, August 1 - Bourg-en-Bresse > Chambéry (159.7 km, Hilly)
Stage 8: Saturday, August 2 - Chambéry > Saint François Longchamp - Col de la Madeleine (111.9 km, Mountain) - A pivotal mountain stage featuring the demanding Col de la Madeleine, with a vertical gain of 3,490 meters on this stage alone.
Stage 9: Sunday, August 3 - Praz-sur-Arly > Châtel (124.1 km, Mountain) - The decisive final mountain stage with an uphill finish.
Participating Teams and Key Riders: The Peloton's Elite
A formidable field of 22 teams and 154 riders representing 30 nationalities are competing for the coveted yellow jersey. All 15 UCI Women's WorldTeams received automatic invitations, joined by seven UCI Women's ProTeams.
Here are some of the top contenders and riders to watch:
Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto): The reigning champion, Niewiadoma-Phinney secured a thrilling victory in the 2024 edition by just four seconds, the smallest margin in Tour de France history (men's or women's). She has consistently placed on the podium, finishing third in both 2022 and 2023. Her 2025 season was hampered by a crash at Strade Bianche in March, but she showed strong form with a third-place overall at the Tour de Suisse.
Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez): The 2023 winner, Vollering has demonstrated exceptional form in 2025, with notable victories at Strade Bianche Women Elite 2025 and the Volta a Catalunya Femenina, where she won the overall title. She also claimed a stage victory at La Vuelta Femenina earlier in the season.
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ): A strong all-rounder, Longo Borghini enters the race on the back of a victory at the Giro d'Italia.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Visma | Lease a Bike): A decorated French multi-discipline world champion making a highly anticipated return to road cycling, known for her climbing prowess. She notably finished third behind Vollering and Van der Breggen at Strade Bianche Women Elite 2025.
Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx-Protime): A four-time Giro d'Italia Femminile winner, Van der Breggen has made a surprising and successful comeback to professional racing in 2025 after retiring in 2021. She has quickly reestablished herself as a top rider, including a stage win at La Vuelta España Femenina and a strong third-place finish overall. Her return sets up a fascinating rivalry with former protégé Demi Vollering.
Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime): A formidable sprinter and a strong contender for the points classification (green jersey).
Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike): Another prominent sprinter and an experienced force in the peloton.
Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal Team): Tipped as a favorite for the Queen of the Mountains (QoM) classification, alongside Demi Vollering.
Marion Bunel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike): Considered a favorite for the young rider classification (white jersey, best rider under 23), she achieved a podium spot at the Volta a Catalunya Femenina 2025.
The 2025 Tour de France Femmes promises to be a highly competitive and exhilarating race, with a demanding route designed to push the world's best female cyclists to their limits.
