Preview Vuelta a España women 2025 | Vollering, Grand Tour debut for Ferrand-Prévot, and the first of three for Van der Breggen
CyclingFriday, 02 May 2025 at 19:39
On Friday, May 9, the men’s Giro d’Italia kicks off in Albania, but just a few days earlier, the women get to start their first Grand Tour of the year. They will do so in Barcelona, where the Vuelta a España will begin. With Demi Vollering returning as the defending champion among several big names, there’s every reason to follow the race — and IDLProCycling.com will certainly be doing so.
Vollering won the race last year with a solid lead over Riejanne Markus and Elisa Longo Borghini, taking revenge for 2023. That year, she was denied victory by a cunning Annemiek van Vleuten after a bathroom break. Van Vleuten, now retired, also won the race in 2022 and 2021, making her the record holder with three overall victories in the women’s Vuelta.
Most recent winners - Vuelta a España women
2024 Demi Vollering
2023 Annemiek van Vleuten
2022 Annemiek van Vleuten
2021 Annemiek van Vleuten
2020 Lisa Brennauer
2019 Lisa Brennauer
2018 Ellen van Dijk
2017 Jolien D'Hoore
2016 Jolien D'Hoore
2015 Shelley Olds
2023 Annemiek van Vleuten
2022 Annemiek van Vleuten
2021 Annemiek van Vleuten
2020 Lisa Brennauer
2019 Lisa Brennauer
2018 Ellen van Dijk
2017 Jolien D'Hoore
2016 Jolien D'Hoore
2015 Shelley Olds
Women's Vuelta a España 2025: Course, stage win favorites and times
Stage 1, Sunday, May 4: Barcelona - Barcelona (8.1 km, team time trial)
The women’s Vuelta kicks off with a short team time trial in Barcelona. The 8.1-kilometer course is flat, so the spotlight will be on teams with serious horsepower. Who will land the first blow in the general classification?
Favorites
Lidl-Trek
SD Worx-Protime
FDJ-Suez
Lidl-Trek
SD Worx-Protime
FDJ-Suez
Times
Start: 12:55 PM local time (6:55 AM EDT)
Finish: 2:00 PM local time (8:00 AM EDT)
Start: 12:55 PM local time (6:55 AM EDT)
Finish: 2:00 PM local time (8:00 AM EDT)
Stage 2, Monday, May 5: Molins de Rei - Sant Boi de Llobregat (99.0 km)
Stage two is already a tricky one, starting from Molins de Rei. The first 12 kilometers climb at 4.1%, followed by a mostly rolling course. With 20 kilometers to go, the road heads downhill, before the final 10 kilometers on flat roads leading into a slightly uphill final kilometer.
Favorites
Letizia Borghesi (EF Education-Oatly)
Chloé Dygert (Canyon//SRAM)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Letizia Borghesi (EF Education-Oatly)
Chloé Dygert (Canyon//SRAM)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Times
Start: 2:43 PM local time (8:43 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:15 PM local time (11:15 AM EDT)
Start: 2:43 PM local time (8:43 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:15 PM local time (11:15 AM EDT)
Stage 3, Tuesday, May 6: Barbastro - Huesca (132.5 km)
Stage 3 starts in Barbastro and ends in Huesca after 132.5 kilometers. A bunch sprint is expected, but wind could play a key role if it picks up.
Favorites
Sara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ)
Letizia Paternoster (Liv Jayco AlUla)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Sara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ)
Letizia Paternoster (Liv Jayco AlUla)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Times
Start: 1:52 PM local time (7:52 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:15 PM local time (11:52 AM EDT)
Start: 1:52 PM local time (7:52 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:15 PM local time (11:52 AM EDT)
Stage 4, Wednesday, May 7: Pedrola - Borja (111.6 km)
Stage four takes us into the mid-mountains. While there are no high mountain passes yet, two climbs in the second half of the stage (each averaging 5.5%) and a descent to the finish could start to create some GC gaps.
Favorites
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv Jayco AlUla)
Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Oatly)
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv Jayco AlUla)
Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Oatly)
Times
Start: 2:19 PM local time (8:19 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:15 PM local time (11:15 AM EDT)
Start: 2:19 PM local time (8:19 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:15 PM local time (11:15 AM EDT)
Stage 5, Thursday, May 8: Golmayo - Lagunas de Neila (120.4 km)
If there are no differences made here... After 90 relatively easy kilometers from Golmayo, the riders will tackle the Rozavientos (4 km at 8.1%) and the summit finish at Lagunas de Neila (6.8 km at 8.7%). Pure climbers will love this one.
Favorites
Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Times
Start: 1:55 PM local time (7:55 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:15 PM local time (11:15 AM EDT)
Start: 1:55 PM local time (7:55 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:15 PM local time (11:15 AM EDT)
Stage 6, Friday, May 9: Becerril de Campos - Baltanás (126.7 km)
After two tougher stages, day six is one for the sprinters — though they’ll need to stay sharp near Baltanás, where some sharp little climbs await in the finale. There’s also the risk of echelons throughout the stage.
Favorites
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Letizia Paternoster (Liv Jayco AlUla)
Thalita de Jong (Human Powered Health)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Letizia Paternoster (Liv Jayco AlUla)
Thalita de Jong (Human Powered Health)
Times
Start: 11:06 AM local time (5:06 AM EDT)
Finish: 2:30 PM local time (8:30 AM EDT)
Start: 11:06 AM local time (5:06 AM EDT)
Finish: 2:30 PM local time (8:30 AM EDT)
Stage 7, Saturday, May 10: La Robla - Alto de Cotobello.Asturias (152.6 km)
Without question the queen stage of this Vuelta. A 153-kilometer long beast packed with elevation gain, ending on the tough Alto de Cotobello: 10.3 km at an average of 8.3%, after earlier tackling the Colladona and Colladiella climbs. A brutal finale!
Favorites
Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Times
Start: 10:09 AM local time (4:09 AM EDT)
Finish: 2:30 PM local time (8:30 AM EDT)
Start: 10:09 AM local time (4:09 AM EDT)
Finish: 2:30 PM local time (8:30 AM EDT)
Favorites Vuelta a España for women 2025
Note: the start list is not yet final, so this section may still be updated.
The 2025 Vuelta a España for women features a world-class field, headlined by defending champion Demi Vollering, who will once again go for overall victory with her FDJ–Suez team. Vollering couldn’t secure wins in the Ardennes classics this year, but the Vuelta — just one week later — gives her a chance to make up for that. She has the team to support her, with Juliette Labous and Evita Muzic, who are both capable of strong results themselves.
Last year, Vollering battled Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM) in the Tour de France Femmes. The Polish rider, also on the start list for this Vuelta, has had a tough season so far, partly due to crashes, but is expected to be competitive in this kind of mountainous race. Her teammate Neve Bradbury is also a strong climber.
There’s also plenty of attention on the riders making a comeback: on one hand, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot from Visma | Lease a Bike, who will be riding her first-ever Grand Tour. Anna van der Breggen from SD Worx–Protime is also on the start list, though she’s still unsure of what she’ll be capable of. Van der Breggen will also ride the Giro and the Tour later this season.
Anyone else? Yes — rising star Nienke Vinke (Picnic PostNL), the dangerous EF duo Cedrine Kerbaol and Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner, Mavi Garcia (Liv–Jayco–AlUla), Liane Lippert (Movistar), Yara Kastelijn (Fenix–Deceuninck), and Ashleigh Moolman (AG Insurance–Soudal Quick-Step). Lidl–Trek brings a strong lineup with Niamh Fisher-Black, Shirin van Anrooij, and Riejanne Markus — who finished second overall last year.
Who are the favorites for Vuelta a España for women 2025, according to IDLProCycling.com?
Top favorite:Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
Outsiders: Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM), Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Long shots: Juliette Labous, Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez), Liane Lippert (Movistar), Nienke Vinke (Picnic PostNL), Cedrine Kerbaol, Kristen Faulkner (EF-Oatly), Mavi Garcia (Liv-Jayco-AlUla), Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Aisleigh Moolman (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step)
Outsiders: Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM), Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Long shots: Juliette Labous, Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez), Liane Lippert (Movistar), Nienke Vinke (Picnic PostNL), Cedrine Kerbaol, Kristen Faulkner (EF-Oatly), Mavi Garcia (Liv-Jayco-AlUla), Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Aisleigh Moolman (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step)
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
TV Vuelta a España for women 2025
The women's Vuelta a España will be broadcast daily on Eurosport 1 and HBO Max.
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Latest Comments
- Why continue to give this bully and liar a platform. Both he and Bruyneel should be persona non grata in the cycling world.Aodh25-04-2025
- Such negative comments that are truly inappropriate and actually ridiculous. He sounds like an old man, bitter that he can't race anymore. Why can't he just be gracious? Or just shut up. Instead of howling for attention, in such a rude manner. Must be Dementia creeping in. We are all living in the Now. Records are there, and some are being broken, some are unapproachable. If he doesn't like it, and it makes him sick, maybe he ought start watching some other sport. Don't want the old mans health to be upset.
reemmo031-03-2025 - Roger De Vlaeminck inspires me to create a new beer: "Bitter Old Twat Belgian".JackInhof31-03-2025
- Shoot, I'll ride it for 1/10 of what his pay for that day is😅Veganpotter30-03-2025
- What is this? The Lance Armstrong daily cheaters channel? I could care less about Johan and Lance the seven times cheater. Greg Lemond was right all along, Why don't you write about that instead of these two knuckleheads.velodrone28-03-2025
- Are we all doomed to hear from Lance Armstrong and Johan bruneel until the end of time? It's not enough the stain they left on cycling? Do we have to see that shadow forever?bigyakman26-03-2025
- I am not sure if it is the hardest to win. In Flanders and Roubaix well before the finish the Peleton will be decimated and the race will normally be won by the best rider of the day or maybe 2nd or 3rd in case of a mechanical or unlucky break especially in case of Roubaix. In San Remo just before the finish there will still be several riders in contention and they are hard to ditch. For the best riders it is a race hard to win since it is not so selective. But if you are not a top 5 rider but still a top 10 rider this race is your best change to win. You will see more Milan San remo Winners with only 1 monument win than any other monumentsJoostmehrtens19-03-2025
- "fap fap fap oh Lance oh oh OHHHHHHH" again. Does he pay you to dredge up people with nice things to say about him? He was an giant a$$hole to people. It is a fact. Whatever his contrition about the doping, he is unapologetic about being a giant a$$hole to people. (Why yes, I do only login to complain. *I* am however only a giant a$$hole to people who laud giant a$$holes.)ericjensenridesbikes25-02-2025
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025