Preview Tour de France Femmes 2025 | Vollering aims for second victory, but faces fierce competition
Women's CyclingWednesday, 23 July 2025 at 10:05
The Tour de France for men is still in full swing, but Saturday also marks the first stage of the Tour de France Femmes. The women's WorldTour peloton will then set off on nine stages, across France. IDLProCycling.com offers a detailed preview!
It is only the fourth edition of the Tour de France for women in its current form, but the race already has a remarkable history. Last year, we saw a phenomenal finale, in which Kasia Niewiadoma took the overall victory by just four seconds, edging out Demi Vollering, who had crashed earlier in the race. The Dutch rider did win La Grande Boucle in 2023, when she succeeded Annemiek van Vleuten, the first official winner.
Latest winners Tour de France Femmes
2024 Kasia Niewiadoma
2023 Demi Vollering
2022 Annemiek van Vleuten
.
2023 Demi Vollering
2022 Annemiek van Vleuten
.
Course, favorites stage wins and times Tour de France Femmes 2025
Stage 1, July 26: Vannes - Plumelec (76 km)
At first glance, the ultra-short first stage appears to be flat. But the roads around Plumelec are deceptively hilly. The finish line is crossed three times in the last 40 kilometers: once there is an intermediate sprint, and once there are mountain points to be earned. The road to the finish line climbs 1.7 kilometers at a 6.2% gradient. Definitely not an easy sprint opportunity!
Favorites
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Liane Lippert (Movistar)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Liane Lippert (Movistar)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Times
Start: 5:40 PM local time (11:40 AM EDT)
Finish: approx. 7:30 PM local time (13:30 PM EDT)
Start: 5:40 PM local time (11:40 AM EDT)
Finish: approx. 7:30 PM local time (13:30 PM EDT)
Stage 2, July 27: Brest - Quimper (110.4km)
After the hilly first stage, the riders will get no rest in the second stage. Another difficult stage awaits in Brittany, this time from Brest to Quimper. With four categorized climbs and another difficult finale and finish, we will likely see the same names as on Saturday. But it is still the Tour...
Favorites
Kimberley Le Court (AG Insurance - Soudal)
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Kimberley Le Court (AG Insurance - Soudal)
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Times
Start: 12:30 PM local time (06:30 AM EDT)
Finish: 3:10 PM local time (09:10 AM EDT)
Start: 12:30 PM local time (06:30 AM EDT)
Finish: 3:10 PM local time (09:10 AM EDT)
Stage 3, July 28: La Gacilly - Angers (163.5 km)
Finally, one for the fastest ladies! The stage to Angers is significantly less challenging than the one on the opening weekend, so the sprinters will be rubbing their hands with glee after seeing this profile. However, the finish is slightly uphill again, so a power sprint is to be expected.
Favorites
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Charlotte Kool (Picnic PostNL)
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Charlotte Kool (Picnic PostNL)
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 1:55 PM local time (07:55 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:45 PM local time (11:45 AM EDT)
Start: 1:55 PM local time (07:55 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:45 PM local time (11:45 AM EDT)
Stage 4, July 29: Saumur - Poitiers (130.7 km)
A last moment for the sprinters. After the stage to Poitiers, it will mainly be for the classic types and the climbers. The fast women will be aiming for the stage win in stage 4: on paper, this is the easiest stage in the 2025 Tour de France Femmes. But then again, is anything ever easy in the Tour?
Favorites
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Chiara Consonni (CANYON//SRAM)
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Chiara Consonni (CANYON//SRAM)
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 2:45 PM local time (08:45 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:40 PM local time (11:40 AM EDT)
Start: 2:45 PM local time (08:45 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:40 PM local time (11:40 AM EDT)
Stage 5, July 30: Chasseneuil-du-Poitou Futuroscope - Guéret (165.8 km)
A flat approach, but the finale towards Guéret will be a delight. After the Côte de Chabannes and Côte de Peyroux, the climb to Le Maupuy is only 7 kilometers from the finish. One for the ladies who show their stuff in the classic spring races. Will there already be a battle for the GC in this hilly stage?
Favorites
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly)
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly)
Times
Start: 1:35 PM local time (07:35 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:45 PM local time (11:45 AM EDT)
Start: 1:35 PM local time (07:35 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:45 PM local time (11:45 AM EDT)
Stage 6, July 31: Clermont-Ferrand - Ambert (123.7 km)
Climbing, climbing, climbing! The peloton is heading through the Auvergne, where a few tough cols are on the program. Halfway through, the Col du Beal looms, a tough first category climb. Once that is out of the way, the riders will have to tackle the Col du Chansert. The intermediate sprint to Valcivières is not flat either, after which the finish is in the cheese town of Ambert. This is going to be a treat!
Favorites
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Times
Start: 2:25 PM local time (08:25 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:45 PM local time (11:45 AM EDT)
Start: 2:25 PM local time (08:25 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:45 PM local time (11:45 AM EDT)
Stage 7, Aug. 1: Bourg-en-Bresse - Chambéry (159.7 km)
Bourg-en-Bresse and Chambéry, two well-known Tour locations. These cities will be the start and finish of the seventh stage, which takes place in the low mountains. The Col du Granier will decide the stage, with its summit about 18 kilometers from the finish. It is then a long descent to the finish: one for the breakaway riders, or the women in the GC with guts? We'll find out.
Favorites
Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly)
Paulina Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly)
Paulina Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Times
Start: 1:40 PM local time (07:40 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:45 PM local time (11:45 AM EDT)
Start: 1:40 PM local time (07:40 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:45 PM local time (11:45 AM EDT)
Stage 8, Aug. 2: Chambéry - Saint François Longchamp-Col de la Madeleine (111.9 km)
This is where it all has to happen! The eighth stage is rightly considered the queen stage of the Tour de France Femmes. In almost 112 kilometers, there are ‘only’ three climbs to complete, but they are not just any climbs: the Col de Plainpalais is a huge test to start with, but the focus is on the finish line. The Col de la Madeleine will normally decide the Tour de France Femmes.
Favorites
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek)
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ)
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 2 PM local time (08:00 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:30 PM local time (11:30 AM EDT)
Start: 2 PM local time (08:00 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:30 PM local time (11:30 AM EDT)
Stage 9, Aug. 3: Praz-sur-Arly - Châtel (124.1 km)
A tough final stage: it's become a tradition in the Tour de France Femmes. This edition is no exception, with a challenging stage featuring no less than 3,000 meters of climbing in just 124 kilometers. However, the most difficult part comes in the middle, with the grueling Col de Joux Plane. The Col du Corbier, 30 kilometers from the finish, is no walk in the park either. Will we see a battle just before the end?
Favorites
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Times
Start: 3:25 PM local time (09:25 AM EDT)
Finish: 7 PM local time (noon EDT)
Start: 3:25 PM local time (09:25 AM EDT)
Finish: 7 PM local time (noon EDT)
Favorites GC Tour de France Femmes 2025
Please note: the final start list has not yet been announced, so this list of favorites is subject to change.
Last year, only four seconds separated winner Kasia Niewiadoma and Demi Vollering. The Polish rider from Canyon//SRAM is back again this year, as is the Dutch rider from FDJ-SUEZ, who won the Tour in 2023 on behalf of SD Worx-Protime. Vollering already won the Vuelta a España earlier this year and is therefore one of the absolute favorites for the Tour de France.
The only rider to beat the Dutch rider this year is Marlen Reusser. The Swiss rider from Movistar did so in the Tour de Suisse, after which she continued in good form in the Giro d'Italia. There she came up against a slightly stronger Elisa Longo Borghini, who will also be competing in the Tour. The Italian rider from UAE Team ADQ is therefore also among the women to beat.
The Tour will provide an update on Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's progress. The French rider from Visma | Lease a Bike withdrew from the Vuelta in May and has not been in action since.
With the four names already mentioned, all the top contenders appear to be present, while we also see other notable names on the start list. How is Lotte Kopecky doing, for example, after the Belgian withdrew from the Giro at the beginning of this month as a precaution? SD Worx-Protime also has Anna van der Breggen at the start, the Dutch rider who is making her comeback this year.
FDJ-SUEZ can also play Juliette Labous as a wild card alongside Vollering. At the same time, Liv AlUla Jayco has two dangerous riders in the Dutch Silke Smulders and the Spanish Mavi García. CERATIZIT will probably be counting on Sarah Van Dam for a good GC, the Canadian who finished third in the Tour of the Basque Country this year.
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
Who are the favorites for the final classification of the Tour de France Femmes 2025, according to IDLProCycling.com?
Top favorites: Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) and Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Outsiders: Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM), Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Long shots: Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime), Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike), Juliette Labous (FDJ-SUEZ), Mavi García (Liv AlUla Jayco) and Sarah Van Dam (CERATIZIT)
Outsiders: Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM), Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Long shots: Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime), Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike), Juliette Labous (FDJ-SUEZ), Mavi García (Liv AlUla Jayco) and Sarah Van Dam (CERATIZIT)
TV broadcast Tour de France Femmes 2025
The Tour de France Femmes will once again be broadcast on NPO this year. Eurosport and its online platform HBO Max will also be covering the Tour. Also, VRT (Sporza) has once again secured the rights.
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Latest Comments
- Maybe I was a bit disrespectful to Heiden. What he did was unique and exceptional but he wasn't the only one who combined those distances, nowadays it is just not possible and nobody competes in both distances. The same is true for cycling with for example the combination of Roubaix and de Tour de France. In Merckx era there were more riders who managed a top10 in both races than currently.Joostmehrtens19-06-2025
- Two old men shouting at pigeons in the park…JonS16-06-2025
- Out of touch old men hankering after their youth through rose tinted spectacles, their arrogance almost outshines their irrelevance. Turn the volume down, this modern stuff just isn't music like we used to sing...johnny20whales16-06-2025
- In talking speed skating, the days when Heiden did that, nobody else did that. And Eddy couldn't do the equivalent of the bike. His 200 on the velodrome was good, but not world competitive for gold. Heiden was in his own world on the ice, moreso than Eddy if we pretend Eric didn't have a very short career on the ice.Veganpotter16-06-2025
- They wouldn't have dropped HIM so easily.... the GOAT. They would have dropped the rest from that era easily thoughVeganpotter16-06-2025
- Merckx was able to win in a break away on a flat (sprinters) stage, what do you mean they did not drop that easily in his time. Vlaeminck won in the mountains and the classics, but now you need to specialise. The days that a Eric Heiden could win the sprint and the 10k and everything in between are long gone and cycljng is no differentJoostmehrtens16-06-2025
- Carsapaz and Del torro were not capable of chasing Yates. They paused and looked at each other because they didn't have it in them. Yates had kept his powder dry waiting for this stage and demolished both of them. They lost Yates won. Your second guessing is utter nonsense., if either felt they could close Yates down they would have , just like they did countless times for other riders. They blew up , Yates excelled.Uphillbilly05-06-2025
- Carapaz is full of it. He is absolutely irrelevant after a rant at del Toro. Isaac had no obligations to do anything for Carapaz. It should remind one of the saying that goes lke this: "If I jump off the bridge, are you going to jump too?" If Caapaz wanted to win the Giro he should have chased Yates with or without Isaac. And if del Toro could follow, then so be it. But it was Carapaz's choice to slow down and stare at Isaac. Isaac was on the radio at times and you can bet he was being told by the Team car to do just what he was doing. Did I like that he didn't set out after Yates himself, NO. But the 21 year old was probably being instructed to do what he did, otherwise you can bet we would have heard from UAE mgmt. that Isaac chose to ignore their orders. But what we did hear was they were happy with his result. Which I think was a terrible betrayal of their young rider, who I think was capable of more than that penultimate stage showed. The Giro finished on a truly sour note as far as I'm concerned, because it was not "raced" The most crucial stage of the whole 21 stage race was simply given away, playing games with the unwritten rules of bicycle racing. "Leaders jerseys responsibility" and all that nonsense. Just RACE! It was disgraceful.
reemmo004-06-2025 - Well this aged like fine milkGlyn31-05-2025
- This is just mean-spirited.agnessk29-05-2025