Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
The first stage could prove to be enticing to a wide range of riders. They’ll climb the Côte de Cadoudal in Plumelec no fewer than three times—first as an intermediate sprint, then as a categorized climb, and finally when crossing the finish line. This 1.7 km hill at 6.2% will play a key role in deciding the first wearers of the race’s distinctive jerseys.
Like the opening day, the next stage could reward another puncher or breakaway specialist. Riding in winds off the Atlantic, the peloton will take on four short categorized climbs between Brest and Quimper. As always, roads in this region will keep riders on their toes.
They won’t have long to enjoy their Breton crêpes, since stage three takes them to Angers in the Pays de la Loire. A bunch sprint is likely. Same story for Stage 4, where the sprinters are expected to battle it out. The route will briefly follow the Loire River and pass through the iconic sunflower fields before finishing in Poitiers, a city known for its art and history.
At 166 km, the fifth stage is the longest in 2025 and offers another chance for punchers to shine. It’s the last “easy” stage before a four-day stretch in the mountains.
Photo credit: Harry Talbot
During Stage 6, the peloton will ride into the rugged terrain that’s home to the source of the Loire and tackle the first true mountain climbs. Clermont-Ferrand will become the first city to host the Tour de France Femmes twice. With nearly 2,400 metres of elevation gain and back-to-back climbs over the Col du Béal and Col du Chansert, this stage shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Stage 7 will include the peloton’s first kilometres in the Alps. While the first half of the day should be uneventful, the rider who raises her arms in Chambéry will have conquered both the climb and descent of the Col du Granier.
Saturday, August 2, marks the queen stage of the Tour de France Femmes. With over 3,500 metres of elevation gain, Stage 8 climbs to 2,000 metres above sea level and finishes at the summit of the Col de la Madeleine (18.6 km at 8.1%). If the general classification isn’t already locked in, the steep climbs of Stage 9 will crown the overall winner. Which contender will shine on the slopes of the Alps, pass through the Portes du Soleil, and win a dazzling victory in Châtel?
Katarzyna Niewiadoma
This Polish rider from Canyon//SRAM Zondacrypto won last year’s Tour de France Femmes at the last minute without winning a stage. If a GC victory proves difficult this year, could she still lay claim to a stage win?
Demi Vollering
The twenty-eight-year-old Dutch rider won the 2023 edition of the Tour de France Femmes. She’s no stranger to the podium, having also claimed second place in both 2022 and 2024, along with three stage wins. Now riding for the French team FDJ-Suez, she’s the favourite to wear yellow in Châtel. Vollering will no doubt be out for revenge after missing the 2024 overall win by just four seconds to Niewiadoma.
Elisa Longo Borghini
Her best GC finish at the Tour may be sixth, but Longo Borghini shouldn’t be underestimated. The thirty-three-year-old Italian veteran is fresh off her second career win at the Giro d’Italia. Can she ride that wave of momentum to victory?
Marlen Reusser
With no fewer than nine wins, the Swiss rider from Movistar has garnered some serious momentum in the 2025 season. A top-level rouleur, she’s also proven she can hold her own in the mountains.
Marianna Vos
Despite her thirty-eight years, this Dutch rider shouldn’t be overlooked: she excels on nearly every type of terrain. Even if she doesn’t come away with a win, her Visma | Lease a Bike teammates will benefit from her extensive experience in the pro peloton.
Anna van der Breggen
This rider is another product of the Netherlands who has earned a place in cycling legend. She first hung up her bike at the end of the 2021 season, finishing the year with ten victories. But in 2025, she came out of retirement to race with SD Worx–Protime, and her comeback is already a success, with a stage win at the Vuelta this past May.
Lorena Wiebes
Watch out for this twenty-six-year-old Dutch rocket, who has racked up 107 professional wins since launching her career in 2020. Currently wearing the European champion’s jersey, she’s determined to leave her rivals in the dust in the sprint stages.
Lotte Kopecky
This Belgian rider from SD Worx–Protime has won the road world championships two years in a row. She’s probably the most powerful puncher in the peloton. We could see her stand out right from Stage 1 as she seeks the honour of wearing the yellow jersey.
Puck Pieterse
Although she hasn’t raced in nearly three months, Pieterse is having an incredible 2025 season. She placed in the top ten in all eleven races she has entered, including a win at La Flèche Wallonne. The showdown between her and Kopecky promises to be spectacular.
Photo credit: Harry Talbot
Five Canadians will line up for the start line of the fourth Tour de France Femmes in Vannes. EF Education-Oatly has selected Alison Jackson (Vermilion, Alberta) and Magdeleine Vallières (Sherbrooke, Quebec). Crowned national champion this past June, Jackson will make her presence felt in hilly stages and sprint finishes. She proved her strength back in 2023 with the biggest win of her career at Paris-Roubaix. Other Canadians to watch are Sarah Van Dam (Victoria, BC) of German team CERATIZIT, along with Nadia Gontova (Richmond, BC) and Kiara Lylyk (Guelph, Ontario), both racing for the French squad Winspace Orange Seal.
With so much talent in the peloton, the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is shaping up to be a must-watch event for both the stage wins and the battle for the GC title. Keep in mind that only ten seconds separated first and third place last year. Everything is in place for nine suspense-filled stages that will keep us on the edge of our seats.
