From explosive sprints to punishing mountain battles, the 2025 Tour de France Femmes proved once again that women’s cycling is no longer just demanding recognition, it’s commanding it. With record-breaking viewership, surging fan enthusiasm, and a deeper, more competitive field than ever before, this year’s race confirmed what insiders have long predicted: the Tour de France Femmes is a must-watch for all racing fans. As the dust settles and the champagne flows, we look back on the highlights and heroics that defined this year’s tour.
The opening stage and it’s all smiles on the start line for the stars — Labous, Vollering, Niewiadoma-Phinney, Ferrand-Prevot, Kopecky and Wiebes.The opening stages were in the west of France. Hilly countryside, with many beautiful towns and villageson the route.Marianne Vos takes the opening stage ahead of Kim Le Court and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot who helped set up the win.Marianne Vos would be the first Yellow Jersey of the race and the gods of cycling were smiling.Alison Jackson leads one of the breakaways that have been a common theme in the early part of this year’s race.The start of stage 3 with Kim Le Court (Yellow) and Mavi Garcia sharing a moment, in a massive moment.The powerhouse squad of SD Worx have combined well and there’s a couple sprint stage wins to show for it.Another day, another breakaway.Lorena Wiebes takes stage 4, just ahead of Vos.The Aussie climbing star Sarah Gigante works for teammate Kim Le Court, on stage 5.One last glance and…… Stage 5 and Kim Le Court kicks harder than the best in the world taking a historic first stage win, for the continent of Africa, in the Femmes race. Kim Le Court: a fighter, a winner and consummate professional. Chapeau Kim, you are now big time!Stage 6 and Maeva Squiban goes on the attack. What a ride and solo win it would be.There’s no question, the French Fans love their bike racing.‘Here to learn’ is what she said, but, after a few stages nobody was doubting the form of Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.The sensation of the Tour, Maeva Squiban celebrates her second victory in two days.Another legend, Lucinda Brand digs deep on stage 7.Stage 8, and the peloton rails a sweet switchback on a day that had 3520m of climbing with a mountain top finish on the mighty Madeleine, which is an hour long climb, for a pro!Ferrand-Prevot celebrates a flawless performance that earned her the Yellow Jersey and a commanding GC lead, on the Queen’s Stage.It was a ride for the ages.On the final stage, Anna Van der Breggen attacked mulitple times early on and finally went clear of the splintering peloton. It was a fantastic solo effort that lasted close on 100km before being swallowed up by a fast-moving, small group of GC riders.An exceptionally high pace on an early descent of the final stage, split the peloton into small groups which created windows of opportunity for many teams. At the expense of key support riders, the Yellow Jersey bridged to the lead group but would be without any teammates for the last two and a bit hours of racing, over some big mountains. The big climb of the day was the Joux Plane. The numbers are 11.6km, 990m with an average gradient of 8.6% and 25-degree heat.A powerful counter attack by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot created the gap she needed to open the afterburners and she solo’d the last climb to win the final stage, in yellow. Swamped by media before finding her parents for a hug, it was an emotional and very popular win. It’s been 36 years since the French have celebrated a win at this, their most beloved race. Previous winners Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney were second and third. Vive Le Tour!
