The Tour de Romandie Féminin may only be in its fourth edition, but it already feels like a race with traditions of its own. Born in 2022 as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations for the men’s event, it quickly established itself as a late-summer test that blends Alpine climbing with aggressive, unpredictable racing. The roads of Romandie – winding through the Jura mountains and into the high Alps – have provided a fitting backdrop for a race that has so far been dominated by one team. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, Demi Vollering, and Lotte Kopecky have kept the winner’s list exclusively in SD Worx colours, with each edition decided by stages that reward both climbing strength and tactical sharpness.
In 2025, the route offers a new dimension. The race begins with its first-ever individual time trial, a 4.4 km uphill drag from Huémoz to Villars-sur-Ollon. It’s short enough to keep the gaps close, but with an average gradient over 8%, it’s still a pure climber’s test. Riders like Marlen Reusser have openly welcomed the addition, but its brevity means it could tempt explosive puncheurs to go all-in early. The second stage, from Conthey to La Tzoumaz, is the kind of Alpine day where a single attack on the final climb can decide the GC. The closing stage in Aigle, using laps around the UCI’s home city, is less predictable – sprinters will aim for control, but the circuit’s rolling profile has the potential to inspire late moves.
The field is deep despite the loss of defending champion Vollering to illness. Katarzyna Niewiadoma, twice a podium finisher here and Tour de France winner in 2024, arrives as the standout GC favourite. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio returns to the race she won in its inaugural year, while Niamh Fisher-Black brings form from her top-five Tour de France ride. For the home fans, Elise Chabbey’s mountain jersey from July and Noemi Rüegg’s early-season wins ensure local hopes will be high. With nearly a dozen Swiss riders on the start list, including those from domestic team Nexetis, the race is guaranteed a wall of home support at key points on the course.
Previous Winners
2024
Lotte Kopecky
2023
Demi Vollering
2022
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio
2025 Tour de Romandie Féminin Stage Profiles
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Live TV Coverage
Friday 15th August to Sunday 17th August 2025
Live on Discovery Plus/Max/TNT Sports across most of Europe
Stage 1: 12:00-13:45
Stage 2: 12:00-13:45
Stage 3: 11:00-12:45
All times in BST
Twitter: Updates
Startlist: FirstCycling
Tour de Romandie Féminin 2025 Contenders
Canyon SRAM zondacrypto are deep with climbing talent but it’s all about Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney. She was 2nd overall here last year and just finished 3rd at the Tour de France Femmes. This is a course that suits her – a time trial but an uphill one and enough climbing to make a difference. Ricarda Bauernfeind has previously been 6th in GC here, but her form hasn’t looked right all season. Neve Bradbury has also struggled badly this year, and it’d be a surprise if she got involved in GC. Antonia Niedermaier, by contrast, was 5th at the Giro and won the youth classification there – she’s finished 15th and 19th in Romandie before and could help Kasia deep into the climbs again whilst sneaking into the top-10.
Lidl-Trek comes in with Niamh Fisher-Black as the clear GC leader. She was 4th in GC here last year, 10th the year before, and just finished 5th at the Tour de France Femmes – capped by a 2nd place on Stage 3 of this race in 2024. If she has recovered, she’ll be among the key favourites for the overall. Ellen van Dijk will target the TT stage, though the uphill profile could hold her back. She was 2nd in both Baloise Ladies Tour TTs to Zoe Backstedt recently, slightly below her usual dominance. Gaia Realini has had a rough 2025, but finished 3rd overall here last year and 9th in 2023 – she’ll likely support Fisher-Black but could spring a result if she’s rediscovered her form. Riejanne Markus is another key climbing option. She won the final stage here in 2024, arriving with Fisher-Black in a Trek 1-2, and could play a vital support role again. Isabella Holmgren is now on the start list, and she could do nicely here. 7th in the Giro is the sort of form that will see her either supporting Fisher-Black late on or challenging for Stage 3 and maybe the GC.
FDJ-Suez arrive without Demi Vollering, who misses the race through illness. That opens the door for Evita Muzic, 6th overall here in 2022, to lead the GC charge. She hasn’t quite shown that same level in 2025, but she’s capable of solid riding in the mountains. Elise Chabbey is unlikely to find her usual flurry of QoM points with the race’s stage design limiting chances thanks to the mountain finish, but her attacking instincts and aggressive riding style could see her make moves along the way and on Stage 3. Looks like Juliette Labous will be racing this year’s race and it could be a chance for the French rider to challenge. She’s good against the clock and finished 7th whilst supporting Demi Vollering at the Tour de France Femmes.
AG Insurance-Soudal looks set for a strong showing. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, the 2022 overall winner here, returns after skipping the Tour de France Femmes due to non-selection. She won the final stage and GC in 2022 after a dominant ride to Thyon 2000 and will be eyeing the uphill finish this year. Sarah Gigante has the more obvious GC form though – 11th in 2024 and in far better shape now after 4th at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and strong riding throughout the Vuelta. With no technical descents to worry about, a summit finish and an uphill TT, this course could suit her perfectly. No Gigante here – she’s rested for other targets.
Urska Zigart doesn’t have much previous here but the mountain summit finish, and no Gigante, opens a path for the Slovenian to do well here. The TT will be an issue but she can make back a lot of time with a strong climb. Also keep an eye out for Lore De Schepper who was 8th here last year and would be looking to improve on that with the Tour de l’Avenir coming up soon as a likely big target.
Fenix-Deceuninck will likely back both Yara Kastelijn and Pauliena Rooijakkers. Kastelijn was 7th here in 2022 and 17th last season – she can be dangerous when the racing kicks off uphill, particularly if she’s given some freedom away from the GC battle. Rooijakkers, meanwhile, was 12th in GC last year and comes into Romandie after an impressive run of form. She finished 9th overall at the Tour de France Femmes with five top-10 stage results, following on from 4th again in the Giro this season. If she recovers well, she could quietly climb into the top 10 again here.
Mischa Bredewold is expected to lead SD Worx at this race, with a rare shot at seeing what she can do in GC. She was 3rd on the opening stage last year and is in good form, making her a strong favourite for the final day, which suits her rolling terrain skillset. She could well end up on the podium overall if she handles the climbing on Stage 2. Femke Gerritse will be the team’s card to play if the third stage ends in a reduced sprint – she’s had a strong 2025 with wins at the Vuelta and Omloop van het Hageland, and is increasingly reliable in fast finishes. Laura Stigger is something of a wildcard. She hasn’t raced on the road since February’s Setmana Ciclista Valenciana and is better known for her mountain bike exploits these days, but her climbing talent is real – her junior Worlds win in Innsbruck back in 2018 hinted at potential that still feels untapped on the road.
Mavi Garcia heads the line-up for Liv AlUla Jayco after a solid 5th place finish at this race in 2024. She recently won a stage at the Tour de France Femmes, albeit while riding outside of the GC battle, and remains a rider capable of climbing into the top 10 if the form holds. The team also brings Ella Wyllie, who showed her strength over longer climbs during the Tour, finishing 12th overall there. She’s likely to be a strong support rider but may become a fallback GC option depending on how Garcia performs. Caroline Andersson is another returnee from last year’s line-up where she finished 19th overall and managed a couple of low-key but respectable top-20s on rolling stages. She hasn’t raced since her mid-July DNF at the Giro though, and the lack of racing may hamper her ability to contribute across the three days.
Silvia Persico returns to a race where she has gone well before, finishing 5th overall in 2023 and grabbing a podium on Stage 3 that year. She hasn’t quite hit those same heights in 2025, but remains a solid GC option for UAE Team ADQ. If Persico isn’t quite at her best, the team could turn to Erica Magnaldi, who was 8th in 2023 and 16th last year. However, both may find the time trial to be a limiting factor in a close GC battle. Alena Ivanchenko hasn’t been very visible this season (or last season either really), but the route here could suit her – a TT and a summit finish echo the kind of profile she managed well at the Tour de l’Ardèche in 2023. There’s a wildcard feel to her chances. Paula Blasi, recently promoted to the WorldTour team, could be their most exciting card. She’s coming off a win at La Périgord Ladies and a 5th place overall in the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées, and with the form she’s shown in July, she’ll have the final stage circled in red.
Marlen Reusser will be looking to get back on track for Movistar following a difficult Tour de France Femmes that ended early. The Swiss star was 3rd overall here in 2023 and 13th in 2022, with the race route this year likely to suit her thanks to a moderately hilly time trial and manageable summit finish. The team will be built entirely around her GC ambitions, but Mareille Meijering is a decent climbing option to have in reserve. She was 13th here last season, boosted by a strong ride on the final day to take 7th, and she’s shown enough consistency in 2025 to suggest another top-10 result could be on the cards.
Viktória Chladonová has been steadily building form in 2025, and this race could give us another indication of where she stands among the GC second-tier. The Slovakian rider was 16th at the Giro and climbed well there, often hanging on just behind the elite climbers. In shorter stage races, she’s proven even more effective – 8th overall at the Tour of Norway and 9th at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya earlier this season point to her consistency across mixed terrain. Fem van Empel is a rare inclusion on the startlist for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, and assuming she starts, all eyes will be on how she fares. The Dutch cyclocross star hasn’t raced since March’s Trofeo Alfredo Binda due to needing rest amidst some burnout, and this will be her return to competition. It’s an ideal pressure-free environment for her to ease back into things, and if she shows even a glimpse of her winter climbing strength, it will be encouraging.
At Team Picnic PostNL, there’s reason for quiet optimism. Nienke Vinke, 10th in GC at this race last year, arrives off the back of a solid Tour de France Femmes where she finished 19th and won the youth classification. Her 8th place at the Baloise Ladies Tour was built on a strong time trial, and with another TT here, she could push for the top 10 overall once again. The team will also look for stage results from Josie Nelson and Eleonora Ciabocco. Both have been impressive in one-day and punchy stage finishes in 2025 – Ciabocco claimed 4th on a Giro stage and was 10th overall at the Tour de Suisse, while Nelson has been second twice on Stage 3s this year, both at the Giro and the Tour of Britain. If Stage 3 proves to be selective, they could have a real chance.
EF Education-Oatly look to be chasing stages this year. Noemi Rüegg can absolutely take Stage 3 if things play her way. The Swiss rider will want to do well on home roads. She had a quiet Tour de France Femmes but was consistent earlier in the season on rolling terrain. Kristen Faulkner is a question mark after illness ended her Tour de France Femmes early, but the time trial stage could give her a way back into the race. No major climbs to test her descending either. Letizia Borghesi may try for a tough sprint or opportunistic win – her best result of the season was 3rd on a Vuelta stage, and this parcours might not suit her as well. Alison Jackson remains a wildcard for breakaways, but she hasn’t had the same impact this season as in 2023.
Tour de Romandie Féminin 2025 Outsiders
Eline Jansen arrives at the Tour de Romandie Féminin in strong form after consistent early-stage results at the Tour de France Femmes, where she finished 4th, 7th and 8th across the opening days. The climb on Stage 2 may stretch her limits, but she should be well-suited to Stage 3’s rolling terrain and will be aiming to add to her earlier-season win at La Classique Morbihan. Margot Vanpachtenbeke also impressed at the Tour with a 6th place on Stage 6 and 29th in GC, building on her recent podiums at La Périgord Ladies and stages of both the Tour des Pyrénées and Tour of Norway. She’s proven consistent across hilly stage races this year and should be a quiet top-20 GC option if the climbing doesn’t split the field too much. Anne Knijnenburg is the wildcard – seemingly always looking to go in the break, she’s likely to light things up again here even if the wins remain elusive.
Uno-X Mobility are expected to target Stage 3 with their usual attacking style. Mie Bjørndal Ottestad was a DNS towards the end of the Tour de France Femmes after a strong Giro and an impressive season that included a GC win at the Tour of Norway and podiums at the Vuelta Extremadura Féminas. Her current condition is a question mark, but if she’s recovered, she should be dangerous on the rolling terrain of the final day. Solbjørk Minke Andersen could also be involved and has shown this year that she’s capable of featuring in strong breakaways and contributing to stage results. Expect the team to animate the race even if they don’t have a serious GC threat.
Swiss team Nexetis are entering the race with less pressure but a couple of names worth watching. Jasmin Liechti failed to finish this race in 2024 but has impressed in second-tier events this season, including taking the overall win at the Volta a Portugal Feminina. While the level here is much higher, she could still play a role in breakaways or early moves. Nika Bobnar is perhaps better suited to the hilly final stage, though it’s difficult to see where a sprint stage win would come from with such a mixed terrain profile. Expect them to animate the race rather than control it.
Petra Stiasny will be the clear focus for Roland Le Dévoluy on Stage 2’s summit finish, a terrain that best suits her strengths. She was anonymous at the Tour de France Femmes, but her 5th place on a similar finish in the 2022 edition of this race suggests she can still deliver when the conditions are right. That performance led to 20th overall in 2022, and though she was 25th in GC last year, she has quietly put together a stronger 2025 season and could be an outside bet for the stage win if she finds her rhythm. Morgan Coston, meanwhile, is likely to reprise her Tour de France Femmes role as an aggressive breakaway rider. She was often seen off the front in France and could be a nuisance again for teams trying to control the action.
Top 3 Prediction
⦿ Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney
⦿ Niamh Fisher-Black
⦿ Juliette Labous
