A sharp opener awaits the peloton as the Tour de France Femmes kicks off in Brittany. Starting in Vannes and finishing in Plumelec, the short but punchy 125.8km stage offers an immediate test for the GC favourites and a prime opportunity for the punchers to pull on the first yellow jersey.
The final climb of the Côte de Cadoudal, tackled three times in total, is no monster in terms of length or altitude, but at 1.8km with an average gradient of 6.2% and pitches of up to 9%, it’s more than enough to decide the stage. Whoever wins here will do so by launching a well-timed uphill attack – and they’ll earn the first maillot jaune of the 2025 edition.
The route – Brittany’s undulating heartland
The stage begins in the coastal town of Vannes, famed for its medieval ramparts and timber-framed houses, before heading inland through the rolling Breton countryside. The first classified climb comes after 30km: the Côte de Botségalo (800m at 5.3%), offering the first mountains classification points of this year’s race.
From there, the race heads into a double circuit around Plumelec, with each lap 13.9km and including the climb of the Côte de Cadoudal. That climb was last used at the 2016 European Championships, where Anna van der Breggen won the elite title and Kasia Niewiadoma claimed the U23 victory. Both return to the area in 2025, and the history is impossible to ignore.
The final ascent to the line is the third time up Cadoudal, and with a narrow run-in and no place to hide, expect explosive moves as the big names show their cards early.
What’s on offer
Date: Saturday, 26th July
Distance: 125.8km
Start/Finish: Vannes – Plumelec
Sprint:
- Colpo (km 20.5)
Climbs:
- Côte de Botségalo (cat. 4, km 30.1)
- Côte de Cadoudal (cat. 3, km 61.1)
- Côte de Cadoudal (cat. 3, km 99.0)
- Côte de Cadoudal (cat. 3, km 125.8 – finish)
Prediction
With a course tailored for explosive riders, Liane Lippert is the favourite to win stage 1. Two Giro stage victories already in 2025 point to superb form, and she’s no stranger to this climb, having won here in the junior ranks during the 2016 Euros. If she times her effort right, she has both the kick and the experience to land the first yellow jersey.
