The Tour de l’Ardèche has become one of the most enduring fixtures on the international women’s calendar since its creation in 2003. What began as a three-day race organised by the Vélo Club Vallée du Rhône Ardéchoise has steadily grown in stature, expanding to a full week of racing and gaining UCI 2.1 status in 2018. It remains one of the most mountainous races outside of the Women’s WorldTour, and year after year its stages through Ardèche, Drôme, Gard, Lozère and Vaucluse provide an unforgiving test of climbing strength and resilience.
From the very beginning, the race has been built on the dedication of volunteers, many of them former amateur riders, who each September marshal the peloton through rugged landscapes and historic towns. The terrain has always shaped the racing: steep climbs, exposed ridgelines, and technical descents have consistently produced selective stages and decisive general classifications.
Photo Credit: TCFIAIts roll of honour features riders who later went on to become world champions and Olympic medallists. Edita Pučinskaitė, a world champion in 1999, won three times in the early years. Kristin Armstrong triumphed in 2009 before adding Olympic and world titles against the clock. Emma Pooley, one of Britain’s finest climbers, claimed back-to-back victories in 2011 and 2012. More recently, Kasia Niewiadoma secured the title in 2018, and Marianne Vos added the race to her long palmarès in 2019.
The race has also served as a launchpad for new talent. Antonia Niedermaier announced herself with victory in 2022, Marta Cavalli triumphed in 2023, and in 2024 it was Thalita de Jong who took the crown. These results highlight the event’s role as both a showcase for the sport’s greats and a proving ground for future stars.
The 2025 edition promises once again to deliver a stern late-season examination. With the road world championships on the horizon, the Tour de l’Ardèche traditionally attracts a motivated field of national teams, continental squads and select WorldTour outfits, all using the race to sharpen form and chase stage honours in one of the toughest non-WorldTour events on the calendar.
Which teams are racing at Tour de l’Ardeche 2025?
- Team SD Worx-Protime
- FDJ-SUEZ
- Human Powered Health
- UAE Team ADQ
- Canyon SRAM zondacrypto Generation
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- AG Insurance Soudal U23
- Liv AlUla Jayco
- Team Picnic PostNL
- Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi
- Arkea-B&B Hotels
- Winspace Orange Seal
- BePink-Imatra-Bongioanni
- St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 93
- Lotto Ladies
- WCC Team
- Handsling Alba Development Road Team
What do the Tour de l’Ardeche stage profiles look like?
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Where can I watch the Tour de l’Ardeche race?
The race is unfortunately not shown live.
Who are the main riders to watch?
- Lotte Kopecky
- Mischa Bredewold
- Marta Lach
- Monica Trinca Colonel
- Silke Smulders
- Evita Muzic
- Barbara Malcotti
- Giada Borghesi
- Amber Kraak
- Nadia Gontova
- Maeva Squiban
- Ella Wyllie
- Marion Bunel
- Erica Magnaldi
- Yuliia Biriukova
- Eleonora Ciabocco
- Valentina Cavallar
- Viktoria Chladonová
- Ane Santesteban
- Anna Van Wersch
- Lauren Dickson
- Ségolène Thomas
- Josie Nelson
- Nina Buijsman
- Lore de Schepper
- Kate Richardson
