EF Education-Oatly arrive at the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with a clear goal: the general classification. It’s the most ambitious Tour campaign yet from the American-registered team, built around Cédrine Kerbaol, with a well-rounded and fully committed support cast featuring stage-hunting threats and dedicated climbing lieutenants.
Starting in Brittany – and notably with a stage from Kerbaol’s hometown of Brest – the race stretches 1,165km from the Atlantic to the Alps. The final two days feature the brutal Col de la Madeleine and Col de Joux-Plane, a daunting challenge that will suit Kerbaol’s steady climbing and descending strengths.
“We’ve built our roster to give her as much support as possible,” said sport director Carmen Small. “They believe in themselves and they believe in each other. Now we just need the race to get underway.”
Cédrine Kerbaol leads with confidence
After finishing fourth at the Vuelta Femenina and winning a stage at last year’s Tour, Kerbaol is now aiming for the podium. The 23-year-old French rider enters her home race on strong form and with the full backing of a team tailored to support her on every terrain.
The opening weekend in Brittany will be a personal highlight for Kerbaol. Stage 2 starts in Brest, where she was born and studied, and the hometown crowds are sure to provide a boost as she embarks on her GC bid.
Faulkner and Christie to shape the climbs
Backing Kerbaol in the mountains will be Kristen Faulkner and Henrietta Christie, both in strong form after a high-altitude training block in Andorra. Faulkner, a former Tour stage winner and Vuelta contender, described the training camp as a “mental reset” and highlighted the team’s bond as a key asset heading into a high-pressure race.
Christie, still only 22, has specifically prepared for her role as Kerbaol’s mountain support, focusing on longer efforts to stay with her leader deeper into the climbs. “Even if we’re not able to do anything, someone being there and suffering to the max alongside her is great support,” she said.
Jackson and Borghesi offer punch and experience
Newly crowned Canadian champion Alison Jackson returns to the Tour with big ambitions of her own. The 2023 Paris-Roubaix winner has had a resurgent 2025, with podiums at Roubaix and Flanders and a stage race win. She’ll target the opening stages and the punchier finishes, with an eye on taking a win in the Maple Leaf jersey.
Letizia Borghesi, runner-up at Paris-Roubaix this spring and sixth at Flanders, brings similar strengths and arrives with confidence after altitude camp. She’ll look to exploit the rolling terrain in the opening half of the race, particularly stages 1 and 5, before switching fully to support duties in the mountains.
Rüegg and Vallieres round out the squad
Noemi Rüegg has her sights set on the punchy first week. The Swiss rider has identified stages 1, 2 and 5 as key targets. “Those are really good stages for me because they’re quite punchy, always up and down, and finish with a slight uphill,” she said. She’ll also be part of the early support network for Kerbaol before the mountains thin the field.
Magdeleine Vallieres brings vital Tour experience and rounds out a squad that’s raced and trained together extensively throughout the season. This will be her fourth consecutive Tour and she noted the unique pressure the race brings. “It’s more about balancing not only the racing but also what’s around it,” she explained.
EF Education-Oatly’s strength lies not just in individual talent, but in cohesion. Their Tour squad has trained, lived and prepared as a unit, and with Kerbaol steadily climbing the ranks in stage racing, the podium now feels within reach.
EF Education-Oatly 2025 Tour de France Femmes line-up
- Cédrine Kerbaol
- Kristen Faulkner
- Henrietta Christie
- Alison Jackson
- Letizia Borghesi
- Noemi Rüegg
- Magdeleine Vallieres
