The 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, promises an intense nine-day journey across France’s varied landscapes, including a record-breaking 17,240 metres of total elevation gain. Starting 26th July, the route will cover 1,165 kilometres, with riders tackling both historic climbs and new challenges across Brittany, the Central Massif, and the French Alps.
A Brittany Grand Départ with puncheur-friendly finishes
The Tour’s opening three stages will see the peloton cross Brittany, a fitting start for a cycling heartland. Stage 1, finishing atop the Côte de Cadoudal in Plumelec, presents a steep 1.7 km climb at 6.2%, inviting punchers to claim the first yellow jersey. The following stage from Brest to Quimper will take riders over the Stang Bihan, ending in another uphill sprint. These first two stages will be set entirely within the Morbihan and Finistère departments, highlighting Brittany’s cycling heritage.
Flat and rolling stages offer balance before the mountains
Stages three and four, the flatter segments, favour sprinters, while the longest day of the race, stage five, stretches 166 km from Chasseneuil-du-Poitou to Guéret, transitioning to a hilly finale. The Central Massif awaits on stage six with its demanding Col du Béal, a 10.2 km climb at 5.6%—the first significant challenge for general classification contenders. This stage also marks a milestone as Clermont-Ferrand becomes the first city to host the Tour de France Femmes twice, having previously launched the race in 2023.
Record-breaking climbs and the toughest stage on the Col de la Madeleine
Stage eight, set in Savoie, is the queen stage, ending on the Col de la Madeleine—the highest point in the race at 2,000 metres. This 18.6 km climb at an average gradient of 8.1% will test riders with a 3,490-metre vertical gain, the most intense of any stage in the race’s history. The following day, the Tour’s climax unfolds in Haute-Savoie, as riders tackle the Col de Joux Plane and finish in Châtel Les Portes du Soleil, potentially shaking up the general classification just ahead of the final finish line.
A challenging parcours across iconic departments and massifs
The 2025 route encompasses 15 departments within four regions—Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Nouvelle Aquitaine, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Riders will encounter three distinct massifs: the Armorican, Central, and the Alps, where the highest and most iconic climbs will push riders to their limits. In addition to the race’s geographic spread, this edition sees a full roster of 154 riders across 22 teams of seven, all contending without the benefit of a time trial, a first for the event since 2022.
Rider reactions to a demanding and diverse route
Reigning champion Kasia Niewiadoma from Canyon-SRAM expressed enthusiasm for the mix of stages, though she noted the absence of a time trial as unexpected. “It’s nice to see the diversity of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift route. There are a lot of opportunities for different types of riders. I believe the first stage can suit our team quite well,” she commented, hinting that her squad would aim for an early yellow jersey.
Team manager Rutger Tijssen from Visma-Lease a Bike voiced a similar sentiment, sharing that, while the lack of time-trialling was disappointing, the overall structure provided opportunities for riders with varied strengths. “The main challenge clearly lies in that final weekend,” he noted, recognising that the last two stages’ climbs in the Alps would be pivotal.
With an extended course and a greater total elevation gain than any previous edition, the 2025 Tour de France Femmes is poised to be a rigorous test, featuring new heights and a balanced blend of stages that will reward both sprinters and climbers before the yellow jersey is finally claimed.
