While the yellow and green jerseys tend to steal the spotlight, the polka-dot jersey often reveals the race’s most aggressive climbers. The 2025 Tour de France Femmes features a well-balanced route, with points available across all nine stages – though the final three stages in the Alps will almost certainly decide the fate of the mountains classification. Here’s a look at the key riders who could target the maillot à pois this year.
What’s the points system for the polka-dot jersey?
Not every rise in the road counts, but there are enough categorised climbs in 2025 to give the climbers something to aim for:
- 4th category: 2, 1
- 3rd category: 3, 2, 1
- 2nd category: 5, 3, 2, 1
- 1st category: 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1
- Hors catégorie: 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1
Ties are broken by number of HC climbs won, followed by 1st category summits, then GC position.
Is the GC battle likely to interfere?
Very likely. Past winners like Demi Vollering and Katarzyna Niewiadoma have shown it’s possible to win the polka-dots alongside or alongside a GC campaign. If either rider takes multiple summit finishes in the final three stages, they’ll naturally rack up enough points to be in contention.
But the real story of the mountains jersey is usually written from the breakaway – and there’s no shortage of ambitious climbers likely to go all-in for it.
Justine Ghekiere and the value of the break
In 2024, Justine Ghekiere turned attacking riding into a mountain stage win and a stint in the polka-dot jersey. She may try again, though with Kim Le Court now a clear team leader for GC, Ghekiere might have to sacrifice her own ambitions to support the Mauritian. If she does get freedom, expect her to target the early climbs on transitional stages.
A more likely option from the same team is Sarah Gigante, who continues to impress as one of the best pure climbers in the world. After a strong Giro showing, she could be given the green light to lose time early and go hunting mountain points on the big days. If she’s out of GC contention, she could dominate on 1st category and HC climbs.
Big-name threats from the GC mix
There’s no reason Marlen Reusser, Elisa Longo Borghini, or Katarzyna Niewiadoma couldn’t take the jersey. Reusser’s consistency in hilly terrain makes her a wildcard. Longo Borghini always scores well on selective stages and could feature heavily in the Alps. Niewiadoma already has one polka-dot jersey and thrives when the road tilts steep and long.
Demi Vollering remains the strongest climber in the race. If she wins three of the final four stages, she may pick up the jersey incidentally, especially if no breakaway rider sweeps up points ahead of her.
Who else is likely to target the jersey outright?
- Valentina Cavallar (Arkéa-B&B Hotels): After a strong showing on the final stage of the 2024 Tour, the former rower has continued to grow into a serious climbing talent. Not racing for GC frees her up to go stage hunting, and the polka-dot jersey could be a logical goal.
- Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck): The jersey has been on her radar before. She famously won the longest stage of the Tour in 2023, and her team clearly sees value in the classification. If Puck Pieterse focuses elsewhere, Kastelijn could take full aim at the dots.
- Usoa Ostolaza (Laboral Kutxa): Finished 2nd in the Giro mountains classification. She’s been knocking on the door of a big result and could be a real force in the breakaway stages.
- Niamh Fisher-Black: A versatile rider who climbs well, but doesn’t have the same explosiveness as some of the GC favourites. The jersey could become a goal if the overall battle slips away.
Watch out for lesser-known attackers
Riders from smaller teams often make their mark in the fight for polka dots:
- Ségolène Thomas (St. Michel – Mavic Auber93): A known attacker and climber who’s likely to animate early breakaways.
- Nadia Gontova and Karolina Perekitko (Winspace Orange Seal): Both climbers have shown glimpses of form in 2025 and would relish the chance to justify their team’s wildcard selection.
- Julie Bego (Cofidis) could also make a play, especially if she continues her 2025 pattern of aggressive stage racing.
So who takes the 2025 Tour de France Femmes Queen of the Mountains jersey?
- If a GC rider sweeps the mountain stages, expect Vollering or Niewiadoma to walk away with it
- If the breakaway wins dominate, then Gigante, Kastelijn, Cavallar, or Ostolaza could snatch it with consistent climbing points
- If form aligns and the team lets her off the leash, Ghekiere could add another polka-dot prize to her résumé
In a race with this much climbing and a route that builds toward a brutal Alpine finale, the Queen of the Mountains jersey may only be decided on the final ramps to Châtel.
