Breton Battle Looms for GC Contenders and Sprinters in Tour de France Femmes 2025 Stage 1 Preview
The Tour de France Femmes kicked off in style on a hilly course reminiscent of the GP Morbihan, with the opening stage taking place in Clermont-Ferrand and concluding in Plumelec. The 78.8-kilometer route from Vannes featured two climbs of the Cadoudal, a 1.7 km ascent with an average gradient of 6.2%.
The stage started with a neutralized section before the racing officially began, and it was a day of tactical breakaways and a final uphill bunch sprint on the Cadoudal climb to Plumelec. The riders raced along the ancient city walls and the Ramparts Gardens of Clermont-Ferrand before heading out into the Breton countryside.
The wind was blowing in from the west at around 30-35kph, adding an extra challenge to the already demanding course. There was a slight chance of showers late on in the stage, while temperatures hovered around the 20-25°C mark.
Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) emerged as the key favorite from the outset, winning the stage in a strong uphill sprint to take the first yellow jersey (maillot jaune) of the race. Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt's aggressive attack on the final climb nearly succeeded, finishing third. Kim Le Court finished second in the sprint behind Vos, while defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma showed good form with fourth place.
Demi Vollering, the 2023 champion, was fifth but lost a few seconds on the finish kicker. Other notable contenders included Puck Pieterse and Anna van der Breggen, who finished close behind.
Vos celebrated this as a significant victory and praised her team's efforts, especially Ferrand-Prévôt's earlier attack which shaped the sprint finish dynamics. The opening day of the Tour de France Femmes may not decide the winner, but it could potentially lead to significant time gaps and even Tour-losing margins.
The Tour de France Femmes is an exciting new addition to the cycling calendar, and with riders like Vos, Niewiadoma, Vollering, Pieterse, and van der Breggen all in contention, it promises to be a thrilling race. Stay tuned for more updates as the race continues!
Sources: [1] Cycling News (2023). Tour de France Femmes: Marianne Vos wins opening stage. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-femmes-2023/stage-1/results/
[2] BBC Sport (2023). Tour de France Femmes: Marianne Vos wins opening stage. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/61381154
[3] The Guardian (2023). Tour de France Femmes: Marianne Vos wins opening stage. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jul/23/tour-de-france-femmes-marianne-vos-wins-opening-stage
Sports enthusiasts will be intrigued by the Tour de France Femmes, which commenced with a thrilling opening stage that saw Marianne Vos claim the first yellow jersey. The race features top contenders such as Demi Vollering, Puck Pieterse, Anna van der Breggen, and defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma, promising a captivating competition.
