"The Tour de France Femmes, through the perspectives of its novice participants, encapsulates an atmosphere of unruly excitement"
Tour de France Femmes: A Growing Phenomenon in Women's Cycling
The Tour de France Femmes, officially relaunched in 2022, is making waves in the world of professional women's cycling. This multi-day stage race, modelled after the iconic men's Tour de France, is now in its fourth edition and has grown significantly since its inaugural run.
The race, which covers over 1,000 kilometers and 17,240 meters of elevation over nine days, features 22 teams and 154 riders. Notable performances include Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's dominance of the queen stage in 2025, signalling a strong bid to win the overall classification.
The Tour de France Femmes has evolved from fragmented and unstable early attempts into a premier event, showcasing elite women's stage racing with demanding courses and a high level of competition. Zwift, the indoor cycling software platform, plays a major role as the main sponsor, helping with the race's planning and promotion.
The race has attracted top riders, including previous Tour winners, world champions, and Olympic champions. Imogen Wolff, a racer for Visma-Lease a Bike, has always dreamt of riding in the Tour de France Femmes, and this year, her dream has come true. Brodie Chapman, the second-oldest woman in the race at 34, is a breakaway fixture for UAE Team ADQ.
Maëva Squiban, the race's breakout star, has already won back-to-back stages. UAE Team ADQ has racked up four combativity prizes in addition to stages won by Squiban.
The race has been particularly moving for riders like Titia Ryo, a Breton racer, and Emily Watts, racing her first season at the ProTeam. Watts said that her French squad, St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93, is punching above its weight.
The 2025 edition of the Tour de France Femmes will see the debutants face what may well be the toughest climb many of them have raced, the Col de la Madeleine. On Saturday afternoon, the riders will take on the 19km Alpine ascent, expected to be another intense, memorable, and perhaps emotional experience.
The Tour de France Femmes is the biggest, most-watched, and most-written about race in the world. Just under a third (49) of the starters are debutants, and the youngest woman in the race is 19-year-old Imogen Wolff. Fans have been packing the roadsides during the Tour de France Femmes, with vast numbers of spectators coming out to watch the stages.
Cherie Pridham, UAE Team ADQ directeur sportif, has raced the Grande Boucle Féminine eight times during her career. For many riders, being in the race is a "pinch-me moment." Pridham notes that the Tour de France Femmes is "another level completely" compared to other races. Racers like Griffin have been taken aback and encouraged by the number of fans supporting women's racing.
In sum, the Tour de France Femmes has established itself as a premier and widely respected event, showcasing elite women's stage racing with demanding courses and a high level of competition, increasingly supported by professional teams and sponsors.
Sports enthusiasts can find the Tour de France Femmes, a growing phenomenon in women's cycling, on the cycling calendar. This prestigious race, modelled after the iconic men's Tour de France, showcases intense competition and challenging courses that are attracting top athletes from around the world.
