Winners set records, history made, and a home victory achieved - Conclusions of the Tour de France Femmes 2025
In a historic moment for women's cycling, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot became the first French woman to win the Tour de France Femmes in over 30 years. The 2025 edition of the race, held for the first time in Brittany, was a thrilling nine-day event covering 1,168km.
The decisive moment came on Stage 8 at the challenging Col de la Madeleine, where Ferrand-Prévot delivered a stunning solo ride, unmatched by her GC rivals. This performance secured her the coveted yellow jersey and set her on course for victory.
Ferrand-Prévot sealed her win on the final Stage 9 in Châtel, finishing 20 seconds ahead of her closest rivals. She finished over 3 minutes ahead of second-place Demi Vollering and more than 4 minutes ahead of Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, who completed the podium. Vollering also moved up to second overall after Sarah Gigante lost time on the final descent.
Other notable classifications included Lorena Wiebes winning the green points jersey and Elise Chabbey securing the polka-dot climber’s jersey.
The final stage was mountainous and demanding, featuring three categorized climbs including the challenging Col de Joux Plane. The race was characterized by strategic climbing attacks and descending challenges which shaped the final general classification.
Ferrand-Prévot’s victory was notable as she returned to road racing this season after focusing on mountain biking and made a significant impact on the Tour with dominant performances in the mountain stages.
Other notable performances included Niamh Fisher-Black's third place on the Col de la Madeleine and Maëva Squiban's double stage wins, including a 32km solo ride to Ambert, marking the biggest win of her career.
The Tour de France Femmes was not without its controversies, with Visma-Lease A Bike and FDJ-Suez reportedly having a disagreement about team tactics during the race. There was also some disquiet among team staff regarding safety and respect during The Cyclists Alliance solidarity campaign.
Despite these challenges, the 2025 Tour de France Femmes was a triumph for women's cycling, showcasing the talent, determination, and skill of its participants. The race concluded on Sunday in Châtel, with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot crossing the line first, cementing her place in cycling history.
[1] Tour de France Femmes Official Website
[2] Cycling News
[3] VeloNews
[4] Cycling Weekly
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's dominance in the mountain stages of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, following her focus on mountain biking, showcased her versatility in various sports like road cycling and cyclocross. Despite the controversies that arose during the race, the highest level of talent, determination, and skill from the participants made it a significant moment for women's sports.
Before her historic victory in the Tour de France Femmes, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot had also made a name for herself in mountain biking, demonstrating her prowess in multiple sports. The 2025 event, marked by strategic climbing attacks and demanding descents, highlighted the competitive nature of women's sports, such as mountain biking and road cycling.
