Women's Tour de France 2025 finds La Madeleine and Joux Plane as its judges
The final two stages of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes are set to take place in the majestic Alps, promising a thrilling conclusion to the race. The route covers nine stages, spanning approximately 1,165-1,168 km with a total elevation gain of 17,240 meters.
The race begins in Brittany and winds its way east through the Massif Central before reaching the challenging Alpine stages. The final stages will include two mountain stages, with the finish at La Madeleine on Saturday and in Châtel on Sunday.
The Queen Stage: Col de la Madeleine
The queen stage of the race is the eighth stage, which features a summit finish at Col de la Madeleine (2,000 m elevation). This special-category climb spans 18.6 kilometers, with an average gradient of 8.1%. After cresting Col D'Arrachês-la-Frasse at the 33-kilometer mark, the riders will face the colossal obstacle of Joux Plane, a 11.6-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 8.5%. The first riders to crest the Col du Corbier will be heading towards the final finish line in Châtel.
The Final Mountain Challenges
The final mountain challenge of the Tour emerges with 25 kilometers to go, the Col du Corbier, a first-category climb almost 6 kilometers long with an average gradient of 8.5%. After cresting Joux Plane, the ascent to the legendary Col de La Madeleine begins.
The Col de la Plainpalais and Col de Saint-Georges-d'Hurtières are also featured in the final stages, adding to the race's difficulty and making them pivotal for shaping the overall race outcome.
Top Contenders and Defending Champion
Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, the defending champion, will face stiff competition from Dutch rider Demi Vollering and Paris 2024 bronze medalist Lotte Kopecky. Other notable challengers include Elisa Longo Borghini and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. The Alpine final stages are expected to be decisive for the general classification, with significant climbing challenges that can create time gaps among race leaders.
Kimberley Le Court Pienaar is defending her slim lead as race leader, but she faces challenges from top contenders such as Pauline Ferrand Prevot, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Demi Vollering, and Anna Van der Breggen.
The Stage on Saturday
The stage on Saturday starts in Chambéry and includes the Col de la Plainpalais, a first-category climb of 13.2 kilometers at an average gradient of 6.3%. The Col de Joux Plane is featured midway through the stage. The final stage of the 2025 Women's Tour de France on Sunday is a 124.1-kilometer journey from Praz-Sur-Arly to Châtel.
Maeva Squiban has achieved a second consecutive solo victory in the race, setting the stage for an exciting finish in the Alps. Stay tuned for updates as the final stages of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes unfold.
[1]: Tour de France Femmes official website [2]: Cycling News article [3]: Cycling Weekly article [5]: VeloNews article
The eighth stage, known as the queen stage, features a summit finish at Col de la Madeleine, an average-grade sports event that presents a significant challenge to the racers. The final stages of the Tour de France Femmes will also include the Col du Corbier, a first-category climb with an average gradient of 8.5%, which could determine the overall race outcome due to its difficulty.
