2025 Tour de France Femmes Overall Preview

When one door closes, another one opens...as the men's race is wrapping up, the women's race is winding up.

Previously...

Kasia Niewiadoma took the overall title over Demi Vollering after a nail-biting finale up Alpe d' Huez. The victory was assisted a bit by Vollering's late crash on stage 5, were only one teammate fell back to assist in the finale.
The 2024 overall podium



Le map avec Zwift

Nine stages in total, starting in Brittany...it would be nice if the race were two weeks long with a rest day, but oh well.

The first two stages are punchy, then two sprint stages, then another lumpy stages, and finally, the last four stages are proper mountain stages, although there is only one HC finish.

My Key Stages


Stage 1 profile
Stage 2 profile
The first two stages are tailor-made for someone like Marianne Vos, but other punchuers should feature...I am thinking of Liane Lippert or Puck Pieterse or Mischa Bredewold. But it will be interesting to see who SD Worx prioritizes for these stages...will it still be Wiebes with the uphill finishes or will they go with Bredewold or Kopecky?

Stage 5 profile
Not the world's most difficult profile, but the last climb has bonus seconds over the top, so it could easily turn into a selective GC day, especially given how this types of stages have been raced in the past and given the overall length of the stage race (it's nine stages, not twenty-one).


Stage 6 profile
Stage 7 profile
Stage 8 profile
Stage 9 profile
The last four stages are proper mountain stages with stage 8 looking like the queen stage.


GC Contenders

DEMI VOLLERING -- The winner of the last two Vueltas and 2023 champion returns with a team that will probably wait up in the event of a crash. Her climbing performances this year have not been quite as dominant as the previous two years due to the huge jump made by Marlen Reusser, but Reusser was still put on a gap on the big climbs in this year's Vuelta, although not in Suisse. Regardless, Vollering also has two elite climbers (Labous and Muzic) while I don't see the Movistar squad as being quite as strong in the mountains. 

MARLEN REUSSER -- The GC revelation of the year, she bested Vollering in Suisse last month and was quite close to taking the overall at the Giro last month. No TT and not having the climbing domestiques will hurt, but she also appears to be the second-best climber right now.

ELISA LONGO BOURGHINI -- The Giro champion has as much momentum as anyone else in this race, but, again, the team does not appear to be as strong as FDJ in the mountains.

ANNA VAN DER BREGGEN -- Out of the team car and back on the bike, one of the best GC riders of recent memory is back in the peloton. An overall podium plus a stage win in the Vuelta, she appears to be back to racing at a very high level. However, only sixth overall at the Giro exposed some weaknesses, notably a lack of punchiness on the climbs. However, SD Worx likely has the second-best climbing squad, and, with Kopecky's back injury, there should be no question of leadership.

KASIA NIEWIADOMA -- The defending champion wasn't great at the Vuelta, but was much improved at Suisse. Her team also looks to be quite good for the mountains, with Bradbury and Ludwig for support. I think the overall might be out-of-reach without quite a bit of caginess, but a podium spot should be a strong possibility.

SARAH GIGANTE -- The Australian was third overall in the Giro and was clearly the best climber at the end of the race. Her team is also quite good for the mountains, but will they prioritize Gigante or Le Court's GC bid?

NIAMH FISHER-BLACK -- Will have GC ambitions, but I'm not sure it's feasible even though the team will be very good for the mountains with van Anrooij, Spratt, and Brand for the mountains

Others who will fight for a podium spot are CEDRINE KERBAOL, MARION BUNEL, and PAULINA ROOIJAKERS.

Points

LORENA WIEBES -- It's difficult to see past the best sprinter in the peloton, especially given how well she has climbed this year. Could very well take four stage wins.

MARIANNE VOS -- Will need to gap Wiebes on the first two stages, which is very possibly possible. 

PUCK PIETERSE -- See previous

ELISA BALSAMO -- See previous

CHARLOTTE KOOL -- Hasn't been able to get around Wiebes all year, and I don't see that changing here.

Mountains

I'll list some non-GC riders here, but I think, in reality, the jersey will be won by a GC rider, probably Vollering.

JUSTINE GHEKIERE -- Why not...climbing well and won last year, but I feel Gigante is the best bet from AG Insurance right now.

Youth

I'll go with Marion Bunel.

Prediction

I'll go with Vollering for the overall...she has the fitness and the motivation to turn the tables from last year. Reusser and Gigante to round out the podium



I also used my head to make my picks.








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