For years, women’s cycling operated in the background of men’s cycling, living in the shadow of the men’s Tour de France — but that’s changing fast.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift isn’t just another version of the men’s race. It’s become a celebration of female strength, camaraderie, and the raw joy of riding a bike at the absolute limit. This is a race that reminds us what cycling is really about.
The Road to the Tour: A Long Time Coming
The men’s Tour de France began in 1903. But women had to wait much longer for their turn on cycling’s biggest stage.
- 1955: The first women’s Tour de France is held as a one-off race.
- 1984–1989: A short-lived revival sees women racing similar routes alongside the men.
- 1990s–2000s: Various attempts like La Grande Boucle Féminine keep the dream alive, but ultimately fade out due to lack of funding and media coverage.
- 2022: The modern-day Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is born — with full ASO support, global broadcast rights, and the legendary Marion Rousse at the helm.
This latest iteration is more than a reboot. It’s a statement: women belong on the world’s biggest stage — and they’re here to shake it up.
How the Women’s Tour Differs
The Tour de France Femmes isn’t just shorter — it’s sharper, punchier, and full of surprises.
- 9 days, not 21: The women’s race is shorter making every single stage crucial.
- More action, less control: Unlike the men’s race where the budget disparity allows superteams like UAE to control stages — the women’s race is much less predictable and much more exciting.
- Different route, same ambition: The women don’t follow the same roads. They carve out their own Tour — like 2023’s unforgettable penultimate stage atop the Col du Tourmalet.
- Authenticity front and center: The vibe is refreshingly real. Less brand polish, more guts and grit.
Riders like Demi Vollering, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, and Lotte Kopecky aren’t just elite athletes — they’re bold, joyful personalities who wear their hearts on their sleeves.
The Podium That Went Viral
During the 2025 Spring Classics, footage of the women’s podium at the Amstel Gold Race went viral on social media. The three medal winners, stood atop the podium, cheered and downed their celebratory beers. The moment went viral.
Why? Because it was positioned in stark contrast to the men’s podium who took a sip at most. The men’s podium felt controlled, corporate and lack-lustre.
This viral moment highlighted what fans increasingly believe: women’s cycling has kept its soul.
Why It Matters
There’s a growing hunger for cycling that feels real. Not just marginal gains, data, and the team tactics of superteams able to afford the best riders— but the joy, the pain, the human stories. And that’s exactly what the Tour de France Femmes delivers.
It’s a race full of:
- Attacking spirit (when everything is on the line, they go for it)
- Emotional interviews (tears, laughter, honesty)
- Moments of connection (both within the peloton and with the fans)
It’s competitive, yes. But it’s also a reminder of why we all ride: for the freedom, the challenge, and the friendships that form when we suffer together.
The Tour de France Femmes isn’t playing catch-up. It’s blazing its own trail — and inviting all of us to remember why we fell in love with cycling in the first place.
Who to Watch
The 2025 Tour de France Femmes promises a fierce battle for the yellow jersey, with some of the most exciting riders in women’s cycling set to return to the spotlight. Defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma will be back to fight for her title, having clinched victory in 2024 by a razor-thin margin of just four seconds. Hot on her heels will be FDJ-Suez’s Demi Vollering determined to overturn last year’s narrow defeat. The formidable, Lotte Kopecky, droppedout of the Giro early hoping to recover from a back injury in time for the Tour de France Femmes.
Meanwhile, several stars of the Women’s Spring Classics, include rising star Puck Pieterse and the Paris-Roubaix champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Olympic gold medalist Ferrand-Prévot came out of retirement to join Visma | Lease a Bike on a three-year deal and the French favourite is shaping up to be a serious wildcard threat.
2025 Tour de France Femmes Trip with Trek Travel
This year Trek Travel has crafted an incredible race-trip itinerary that puts you on the front lines of some of the race’s most exciting stages. Highlights include:
Stage 7: Climb from the crystal clear water of Annecy Lake up the locals favorite, Col de Leschaux, before tackling Col du Plainpalais and Col du Granier, the route the racers will take in reverse!From our private terrace viewing right at the top of Col de Granier you’ll have the perfect vantage point to see the riders race to the top!
Stage 8: Enjoy an early morning ride, climbing up Col du Chat with stunning views of Lac Bourget below, before heading to the stage start in nearby Chambery. Enjoy VIP access to the official departure village as you cheer on your favourites!
Stage 9: Experience the stage 9 route yourself with a morning climb up Col du Corbier before heading to the finish line of the Tour de France Femmes where you’ll have VIP access to the hospitality area with flat screens and exclusive behind-the-scenes access with the Lidl-Trek team.
Dreaming of Riding the Tour de Femmes Routes?
Want to experience the magic of the Tour for yourself? Trek Travel offers an incredible cycling vacation that follows in the wheel tracks of the women’s Tours — including bucket-list climbs, pro-level support, and that post-ride glass of something cold and earned.
