“We have a very beautiful French peloton. Which, in addition to being very homogeneous, consists of renowned girls within the teams. Almost luxury teammates but also girls who can seek stages and a very beautiful general classification, “announces the Breton, who will comment on the race for three …
“We have a very beautiful French peloton. Which, in addition to being very homogeneous, consists of renowned girls within the teams. Almost luxury teammates but also girls able to seek stages and a very beautiful general classification, “announces the Breton, who will comment on the race for three days for the Eurosport motorcycle.
Kerbaol and Ferrand-Prévot for the general
To play the top of the ranking, two names emerge: Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly, 24 years old) and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Team Visma Lease A Bike, 33 years old), who is back on the road. “They are the two best French chances in the general classification,” said Breton, retired from the platoons for a few months. “Not all Blue have the same role to play in their teams. »»
A complete armada was built around Cédrine Kerbaol. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, which aims at the yellow jersey within three years, will also have many teams at her service.
“We have a very beautiful French peloton. »»
A role that does not necessarily put pressure on “PFP”, accustomed to major meetings. “He is someone who knows how to manage the pressure well. She has sufficient experience. She is one of the deans of this peloton during this edition, “continues Audrey Cordon-Ragot about the 2024 Olympic mountain bike champion.
“She arrives with the excitement of the discovery of a first Tour de France. At 33, I think she is like a kid. It will also push it. »»
“This jersey is known and recognized”
For tricolor stages victories, other names can be put forward. “The former French Champion Victoire Berteau (24, winner in 2023) for the Cofidis. And then also Aude Bianic, who will be alongside Marlen Reusser within the Movistar. »»
Without forgetting the Quimperoise Titia Ryo (20, Arkéa-B & B Hotels Women), which will start for the first time on the event. “She comes out of a promising start to the season and why not have shine her here,” analyzes Audrey Cordon-Ragot, double champion of France on road (2020, 2022).
It will also be necessary to closely monitor the FDJ-Suez and the three French women aligned alongside the favorite Demi Vollering (see box): Juliette Labous, Evita Muzic and the recent French champion Marie Le Net, which will extend her tricolor tunic on the roads of the country. “It will give him wings. It is obvious for having lived it myself in 2022 on the first round, ”smiles Audrey Cordon-Ragot.
“This jersey is known and recognized and it inevitably pushes to give the best of oneself. For her, it is a just reward for the work done because when you are a teammate, you train as much as the leaders. We just don’t have this role attributed. »»
Vollering and Niewiadoma expected at the turn
She had lifted her arms in 2023. The Dutch Demi Vollering (28, FDJ-Suez) is a favorite on the 2025 Tour. She will certainly fight with another former winner of the Grande Boucle: the Polish and outgoing winner Katarzyna Niewiadoma (30, Canyon/Sram).
The Italian Elisa Longo Borghini (33), with her victory this year on the Giro, can also aim for the double. It would be the first in the history of female cycling. Italian champion, the resident of the UAE Team Adq team will also have to keep an eye on Lotte Kopecky (29, SD World) and her world champion tunic. The Belgian had taken the 2e place as general in 2023 and was also mounted on the 2e Marche du Podium du Giro 2024. The Swiss Marlen Reusser (Movistar), winner of the Tour de Switzerland, will undoubtedly take a doubt in the fight.
Nine stages in 2025 against seven last year
The female peloton departing from the Grande Boucle is attacking nine stages this year, against seven in 2024. The departure will be given from Vannes, in Morbihan on Saturday. After 78.8 km, cyclists will pass the finish line in Plumelec. This first and short stage should reach out to a sneaker after two final circuit laps and especially three climbs of the Cadoudal coast.
Sunday, July 27, 110.4 km will be traveled between the two largest cities in Finistère Brest and Quimper. A new arrival at the top of a bump is planned with also, during the stage, the rise of Ménez Quelc’h (3 km at 6.2 %).
The third stage will rally Angers (Maine-et-Loire) from Gacilly (Morbihan) after 163.5 km. A flat step promised to sprinters. The next day, Tuesday, July 29, the peloton will leave from Saumur to arrive in Poitiers. 130.7 km with a false flat price to finish, also promised a massive sprint.
The start of the fifth stage will be given from the Futuroscope. Before arrival in Guéret, the runners will rub the Maupuy (2.8 km at 5.4 %). 165.8 km to get into legs before attacking the Auvergne slopes the next day.
Thursday, July 31, stage 6 will lead the sports of Clermont-Ferrand to Ambert through the Puy-de-Dôme roads. 123.7 km through volcanoes and with several passes: Béal (10.2 km at 5.6 %), Chansert (6.3 km at 5.5 %) and the Côte de Valcivières.
Friday 1is August, Bourg-en-Bresse will be the scene of the departure of the 7e stage whose arrival will be tried in Chambéry (159.7 km). After this technical stage, place at 111.9 km of mountains between Chambéry and Saint-François-Longchamp/Col de la Madeleine. There is no doubt that the differences will be substantial at the top of the latter, the 18.6 km of ascent of which are made up of irregular slopes (8.1 % average).
And as a dessert, to complete this large loop, the runners will finish with a 9e Step between Praz-sur-Arly and Châtel. The final stage of 111.9 km in Haute-Savoie promises to be spicy with several difficulties on the program: the Côte d’Arâches-la-Frasse (6.2 km at 7.1 %), Joux Plane (11.6 km at 8.5 %), the Col du Corbier (5.9 km at 8.5 %).