Tour de France Femmes 2025 Stage 1: Route Profile, Favorites & Race Preview

Vannes → Plumelec | 78.8 km | Saturday, July 26, 2025 | Hilly Stage

The 1st stage of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes sets the tone for an explosive edition of the race, with a short but deceptively sharp route profile in cycling heartland Brittany. Starting from the historic port town of Vannes and finishing atop the punchy Côte de Cadoudal in Plumelec, this Stage 1 route is a ready-made launchpad for puncheurs, climber-sprinters, and early GC skirmishes.

Get ready for fireworks on Saturday, July 26th, as the peloton kicks off the Tour de France Femmes 2025 with a hilly 78.8 km course packed with punch and history.

Stage 1 Route Overview: Vannes to Plumelec (78.8 km)

Notable climbs: Côte de Botségalo (800m @ 5.3%), Côte de Cadoudal (1.7 km @ 6.2%) x3

This Stage 1 detailed route is short on kilometers but long on intensity. With climbs in the first third and a finishing circuit that features three ascents of the Côte de Cadoudal, the riders will have no time to ease into rhythm. From Vannes to Plumelec, it’s a relentless dance of speed, positioning, and explosive uphill power.

Stage 1 Detailed Route Map: Sector by Sector

Here’s a breakdown of the Stage 1 route of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, by location and kilometer:

The Stage 1 route map reveals a dynamic profile, with early rolling terrain, one categorized climb before the circuit, and then repeated ascents that will thin the field by the final push to the line.

⛰️ The Climbs: Côte de Botségalo & Côte de Cadoudal

Côte de Botségalo (Km 29.3)

• 800 meters at 5.3%
• First KOM points of the 2025 race
• Likely target for early attackers looking for polka-dot glory

Côte de Cadoudal (Climbed 3x)

• 1.7 km at 6.2%, steepest section hits 9%
• A classic French climb with Tour heritage
• Final 500 meters before the finish line are brutal

This 1st stage route 2025 includes climbs that will shape the GC hierarchy early. With Cadoudal tackled three times, and the last ascent finishing at the line, expect it to determine not only the Stage 1 favorite but also the first yellow jersey.

Race Tactics: Who Controls the Final Circuit?

The final 31.5 km features two full laps of a 13.9 km circuit, starting with a descent, flattening slightly, and ending with the Cadoudal climb. Teams will fight for positioning before each ascent, especially for the final ramp, where the stage — and likely the jersey — will be decided.

This Stage 1 of July 26, 2025, favors those with punchy acceleration, great timing, and team support. Sprinters who can climb may survive, but pure puncheurs hold the advantage.

Expect to see:

• A controlled early breakaway, reeled in by the likes of SD Worx or Canyon-SRAM
• Late attacks from riders like Lippert, Pieterse, or Longo Borghini
• A full-gas drag race up Cadoudal from a reduced bunch

⏱️ Stage 1 Timing & Key Passage Schedule

Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
Estimated Speeds: Based on race average speed scenarios: 38 km/h (slow), 40 km/h (medium), 42 km/h (fast)

🕒 Estimated Finish: Between 19:10 and 19:27, depending on race tempo
🎯 Key Climbs & Sprints: Côte de Botségalo (KOM), Cadoudal x3 (final at finish), Plumelec 1st pass (sprint points)

👑 Stage 1 Favorites: Who Takes the First Yellow?

Here’s who to watch on the 1st stage Tour de France Femmes today:

★★★ Top Picks

• Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime): If she survives Cadoudal, she wins from a sprint
• Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike): Queen of classics, queen of timing

★★ Dangerous Outsiders

• Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime): Could work as Wiebes’ leadout… or finish it herself
• Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck): Off-road legs built for explosive climbs

★ Wildcards

• Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM): Won on this very climb in 2016
• Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime): Back from retirement and motivated
• Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Elisa Longo Borghini, Demi Vollering, Lianne Lippert

History & Local Flavor: Plumelec’s Punchy Prestige

Plumelec is no stranger to drama. The Côte de Cadoudal has hosted the French National Championships, European U23 titles (won by Niewiadoma), and now the opening fireworks of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes.

Brittany remains one of French cycling’s spiritual homes, and the roads of Grand-Champ and Colpo echo with history. It’s a fitting start for a race aiming to go bigger, bolder, and punchier in 2025.

A Short Stage with High Stakes

Tour de France Femmes 2025 Stage 1 might only cover 78.8 kilometers, but don’t let the short distance fool you — this opener is packed with drama, tactics, and explosive climbing. The Stage 1 route profile reveals a deceptively tough course, bookended by sharp ascents and repeated climbs up the iconic Côte de Cadoudal.

Expect GC contenders to stay sharp, while classics specialists and punchy finishers will eye a prestigious yellow jersey debut. With the first time bonuses, KOM points, and green jersey points already on the table, this 1st stage of the Tour de France Femmes 2025 will shape early dynamics in all classifications.

From the medieval charm of Vannes to the summit glory in Plumelec, Stage 1 offers the perfect balance of spectacle and strategy to kick off the race. Whether you’re tracking the Stage 1 live timing, catching the TV broadcast, or watching from the roadside, this is a day you don’t want to miss.