Tour de France Femmes 2025 – Stage 9 Preview: Praz-sur-Arly to Châtel, The Grand Finale in the Alps
🌄 The Final Reckoning: Stage 9 in the Heart of the Haute-Savoie
After eight riveting stages of tension, triumph, and tactical warfare, it all comes down to this: Stage 9, a high-altitude heartbreaker in the Alps that promises to crown a worthy queen of the Tour.
From Praz-sur-Arly to Châtel, this 124.1 km stage weaves through the Haute-Savoie, a raw and relentless route packed with three categorized climbs — and one soul-testing summit finish. The Col de Joux-Plane, one of France’s most feared climbs, is joined by Côte d’Arâches-la-Frasse and the Col du Corbier, creating a stage where GC hopefuls will either soar to glory or crumble into the void.
🔑 Stage 9 Quick Profile Snapshot
🗓️ Date | Sunday, August 3, 2025 |
|---|---|
🏁 Stage Number | 9 – The Grand Finale |
🗺️ Route | Praz-sur-Arly → Châtel |
📏 Distance | 124.1 km |
⛰️ Elevation Gain | Over 3,000 meters |
🧗♀️ Key Climbs | Côte d’Arâches-la-Frasse, Col de Joux-Plane, Col du Corbier |
🔚 Summit Finish | Pré la Joux – 2.2 km @ 5.6% gradient |
⏱️ Neutralised Start | 15:20 CEST |
🏁 Estimated Finish | 18:45 CEST |
🗺️ Stage 9 Route & Climb Breakdown
1. Côte d’Arâches-la-Frasse
- 🧗♀️ 6.2 km at 7.1%
- ⛰️ Category 2
- 🟢 Max points: 10 KOM points
- The first true test of the day, but only a prelude to what’s to come.
2. Col de Joux-Plane – The Beast
- 🧗♀️ 11.6 km at 8.5%
- ⛰️ Category 1 (brutal in every sense)
- 🟢 KOM: 15/12/10/8/6/4/2/1 pts
- The decider? Possibly. The second half of this monster is relentless with gradients near 10%.
3. Col du Corbier
- 🧗♀️ 5.9 km at 8.5%
- ⛰️ Category 2
- 🟢 KOM: 10/8/6/4/2/1 pts
- A sharp climb just 30 km from the finish. Perfect launchpad for late attacks.
4. Pré-la-Joux Finish Climb
- 🧗♀️ Final 2.2 km at 5.6%
- Not categorized, but vital
- The finale kicks after a short descent and long drag uphill — a last gasp test of strength and timing.
🕓 Stage 9 Time Table
Location | KM | 33 km/h | 35 km/h | 37 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Neutralised Start – Praz-sur-Arly | 0 km | 15:20 | 15:20 | 15:20 |
Col d’Arâches-la-Frasse | 33.9 km | 16:17 | 16:14 | 16:12 |
Morillon (Intermediate Sprint) | 49.5 km | 16:35 | 16:33 | 16:29 |
Col de Joux-Plane Summit | 66.6 km | 17:29 | 17:21 | 17:13 |
Col du Corbier | 95.2 km | 18:22 | 18:09 | 17:58 |
Châtel – Pré la Joux (Finish) | 124.1 km | 19:14 | 18:59 | 18:45 |
Watch stage 9 results & live updates
🏆 Points & Classifications
🟢 Green Jersey (Sprint Points – Morillon)
Pos | Points |
|---|---|
1st | 25 |
2nd | 20 |
3rd | 17 |
… | … |
15th | 2 |
🔵 Queen of the Mountains (KOM)
- Côte d’Arâches-la-Frasse: 10–1 pts (top 6)
- Col de Joux-Plane: 15–1 pts (top 8)
- Col du Corbier: 10–1 pts (top 6)
⏱️ Time Bonuses at Finish
- 1st: 10 seconds
- 2nd: 6 seconds
- 3rd: 4 seconds
🔥 What to Expect: GC Fireworks & Final Drama
With over 3,000 meters of climbing, Stage 9 will be where the Tour is won or lost. Joux-Plane is where legs explode and gaps stretch. But the danger doesn’t stop at the summit. The Col du Corbier, with its savage gradient, could be the final ambush point for late GC drama.
Expect chaos on the final 2.2 km to Châtel’s ski resort. Whether it’s a lone attacker, a group sprint among GC leaders, or a last-second charge, the winner here will earn it the hard way.
Will a climber etch their name into history? Will the yellow jersey survive the Alps? This is it. No more hiding. The finish line is in sight — and it climbs all the way there.
📸 Closing Shot: The Last Summit
As the peloton snakes its way into Châtel and climbs toward Pré-la-Joux, spectators will witness not just a winner, but a champion carved in suffering, spirit, and summit steel. Whether it’s redemption, domination, or surprise, the 2025 Tour de France Femmes ends not with a procession — but with a fight to the final metre.
