But in the end, it wasn’t just about the climbs, jerseys, or even the wins. It was about what this race has come to represent: a stage where women’s cycling doesn’t just demand attention—it commands it.
Let’s look back at the pivotal moments, standout performances, and emotional highlights that made this year’s TdFFaZ one for the history books.
A Tour of Firsts: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot makes history
There’s a reason they call her a once-in-a-generation athlete. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, already a multiple world champion across disciplines and the reigning Olympic MTB gold medalist, delivered a performance that transcended expectation—and etched her name into history.
With a commanding win on Stage 9 and two Alpine stage victories under her belt, the 33-year-old became the first Frenchwoman to win the modern Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, ending a decades-long drought stretching back to Jeannie Longo’s 1989 triumph.
What makes her victory even more poetic is the fact that she had only returned to full-time road racing in 2024. “I came back for this,” she said earlier in the season. And come back, she did—with force, finesse, and a fiery final attack that dropped her rivals and sealed the deal.
Her Stage 9 assault on the run-in to Châtel, after weathering early attacks and counter-moves, was the perfect mic drop. With 6.7km to go, she simply rode away from Vollering, Niewiadoma-Phinney, and the rest of the elite GC group—and never looked back.
“I had goosebumps watching her ride up the final kilometres,” one French fan posted on X. “This was her Tour from the beginning.”
Master class in consistency: Niewiadoma-Phinney’s third straight podium
If there’s one rider who’s turned the TdFFaZ podium into her personal perch, it’s Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney.
The Polish climber finished third overall for the third straight year, this time riding under her new hyphenated name—celebrating her recent marriage to fellow cyclist Taylor Phinney—and continuing to show why she’s one of the most respected names in the peloton.
Despite a crash just before the Joux Plane on the final stage, she remounted quickly and rode her way back to the front group. “I’m definitely super happy to finish on the podium,” she said after Stage 9. “I know that I did everything I could to prepare for the battle.”
Niewiadoma-Phinney also gave some of the most thoughtful reflections on the race’s growing level, noting that the demands this year were higher than ever. “If you were to push the same power that you were pushing last year, you would not even be in the top 10 here,” she said. “It’s a constant progress.”
Vollering holds steady—but still searching for yellow
Coming into the Tour, Demi Vollering was a top favourite. But after a few near-misses on the early mountain stages and the power show put on by Ferrand-Prévot in the Alps, the Dutch rider had to settle for second place.
Still, Vollering gave fans reason to cheer. Her consistency, especially in the final stages, was remarkable—placing second on Stage 9 and making the most of her opportunities even after losing time on Madeleine.
What’s more, this was her first Tour with FDJ-Suez, and she praised her new teammates for the smooth transition. “We fought as a team the whole day and the whole Tour,” she said. “Now we need to rest and go back to the drawing board.”
The yellow jersey may have eluded her again, but Vollering’s hunger is clearly still alive. And if her 2025 form is any indication, she’ll be back stronger next year.
Stage 6 breakthrough: Maëva Squiban lights up the home crowd
One of the most feel-good moments of the Tour came on Stage 6, when 21-year-old Frenchwoman Maëva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ) pulled off a sensational solo win on home turf.
Riding through the mountains of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Squiban attacked with over 25 km to go and held off the chase to claim her first WorldTour victory—and become a household name in the process.
“It’s a dream,” she told reporters post-race, stunned by her own achievement. “I can’t believe it happened like this.”
Her team director called it “one of the most inspired rides” of the Tour, and fans on the roadside—many waving French flags—shouted her name like she was already a champion. She would go on to contend for the polka-dot jersey, but her impact was already made.
The final stage: A mountain epic for the ages
If you only watched one stage of this year’s Tour, Stage 9 was it.
With three categorised climbs—including the brutal Col de Joux Plane—and attacks flying from kilometre zero, it was clear that no one was going to cruise to the finish.
Early on, Anna van der Breggen (yes, you read that right) went solo in a daring move reminiscent of her past classics dominance. The SD Worx-Protime legend, back racing full-time in 2025, launched an early attack and held off the peloton for nearly 30 kilometres, cresting the Joux Plane solo before being caught on the Col du Corbier.
But the real drama came behind: Sarah Gigante lost her footing on the descent, Niewiadoma-Phinney had to recover from a crash, and Vollering surged forward in pursuit of yellow.
Then came Ferrand-Prévot’s move—an explosive attack with 6.7 km remaining. Cool, confident, and perfectly timed, it was a ride worthy of a Tour champion.
Sarah Gigante’s rollercoaster ride
Australian sensation Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance–Soudal Team) came into the final stage in second overall—and left it in sixth. But that drop in the standings tells only part of the story.
Throughout the Tour, Gigante had shown her immense talent and tactical growth, including a brilliant Stage 7 where she matched Ferrand-Prévot and Vollering pedal stroke for pedal stroke.
But on the Joux Plane descent, she lost contact—and with it, her GC podium hopes. Still, her bravery in pushing on, alone and clearly suffering, won her admiration from fans and commentators alike.
“She gave everything,” said fellow Aussie Brodie Chapman. “She’ll be back.”
The battle for the jerseys
This year’s classification races were full of subplots:
Škoda Green Jersey (Points): Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) clinched it with relentless consistency, despite fierce competition from Marianne Vos. Her ability to place in bunch sprints, even on hilly stages, showcased her evolution as a rider.
Polka-Dot Jersey (Mountains): Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) wore it from Stage 1 and never let go. Though she cracked on the final climbs, her early aggression and breakaway brilliance made her a deserving winner.
White Jersey (Youth): Nienke Vinke (Picnic–Post NL) stepped into the spotlight as the best young rider, holding off some of the most promising names in the sport.
Team Classification: FDJ-Suez proved depth and cohesion, taking the overall team honours after supporting both Chabbey and Vollering throughout the Tour.
The Van der Breggen surprise
When Anna van der Breggen announced her return to competition, fans were eager to know more. When she lit up the final stage with a vintage solo effort? That was full goosebumps.
While she didn’t figure into the final GC, her attack—on the hardest day of the race, no less—was a reminder of why she’s one of the all-time greats. The smile on her face as the GC group caught her on the final climb said it all: she was back where she belonged.
More than a race
It’s become a refrain among riders: this race is changing the game. But in 2025, that sentiment felt more true than ever.
“It’s already the biggest race on the calendar,” said Alice Towers of Canyon//SRAM. “Everyone’s at altitude now. Everyone’s centring their season around this one race. I don’t know if that’s ever happened before.”
And it’s not just about prestige—it’s about impact. Riders are now earning salaries, teams are gaining sponsorships, and more fans are tuning in around the world. From TV coverage to roadside support, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is raising the bar—and the entire sport with it.
Looking ahead
With the race completed and jerseys awarded, the women of the peloton now turn their attention to the rest of the season—World Championships, Olympic qualification, and late-season one-day races await.
But for many, this Tour will be the defining moment of their year—and their careers. For Ferrand-Prévot, it’s a crowning achievement. For Squiban, a star-making breakthrough. For Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney, another podium, another reminder of their class.
And for fans, it was proof that this race isn’t just living up to the hype—it’s surpassing it.
