Date: Saturday, August 2
Distance: 112km
Start location: Chambéry
Finish location: Col de la Madeleine
Start time: 13:45 CEST
Finish time: 17:15 CEST (approx.)
The queen stage of 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is a brutal defining mountain test — an Alpine day that begins in Chambéry and ends with a summit finish atop the legendary Col de la Madeleine. Starting in the heart of old Savoy, the riders depart from a city known for its medieval streets, ornate fountains, and the Château des Ducs de Savoie, once home to the Savoy dynasty. As the peloton weaves through the Massif des Bauges, they'll pass alpine pastures, slate-roofed chalets, and lively villages where cuisine like tartiflette and Beaufort cheese are the delicacies.
The stage covers just 112km but packs in over 3,500 meters of climbing, making it a savage route. The climbing begins early with the Col de Plainpalais (13.2km at 6.3%), followed by the sharp Côte de Saint-Georges-d’Hurtières, and builds toward the grand finale: the Col de la Madeleine. One of the most iconic climbs in Tour history, Madeleine stretches for 18.6 km at a punishing average of 8.1%, rising to over 2,000m above sea level. Its steepest ramps hit double digits, offering nowhere to hide.
Tactically, this is the moment the general classification will be shaken and perhaps sealed with a day to go. The long final ascent is made for pure climbers, and anyone harbouring yellow jersey ambitions must deliver here. Like the Tourmalet in 2023 and Alpe d’Huez in 2024, the Madeleine summit finish will make a mark on the Tour de France Femmes history. Whether it’s a lone attack or a battle of favourites, the long climb will define the 2025 Tour.
Contenders
The penultimate stage could be the most pivotal in the fight for the yellow jersey, with the summit finish looming over the day.
The pre-race favourite, Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez), has been building into the race and will start stage seven as a favourite. As will last year's winner Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon//Sram zondacrypto), and third-place finisher Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck).
The pure climber Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal) will be looking forward to this stage, and as she is in eighth, only 1:14 off yellow, she could make some serious gains on the final climb. Her teammate Kim Le Court is leading the race after she valiantly fought her way back on stage six after being dropped on the final climb. It could be a sign that her race could unravel on the slopes of the Madeleine, but she will continue to fight for the race lead.
Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx-Protime) has quietly performed exceptionally well so far at the Tour and will use all her experience as the race reaches its crescendo. Vollering's FDJ-Suez teammates Juliette Labous and Évita Muzic have climbed their way into the top 10 and will want to ride as far as they can up to climb in support of their team leader.
Despite their reduced squad after a number of dropouts, UAE Team ADQ continue to impress at this race, with Maeva Squiban winning the last two stages and Dominika Włodarczyk currently in 11th on GC, under two minutes behind Le Court.
Squiban may try to win the stage from the breakaway again, and she could be joined by the likes of Shirin van Anrooij and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez), Silke Smulders and Mavi García (Liv Alula Jayco). However, a breakaway will face a hard task staying away on the final climb.
Prediction
We think Demi Vollering will win the stage and take the yellow jersey.
