Date: Sunday, August 3
Distance: 124km
Start location: Praz-Sur-Arly
Finish location: Châtel
Start time: 15:20 CEST
Finish time: 18:45 CEST (approx.)
Despite not having a summit finish, the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is set to provide a dramatic finale that will test the mettle of every rider. Spanning 124km from Praz-sur-Arly to Châtel, this stage is a relentless mountain challenge, featuring over 3,000m of climbing. The route includes formidable ascents such as the Col de Joux-Plane, a demanding 11.6km climb with an average gradient of 8.5%, and the Col du Corbier, a 5.9km ascent at 8.5%. These climbs set the stage for a thrilling conclusion as riders approach the finish line at Pré-la-Joux, where the final 2.2 km climb at 5.6%, demanding both endurance, tactical nous and a strong team.
Beyond the physical challenges, the stage offers a rich cultural tapestry. The Haute-Savoie region, renowned for its alpine beauty, provides a picturesque backdrop of rugged peaks and lush valleys. Villages along the route, such as Samoëns and Morzine, are steeped in history and tradition, offering glimpses into the region's heritage. The local cuisine, including specialties like fondue and raclette, reflects the area's gastronomic delights, adding a flavourful dimension to the journey.
This final mountain stage is not just a test of physical endurance but also a strategic battleground for the general classification contenders. The early climbs could see aggressive moves, while the challenging terrain in the latter part of the race may lead to decisive attacks. With the finish line in sight, the riders will push their limits, making stage nine a fitting and exhilarating conclusion to the 2025 race.
Contenders
The new yellow jersey Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) looks to have an unassailable lead after her storming stage win on the queen stage. She will be a favourite again from the GC group. As will her closest challenger Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), who moved up to second on Saturday.
The previous yellow jersey holder, Kim Le Court, lost her GC challenge on the Madeleine but she performed admirably for her teammate Gigante on the lower slopes and will want to survive late into the stage to help her out once again.
Third-place on the GC is FDJ-Suez’s Demi Vollering, one of the pre-race favourites, will have been disappointed by her performance on the Col de la Madeleine, but will want to make amends straight away. She'll be joined by her FDJ-Suez teammates Juliette Labous and Évita Muzic, both climbing strongly and likely to offer vital support.
Defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon//Sram zondacrypto) remains a formidable contender and is known for thriving on big mountain finales, but like Vollering she will have wanted more out of the queen stage. 2024’s third-place finisher Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) also remains close enough to podium to be a threat.
Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly), Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Marion Bunel (Visma-Lease a Bike) were all impressive on the Madeleine and will want to finish on a high. As will Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) who has climbed her into the top 10.
Despite suffering from a string of withdrawals, UAE Team ADQ have remained a force. Maeva Squiban has lit up the race with back-to-back stage wins and may hunt for a third from a breakaway. Meanwhile, her teammate Dominika Włodarczyk is safely inside the top 10 on GC
A breakaway win is possible with it being such a hard stage to control. Riders like Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal Team), Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek), Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez), Silke Smulders and Mavi García (Liv Alula Jayco) might take the risk, hoping for one last chance at glory.
Prediction
We believe Maeva Squiban will win her third stage of the Tour.
