Tour de France Femmes: Why this edition could be the best ever

Five years. Half a decade. Yet the Tour de France Femmes already seems like an institution, an unmissable event on the world cycling calendar. It's strange to think about it, because this race has acquired such a commanding presence that it seems like it's always existed, but we're only in our fifth edition. And the one that opens today has all the makings of the most beautiful yet.

Over the past five years, the race has grown dramatically: new fans, new sponsors, new teams, and athletes have found a global showcase. But above all, the Tour Femmes has raised the bar for the entire movement, bringing with it higher salaries, greater investment, and a constantly rising level of technical prowess. Women's cycling is no longer a niche world: it's a major sporting spectacle.

A ranking battle not to be missed

While in the first editions there was essentially a single dominator—Annemiek van Vleuten—the situation has changed radically today. FDJ United-Suez's sporting director, Stephen Delcourt, has stated that this year there are six or seven potential winners on the starting list. And he's absolutely right.

Demi Vollering and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot are the big favorites, but it would be a mistake to ignore the others. Marlen Reusser is a top-level general classification specialist. Anna van der Breggen came close to winning both the Vuelta and the Giro. And UAE Team L'IMAD can count on a potentially devastating combination: Elisa Longo Borghini and Paula Blasi , both Grand Tour winners. For fantasy cycling fans, this is the ideal situation: many credible options, no absolute certainties.

This year's route doesn't just dump all the difficulty onto the final stages, but distributes the challenges evenly: time trials, uphill finishes, and rolling stages. Mont Ventoux as the grand finale is a fascinating choice, but the yellow jersey will be decided throughout the race, not just on the famous "Monte Bald."

A new generation is knocking at the door

One of the most fascinating features of this fifth edition is the powerful emergence of a new generation of athletes. Paula Blasi , winner of the Vuelta Femenina, is already considered one of the highest-paid cyclists in the world for 2027. Isabella Holmgren climbed the Colle delle Finestre, beating her own teammate Niamh Fisher-Black at the Giro, earning a last-minute call-up to the Tour. Valentina Cavallar has been tipped by SD Worx as the next big bet, while 20-year-old Lore De Schepper has won over everyone, making her debut with a top-ranked AG Insurance-Soudal team.

For years, women's cycling has revolved around a select core of champions. Now that circle is expanding, and perhaps this year we'll see a new name emerge on the final podium. For those who play fantasy cycling, these young athletes represent risky but potentially explosive bets in terms of points.

What awaits us in the next few years?

The question hovering over the entire environment is: what now? The race could be longer—nine days seems short compared to the three weeks of the men's Tour, and the answer to this asymmetry is never entirely satisfactory. But perhaps the next step isn't continued growth, but consolidation: building traditions, creating iconic moments that become part of the race's history, just like the finish on the Champs-Élysées for the men.

Five years of the Tour de France Femmes have proven that this race works, excites, and grows. Now is the time to put down deep roots and write lasting chapters of history. In the meantime, let's enjoy what promises to be the most spectacular edition ever.

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency