Tour de France Femmes stage 9 preview: fireworks or a damp squib?

The final stage and the last chance to win a stage for much of the peloton. It’s a tough stage with plenty of climbing but is it selective enough to prompt a change in the general classification?

Start: 15:20 CET
Estimated arrival: 18:59 CET
Stage distance: 124.1km
Elevation gain: 2,820m

Follow every move of stage 9 live at Domestique

Another tough day in the saddle, the final stage of this year’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift covers three climbs, the hors categorie Col de Joux Plane proving a hefty filling in a first category sandwich.

The Joux Plane is one of the classic climbs of the Tour de France, but this is its first inclusion in the the women’s race since its rebirth in 2022. More than 11km at 8.5%, it might not be as difficult as yesterday’s ascent of the Madeleine, but that’s the point, yesterday is still in the legs and it will strike fear into some of those who struggled with the time cut on Saturday.

However, the top is 57km from the line, so it will be interesting to see how it’s ridden, can someone really go that long? We don’t think so, though it will whittle the bunch down considerably.

Starting in Praz Sur Arly and finishing in Châtel les Portes du Soleil, the first climb of the 124.1km stage is the Cóte d’Arâches-la-Frasse, just because it’s a Côte and not a Col, it’s not easy, it’s 6.2km at an average of 7.1%. 

The first category Col du Corbier is the last classified climb of the day, and is only 5.9km with an average gradient of 8.5%, but the top is 29km from the line, like Joux Plane surely too far out for a heroic last gasp GC raid? Especially as after the descent, the final 23km consists almost entirely of a long uphill drag, the final 4km at 4.5%. We really could see the GC battle fizzle out here, and maybe the day will be won with a Squiban-esque solo attack. 

Descents have been an issue at this year’s Tour and there’s plenty of downhill here, indeed there’s one before the first climb. As the Joux Plane is the longest climb it makes sense it’s the longest descent, but it’s also steep, though not too technical. The ride down form the Corbier is less steep, more technical and could tempt some to create an ad hoc team time trial.

There is no doubt the course is selective, but the final 23km is not tough enough for an individual rider to make a difference, the only way will be to employ some creative tactics or even cross team alliances. Though, with such huge time gaps created on Saturday, some GC riders may just accept their fate and ride to preserve their place.

No defending champion wants to go out with a whimper and that’s why Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon//SRAM-zondacrypto) will be very much up for proving herself on Sunday’s stage. She finished eighth on Saturday and is fourth overall, having finished on the podium in all three previous editions, so 2025 threatens to be her ‘worst’ finish ever. Demi Vollering is only 22 seconds ahead of her, a gap Niewiadoma-Phinnney will see bridgeable. She also has a strong team in support and maybe someone like Neve Bradbury will be allowed her chance.

Of course, Vollering is also very strong, and knowing she started as the overwhelming favourite will be desperate to go home with something, be that a stage win, or a podium placing. She too has a strong team who should be well capable of being with her in the final, so maybe we will see a battle between the two. Both Niewiadoma-Phinney and Vollering are great climbers and both have a very decent punch for a sprint-a-deux.

Of course, if those two heavyweights are slugging it out for their consolation prize, someone else might just sneak in the back door. UAE Team ADQ have had a Tour to remember, losing three of their seven riders and Maeva Squiban winning two stages, so confidence will be sky high. Squiban was in the breakaway again on Saturday, but seemed exhausted towards the end of the stage, but her team leader Viktoria Włodarczyk has ridden under the radar all week.

Climbing and descending with the very best in the world, she’ll start stage nine seventh overall, far enough behind sixth that a final kilometre move might be allowed.

But such is the shape of the GC it may well fall to a breakaway rider. They’ll need to be able to climb but be far enough off the top 10 not to pose a threat and we think Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek) is that woman. Aggressive and hugely talented, she can do just about anything and seems to be returning to the form she showed winning the best young rider competition in 2022.

Our final, bonus pick is Kim Le Court. AG Insurance-Soudal have every right to be riding the crest of a wave right now, with Le Court’s achievements and Sarah Gigante occupying second place overall. Le Court did a huge amount of work for Gigante on Saturday, but still finished only 9.06 down. If she’s with a leading group at the finish she has the sprint to win and put the cherry on the icing on the cake.