Preview, favourites, profile, route and predictions European Championships 2025 women's elite road race - Vollering, Longo Borghini and Reusser the headliners

The European Championships on the women's side will have its grand finale on the 4th of October as the riders tackle the road race. We preview the race featuring some of the best climbers and classics specialists in the world. This race is expected to start at 14:00CET and finish at 17:00CET.

The European Road Championships for women began in the 1990s as the Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) added continental-level titles to complement national and world events. The women’s road race has since become one of the more coveted jerseys on the calendar. This year the race will take place in the French region of Drôme-Ardèche, familiar to the riders, and with profiles that suit the climbers and classics specialists, unlike last year's sprinter fest.

Looking back over recent years, the Netherlands has often dominated the podiums. In 2023, Mischa Bredewold claimed gold, with Lorena Wiebes taking silver and Lotte Kopecky bronze. Then in 2024, Lorena Wiebes surged to the top spot ahead of Elisa Balsamo in second and Daria Pikulik in third.

The race starts off in Privas and it is a course for the climbers. Right from the gun there is a 4-kilometer ascent that can be used by some teams to put strong riders in the breakaway, which can be used to put pressure on rivals or be used later in the race at some point.

There are 116.5 kilometers towards Gulherand-Granges, although the riders reach the finish line for the first time after only 64 kilometers, after climbing the decisive ascent of the day early on. The key part of the race however will begin at kilometer 72 with the ascent of Saint Romain de Lerps.

The climb is 7 kilometers long at 7.2%, and in the women's field this can make serious differences. The climb is long and rather steep, ending with 37 kilometers to go and the pure climbers can use it to create serious differences - those that are not explosive certainly will make this gamble.

The race then enters the final circuit which includes two ascents of the Val d'Enfer. The climb will be finished with 23.5 and 6.5 kilometers to go, it is 1.5 kilometers long at a very steep 10%. It's long enough that it won't be explosive and the climbers will be those most likely to make the difference. There is a small hilltop rider after the ascent, and then a fast descent that leads into the final 3 flat kilometers. A solo victory is quite likely.

In a circuit that has similar difficulties to that of Kigali, we should have a relatively similar list of favourites, however without first and second Vallieres and Fisher-Black who can not compete in this event. At the head of the game we most likely have the Dutch led by Demi Vollering, who have Anna van der Breggen - who may play a role if she doesn't have an off-day as in Kigali, but also Shirin van Anrooij, Pauliena Rooijakkers and Riejanne Markus as weapons to use tactically throughout the race.

Elisa Longo Borghini showed great form in Kigali and will lead the Italian team and like her, Marlen Reusser is also going to be a huge threat. The Swiss rider may not thrive in this circuit however as it consists of short and steep climbs, not ideal for the time-trial world champion. However no-one can neglect Elise Chabbey, who was the top finisher in Kigali out of the riders who didn't make it in the winning attack.

The French, racing at home, also have good chances of succeeding taking into consideration their very strong team even though they are missing the ill Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Cédrine Kerbaol, Juliette Labous and Evita Muzic are all solid options to take the European jersey. Alongside these we will have Kigali's bronze medal the veteran Mavi García leading Spain, Katarzyna Niewiadoma leading Poland, Liane Lippert leading Germany, Cecillie Uttrup Ludwig leading Denmark and Urska Zigart leading Slovenia as viable options for a top result.

*** Demi Vollering, Elise Chabbey, Elisa Longo Borghini
** Marlen Reusser, Juliette Labous, Anna van der Breggen, Katarzyna Niewiadoma
* Shirin van Anrooij, Pauliena Rooijakkers, Riejanne Markus, Juliette Labous, Evita Muzic, Mavi Garcia, Urska Zigart, Cecillie Uttrup Ludwig

Pick: Elisa Longo Borghini

How: Small group sprint.