PREVIEW | Tour de France Femmes 2025 stage 7 - GC splits a real possibility on the Col du Granier
Cycling
The Tour de France Femmes 2025 promises to deliver one of the most exciting routes in the race’s short but prestigious history. This year’s edition kicks off in the scenic region of Bretagne, known for its rugged coastline and cycling passion, and concludes in the majestic Alps, offering a dramatic backdrop to the race’s final stages. Taking place from July 26th to August 3rd, this nine-day event will once again showcase the strength, endurance, and tactical brilliance of the world’s top female cyclists.
In this preview, we turn our attention to Stage 7, a key moment in the race that could shape the general classification. This stage marks the arrival of the peloton in the high mountains, setting the scene for some serious climbing and potential time gaps between the GC contenders. While the early part of the stage features a relatively flat and rolling profile, giving a chance for breakaways to form or teams to control the pace, the real test comes later in the day.
As the riders make their way toward the alpine town of Chambéry, they face a significant climb that could prove decisive: the Col du Granier. This climb stretches for 8.9 kilometers and averages a gradient of 5.4%, presenting a steady challenge rather than an all-out slog. Though it may not be the most punishing ascent of the race, its placement late in the stage adds to its strategic importance. Riders will need to manage their efforts carefully, particularly with the downhill run into Chambéry following the summit.
While Stage 7 may not be the queen stage of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, it holds the potential to shake up the standings. With the Alps now in play, the stage will be a crucial test of form, teamwork, and race tactics as the riders prepare for the even more demanding days ahead.
Stage 7: Bourg-en-Bresse - Chambéry, 160 kilometers
Prediction Tour de France Femmes 2025 stage 7:
*** Demi Vollering
** Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Kim Le Court, Anna van der Breggen
* Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Sarah Gigante, Puck Pieterse, Pauliena Rooijakkers, Niamh Fisher-Black, Cedrine Kerbaol
** Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Kim Le Court, Anna van der Breggen
* Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Sarah Gigante, Puck Pieterse, Pauliena Rooijakkers, Niamh Fisher-Black, Cedrine Kerbaol
Pick: Demi Vollering
Original: Rúben Silva
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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