Set for July, 2025, the fourth edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will start in Brittany, France. The 2025 edition will also mark a turning point in the history of the elite women’s road race, as it will be contested over nine days of racing for the first time.
Brittany has been associated with bicycle racing since the end of the 19th century, at least since Paris-Brest-Paris left its mark in 1891. Clubs from across the region have produced many champions. These include winners of the Tour de France, from the aptly nicknamed Lucien Mazan, aka Petit-Breton (1907 and 1908) to five-time winner Bernard Hinault (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985), as well as Jean Robic (1947) and Louison Bobet, the first consecutive three-time winner (1953, 1954, 1955).
The Tour de France has visited the peninsula in north-west France frequently, and the provincial town of Brest has staged the Grand Départ most often, on four occasions, in 1952, 1974, 2008 and 2021.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has now turned to the region flying the ermine flag to launch its fourth edition. Loïg Chesnais-Girard, Chairman of the Brittany Region, said “We’re delighted to be teaming up to host this Grand Départ.
“It’s something that’s very important to us because Brittany is a land of cycling, a land of value and a land of volunteers. We’re giving this gift to all those who love cycling. There are 200 cycling clubs in Brittany, which is a huge number, representing thousands of volunteers who give all their time and thousands of riders. Once again, we’re going to be able to show women’s sport in all its glory.”
Marion Rousse, Director of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, said “The Tour de France Femmes with Zwift helps to create vocations for little girls and boys. People can get out and about, and come and meet the sportswomen.
“I’m proud of it because Brittany is a region that I love, a magnificent region. It’s been a dream of mine to set off from the Brittany Region, to the land of champions. Wherever I’ve been in the world, I’ve seen Breton flags, which shows how proud we are to be Breton.
“Well, this time, it’s France that will be coming to Brittany and meeting up once again with this magnificent region, with stages that will be spectacular from the outset, with quite a few difficulties. It’s going to be a great party, and I’m already looking forward to 2025.”
Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France, added “This big start in Brittany is historic, with a departure from Vannes for a stage that is 100% in Morbihan. The finish will be in Plumelec, which hosted the European Championships in 2016 and where there will be plenty of people lining the roads right up to the start of the circuit.
“The second stage will start from Brest, the city that has hosted the most Grand Départs of the Tour de France after Paris, four times in total. The Menez Quelerc’h climb will be one of the day’s major difficulties. The first two stages are designed for the hard-hitters, with some fine difficulties.
“The third stage will start in La Gacilly, home of Yves Rocher, which has already hosted the Tour de l’Avenir and the Tour de Bretagne, and then we’ll leave Brittany. See you in October for the rest of the route.”
