The third stage of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes begins in Brittany before departing for the city of Angers on the edge of the Loire Valley.
Today and tomorrow are perhaps the only two opportunities for the sprinters – certainly a big bunch – in the whole nine days, so expect the teams of Charlotte Kool (Team Picnic PostNL) and Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) to be manoeuvring their stars up to the pointy end of the race.
No great obstacles lurk closer to the line, which is unlikely to finish in any other way than a bunch sprint.
- Read more: Tour de France Femmes 2025 preview: 5 key talking points ahead of the Grand Depart
- Read more: How to watch Tour de France Femmes 2025: TV guide and live streams with stage start times
Stage 3: La Gacilly > Angers
- Date: 28 July
- Distance: 163km
- Stage type: Flat
Route profile
Route map
As the longest and most mountainous edition of the race in its four-year existence, today's flat stage will allow the yellow jersey chasers to ease their way into the event as it nears more decisive terrain, while staying alert to the dangers such days can inflict on them.
“La Gacilly hosted both the 2023 Tour de l’Avenir and this year’s Tour de Bretagne,” says race director Marion Rousse.
“This stage start in front of the covered market is a logical and well-deserved continuation of that trend.
“A little further on, memories of Tour stage starts in 1983 and 2004 will be rekindled at Châteaubriant, which is home to a well-renowned club and an operational velodrome.
“After racing on country roads with no significant difficulties, the riders are very likely to serve up a bunch sprint for the many fans who’ll line the streets in Angers.”
One to watch: Lorena Wiebes
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) is tied with Demi Vollering on most stage wins (three). Today is ideally suited to the sprinter.
