Three Days in the UCI’s Backyard
The Tour de Romandie Féminin celebrates its fourth edition this season. Since its debut in 2022, the race has been part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, the highest tier of women’s cycling worldwide. This is no coincidence: the organisers know the Union Cycliste Internationale well, whose headquarters are in Aigle, the venue for the third and final stage of the race.
In this context, the UCI will take the opportunity to test a new GPS-based rider tracking safety system, which will be implemented at the upcoming World Championships in Rwanda. The aim is to avoid tragedies such as that of 18-year-old Swiss rider Muriel Furrer who, after crashing in the junior World Championships in Zurich 2024, spent more than an hour in a wooded area beside the road without being noticed, and eventually passed away.
Route
The race consists of three stages. The first is a short 4.3 km time trial with nearly 300 metres of climbing. The second is expected to decide the general classification, as the finish in La Tzoumaz (12.8 km at 8.1%) leaves nowhere to hide. The race concludes with a rolling stage in Aigle, home of the Union Cycliste Internationale.
Favourites
Demi Vollering (1200), Katarzyna Niewiadoma (1000), Juliette Labous (1000), Elise Chabbey (1000), Niamh Fisher-Black (1000), Évita Muzic (800), Pauliena Rooijakkers (800), Riejanne Markus (800), Sarah Gigante (600), Mavi García (800), Antonia Niedermaier (800), Gaia Realini (600), Silvia Persico (600) and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (800) are among the most notable riders on the provisional start list. Local star Marlen Reusser (1200) will not be present, as she is still not back to full fitness after the health problems that forced her to abandon the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Photo: Keystone / Jean-Christophe Bott / Tour de Romandie Féminin