The Tour de France Femmes 2025 has come to an end and has impressively demonstrated the outstanding performances of the female riders. Particularly noteworthy were the numerous new Strava records set during the prestigious cycling race. In total, the fitness platform recorded 595 new Queen of the Mountain (QOM) records along the 1,165 kilometre route - that's a new record every two kilometres. Compared to the previous year, this represents an increase of 11 per cent in best performances. The data underlines the continuous improvement in performance in women's cycling, even if there are still considerable differences in terms of remuneration. For example, the winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot only received a tenth of the prize money that her male counterpart Tadej Pogačar received in the men's Tour de France.
Gigantic: 96 QOMs
Australian rider Sarah Gigante proved to be the dominant force in the Strava segments. With an impressive 96 QOMs, she clearly set herself apart from the competition. For comparison: US rider Chloé Dygert and French rider Maeva Squiban shared second place in this ranking with 35 QOMs each. Last year, Grace Brown topped the list with 33 QOMs, followed by Justine Ghekiere with 30 and Sarah Gigante with 27 Strava crowns.
Strong community support for female drivers
The Strava community showed enormous commitment to the participants throughout the race. A total of 519,753 kudos were awarded - a clear sign of the growing interest in women's cycling. Dutch rider Demi Vollering received the most recognition from the community. Her ride on the first stage was rewarded with 15,047 Kudos - more than any other activity during the entire nine-stage race.
These figures contrast with the inequalities that still exist in cycling. While the sporting achievements of women are at the highest level, this is not reflected in the financial recognition. The example of the prize money for the female winner, which is only a tenth of that of her male counterpart, illustrates this disparity.
Tour Director Rousse "We need good salaries for the pros"
Tour Director Marion Rousse recently commented on this topic in a TOUR interview. She said it was difficult to compare a race with 21 race days and one with nine days. A fair salary is more important for women's cycling. And good salaries would also be achieved thanks to an attractive Tour de France Femmes.
Positive trend in popular sport
However, the Strava data also shows a positive social trend that gives hope for a narrowing of the gender gap. Interest in cycling has increased significantly in recent years, especially among younger people. In Germany, the number of cyclists under the age of 35 has grown by more than 100 per cent in the last five years. The trend among women is particularly pleasing: Since 2019, the proportion of women cycling in Germany has increased by over 40 per cent.
This development in popular sport could also lead to more equality in professional sport in the long term. With increasing interest and participation of women in cycling, the attention for professional events such as the Tour de France Femmes should also increase. The impressive performances of the female riders and the strong support from the community show that women's cycling is on the right track, even if there is still a lot to be done to achieve full equality.
