Early observations of the 2025 professional women’s cycling season

The new season is only a few weeks old, and with a packed cycling calendar, several races have already taken place in countries as Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Spain. Here at elitewomencycling.com, we don’t aim to provide race reports -there are already plenty of media outlets that cover this extensively and more quickly-, however, as an avid follower of professional women’s cycling, I have observed some notable events in these first weeks of the season.

Demi Vollering’s aggressive racing style

Demi Vollering (FDJ – SUEZ) made an immediate impact in her first race of the year, winning both the first stage and the overall classification of the 9th Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana. Her move from Team SD Worx – Protime to FDJ – SUEZ has been a positive shift for the dynamics in the peloton, likely making team strategies even more intriguing. Additionally, Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx – Protime) finishing third in the overall classification in her first race since September 2021 (!) is certainly noteworthy.

Swiss success on the road

Several Swiss riders have made an impression early in the season. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) secured victory in the second stage and the general classification of the 9th Santos Tour Down Under. Linda Zanetti (Uno-X Mobility) claimed the win at the 7th Vuelta CV Feminas. Most remarkably, Marlen Reusser (Movistar) made a triumphant return after a difficult year battling long COVID. Her victory in the 2nd Trofeo Palma Femina was impressive, and her second-place finish in the 9th Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana behind Demi Vollering confirms that she is back among the elite riders.

Chloé Dygert’s sprinting strength

After a period without road victories since 2023, Chloé Dygert (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) returned to winning ways by dominating the sprint in the third stage of the 9th Santos Tour Down Under. Her aggressive riding style in Australia left a lasting impression.

Lorena Wiebes and Elisa Balsamo; fasten your seatbelt

Speaking of sprinting, what more can be said about Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx – Protime), the fastest woman in the peloton? Her first road race of the season was the 3rd UAE Tour Women, where she won three of the four stages. Only the third stage, which featured an uphill finish, escaped her grasp, as it was claimed by the in-form Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), who also took the overall title.

Elisa Balsamo (Lidl – Trek) also signaled strong early-season form with back-to-back victories in the third and fourth stages of the 9th Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana. Her performances suggest she is gearing up well for the upcoming Spring Classics and we can’t wait to see the upcoming battles between the fastest women in the peloton!

Rising stars in the UCI rankings

A look at the UCI top 50 rankings reveals some notable climbers. Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (Uno-X Mobility), the Norwegian champion, collected valuable points in Australia, including a third-place finish in the overall classification of the 9th Santos Tour Down Under, pushing her into the 50th spot.

Ally Wollaston (FDJ – SUEZ) stormed into the top 50, landing at 47th place, after winning both the Surf Coast Classic and the 8th Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

Another standout performer of the early season is Silke Smulders (Liv AlUla Jayco), who made a huge leap from 80th to 36th in the rankings. Her strong performances in Australia, including two second-place finishes in the second and third stages of the 9th Santos Tour Down Under, resulted in an overall second-place finish, along with the points classification title. With so many second-place finishes, it seems only a matter of time before this all-rounder steps onto the top of the podium.

A more competitive peloton

The top of the field has broadened, and the strength among teams appears to be more balanced thanks to the continued professionalization of women’s cycling. While the biggest names still bring that extra edge in races, there is now noticeably more competition and an influx of fresh talent coming through the ranks. These early weeks of the 2025 season have already delivered excitement, showcasing both established stars and emerging talents. With major Spring Classics to come, the stage is set for many more exciting races!