Isabella Holmgren took an early grip on the 2025 Tour de l\u2019Avenir Femmes after storming to victory in the uphill prologue at Tignes. Racing on a short but punishing 3 km course averaging 7.9%, the 20-year-old Canadian from Lidl-Trek claimed the first CIC yellow jersey of the race with a performance that left her rivals trailing.<\/p>\n
Holmgren covered the climb in 8:43.57 to beat Eleonora Ciabocco of Picnic-PostNL by 17 seconds, a significant margin over such a short distance. Australia\u2019s Talia Appleton was third at the same time as Ciabocco, with Paula Blasi fourth at +20 seconds and Mijntje Geurts fifth at +27 seconds.<\/p>\n
A statement of intent from Holmgren<\/p>\n
Runner-up at last year\u2019s Tour de l\u2019Avenir Femmes, Holmgren has returned looking stronger and more determined. Her slender climber\u2019s physique and steady pacing were perfectly suited to the steep gradients of the prologue, and she never looked in difficulty.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was one of the key goals for me this season,\u201d Holmgren said afterwards. \u201cI came here knowing the climb would suit me, and the team helped me prepare really well for today. It\u2019s nice to start like this, but the real racing begins tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sizeable gaps underline just how dominant Holmgren was. Ciabocco, one of Italy\u2019s brightest under-23 talents, had to settle for second despite producing one of her best rides of the season. Appleton, the Australian champion, matched Ciabocco\u2019s time but admitted she struggled to find rhythm on the steepest sections.<\/p>\n
Gaps already open for key rivals<\/p>\n
Among the riders losing time were several who raced at the Tour de France Femmes last month. Nienke Vinke, winner of the white jersey there, conceded 43 seconds to Holmgren, leaving her work to do on the coming mountain stages. Defending champion Marion Bunel was seventh, 34 seconds down, while France\u2019s Julie Bego placed eighth, losing more than half a minute.<\/p>\n
With a week of climbing ahead, Holmgren\u2019s advantage could prove pivotal, especially given the double-stage finale at La Rosi\u00e8re on Friday, which includes another mountain time trial. Her Lidl-Trek squad look well-equipped to defend the jersey, but the likes of Ciabocco, Bunel, and Appleton will be determined to fight back.<\/p>\n
2025 Tour de l\u2019Avenir Prologue result<\/p>\n