The end of predictability – Tour de Suisse Women exemplifies new era as deviation from well-worn road of SD Worx-Protime domination ramps up to detonation

KUSNACHT, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 15: (L-R) Marlen Reusser of Switzerland and Team Movistar - Yellow Leader Jerse, Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland and Team CANYON/SRAM zondacrypto, Demi Vollering of Netherlands and Team FDJ - SUEZ - Black Points Jersey and Niamh Fisher-Black of New Zealand and Team Lidl - Trek compete in the breakaway climbing to the Michaelskreuzstrasse (774m) during the 5th Tour de Suisse Women 2025, Stage 4 a 129.4km at stage from Kusnacht to Kusnacht / #UCIWWT / on June 15, 2025 in Kusnacht, Switzerland. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images).

There was never any question that 2025 was going to be a year of changed dynamics in the women’s peloton, given the raft of big-name team swaps, but the Tour de Suisse clearly demonstrated just how huge that shift has been. The once-repetitive storyline, which has played out for so many seasons of a dominant SD Worx-Protime, with the rest fighting for scraps, has been blown apart.

At this point of the season last year SD Worx-Protime had claimed the top spot on the general classification in all but one of the Women’s WorldTour stage races – the only one missing was the Tour Down Under title, and that was a given as they weren’t even on the start line.