Riding High with Human Powered Health at the TDFF

We’re not even sure where to start.

It’s been just under a week since we’ve come home from the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. We were lucky to spend two key moments of the Tour embedded with Human Powered Health:

First, just before the Grand Départ in Brittany, where the team was focused and ready. Then again for Stages 7 through 9, in the thick of the action, and in the team car. 

The time we spent with Human Powered Health was truly special, we’re still processing all the feelings. The 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift wasn’t just bigger, it was transformational.

Twenty-six million viewers tuned in on French TV, seven million more than last year. Roads were lined with fans, and every village, town, roundabout felt like a festival. The Tour wasn’t just being watched, it was being lived.

The Tour de France Femmes this year just felt bigger. The crowds were deeper, the cheers louder, and the conversations richer. At the feed zones, fans were informed, curious, and wildly supportive. We met girls and women of all ages, under the sun and the rain, screaming for their heroes. We met an almost 80-year-old grandmother in the red polka dot t-shirt who was cheering for every single rider who rode past on Montgellafrey. She would shout:

“You are wonderful! You are fabulous! You’re all doing amazing! We’re so so so proud of you!” 

She then went on to tell us that she knows how hard these climbs are because she still rides up Col de la Madeleine regularly, on an e-bike. At almost 80 years old.

The Tour is truly for everyone. Intergenerational. International. Inclusive. 

Human Powered Health’s line-up

Thalita de Jong, Ruth Edwards, Barbara Malcotti, Romy Kasper, Marit Raaijmakers, Lily Williams, and Mona Mitterwallner made up the seven riders who competed for Human Powered Health at this year’s Tour. Most were veterans of the race. One was racing it for the first time. But all shared one goal: to do the best they could and ideally, better than last year.

And they succeeded.

There were multiple racing highlights for the squad. 

Most notably: 

Barbara Malcotti climbed steadily up the GC, finishing 13th overall, the best-ever Tour result for Human Powered Health.

Ruth Edwards stormed to 3rd place on Stage 7, earning a spot on the podium.

Seven riders started. All seven finished.

The teamwork and communication were razor-sharp, especially among the DS, the staff and the athletes. Ruth distinguished herself by making sure that Barbara always had the nutrition she needed during Stage 8. Clark Sheehan meanwhile offered incredible support from the car, “Babi, you’re doing great. You’ve got this!”

Another example of how staff in the car provided essential support, the team’s sports psychologist, Allie Wagener, was instrumental in helping Ruth focus on her ride to 3rd place during stage 7. Ruth says having Allie remind her to focus on her breathing and to have confidence in her training provided just the perfect level of encouragement and calm. 

We were lucky enough to experience Stage 8 in the team car, flying through switchbacks, dodging feed zone incidents, and trying very hard not to vomit due to the constantly winding mountain roads.

The team rode with precision, unity, and undeniable heart. Perhaps even more impressive was witnessing the interaction between the riders and staff. The camaraderie was apparent from the first moment we spent with them and remained truly inspirational. They are not only committed and supportive colleagues. They seemed to care for each other, more on a familial level than just as work associates.

They made us dream - day after day, every second - aboard their Human Powered Health OSTRO VAM.

What about that bike?

Human Powered Health’s riders are competing on the Factor OSTRO VAM in a very special customised graphic that matches their distinctive team kit. It’s the same bike that our men’s team raced at the Tour de France, and is the same bike that was named the fastest race bike in independent third-party testing. Paired with our Black Inc finishing kit like cockpit, seatpost, and wheels, the OSTRO VAM HPH Edition offers top performance for all our athletes.

Having daily contact with Factor bikes, it’s easy for us to take for granted how special they are. We know the OSTRO VAM is the fastest bike in the peloton, but the number of comments we received from the fans on the road really opened our eyes to just how our bikes are received by the public. Their unsolicited enthusiasm reinforced our belief in what we do. 

One woman said to us: “I see you have one bike too many on the roof. I can send you my address.” Another:

“Woah, those Factors are something else.”

And a little boy asked: “Mummy, can I have one?”

Proud to support Les Femmes

Watching the continued growth and success of Human Powered Health and women’s cycling in general is very gratifying. Our commitment to women’s cycling started in 2019 with Parkhotel Valkenburg, where Demi Vollering, Lorena Wiebes, and Marit Raaijmakers all began their careers, on Factor bikes. Today, Marit still rides a Factor with Human Powered Health. It felt like a full-circle moment watching her lead out stages, chat with fans, and own her space in the peloton.

Being able to celebrate these moments with the team this year made us privy to a lot of interesting inside intel that is not always apparent from the side of the road or sitting watching the race on television. These are the kind of stories you don’t see on the broadcast, but that tell you everything about who these riders really are.

Marit Raaijmakers shared the memory she has of her first Tour in 2020, locking eyes with her family while riding up the Champs-Élysées and thinking, "This is really happening." This year, she was here to finish strong and support her teammates every step of the way. Something else you might not know about Marit: she’s a massive country music fan and a whiskey lover. Now you know what to get her as a present.

Ruth Edwards made headlines by lighting-up Stage 7 with a stunning ride to 3rd place. It was amazing to watch, and is her best Tour result after returning to the road in 2024 following a switch to racing gravel. But what stuck with us was her continual positive vibe and her high-fives at breakfast, the constant smiles, and her curiosity for everyone around her. Off the bike? She’s dreaming of going to a drag show and eating her way through Paris. Someone, please help make it happen.

As for Lily Williams, her watts were the envy of the peloton. She powered through nine gruelling days with relentless drive. What you might not know: she may soon be the only pro in the women’s peloton living in Marseille (perhaps the coolest city in France). We hope it happens for her and that she invites us to visit. 

Thalita de Jong had a tough year health-wise, but showed up in good condition, rode her hardest every single day with grit and heart. And she was supported by her ride-or-die fan club. They were always waiting by the bus before the start, and then always somewhere roadside in a spot where she could see them. No doubt they helped push her through.

Romy Kasper is the kind of rider every team needs, quietly helping her teammates make it over the finish line. She’s a steady and selfless force in the group. A pillar of strength.

Barbara Malcotti, fresh off an incredible Giro, was as calm as she was crushing, quiet, determined, and absolutely devastating on the climbs.

Then we have Mona Mitterwallner. Making the leap from MTB to the road is no easy feat. But she succeeded in finishing the most brutal Tour de France Femmes to date. That’s not just strong, it’s fearless.

Lastly, one of our primary take-aways from our time with Human Powered Health is that pro cyclists are just like us. We introduced a few of them to our favourite French crisps that are Cèpes flavoured. The response: “My life has been changed forever,” anonymous Human Powered Health rider.

So yes, we’re still processing it all. But mostly, we’re grateful. To have been there. 

To witness the joy, the support, the positivity and the occasional roadside weirdness. To support this incredible team which is full of heart. To help write this chapter in Human Powered Health’s story.

We’ll see you on the road. Merci Human Powered Health et merci Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

If you weren't already watching women's cycling/women's sports, you should start. You won't regret it.