Her rise is becoming more and more evident. At just 20 years old, Marion BUNEL, the rising star of French women’s cycling, has just delivered her first major performance at the WorldTour level: 3rd overall at the Tour of Catalonia, right behind Demi VOLLERING and Elise CHABBEY. A well-controlled race where the climber from Normandy seized her chance on the slopes of Coll de Pal, finishing 2nd on the queen stage, just 30 seconds behind VOLLERING.
Already a former winner of the Tour de l’Avenir Femmes (August 2024), BUNEL had proven her climbing talent with two stage wins (Karellis and Colle delle Finestre) and the overall victory. To this day, she remains the reigning champion of the most prestigious U23 women’s race.
A breakthrough in Catalonia
From the second stage of the Tour of Catalonia, on the Coll de Pal, BUNEL made a strong impression: the only one able to follow VOLLERING, she took 2nd place and moved up to 3rd in the overall standings, 2′29″ behind. She was heard saying: “I felt good… the team helped me a lot… I was really happy.”
Over the weekend, she stayed consistent, confirming her status as team leader for Visma | Lease a Bike.
The link between youth and the elite
This performance is more than just a podium. It validates the purpose of the Tour de l’Avenir: to reveal the talents of tomorrow. Marion BUNEL embodies that bridge between emerging riders and the top level. Like other winners (POGACAR, BERNAL, VAN ANROOIJ, etc.), she proves that the big leap is possible. After an impressive Tour de l’Avenir, she follows up with a top result in a WorldTour race – a strong sign of a bright future.
Signed with Visma | Lease a Bike through 2027, an elite team, she can count on the support of legends like Marianne VOS and Pauline FERRAND-PRÉVOT.
