2 months ago
With 16km to go on the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes, Demi Vollering took off. The Dutchwoman timed her moment to perfection, attacking with 600m to go on the final of four ascents of the Col d'Eze, with Kasia Niewiadoma unable to cling on to her wheel. As she barrelled up the remnants of the climb and then down the descent towards Nice Vollering converted her minuscule eight-second advantage over the Pole to a minute and 18 seconds, with time to slow down before the line, soak in the moment, and lift her bike triumphantly overhead.
After nine days of agonisingly close racing, with momentum swinging this way and that, this was a tour de force by the sport's premier stage racer, the deserving first winner of a landmark second Tour de France Femmes **** le. "Impériale," was the verdict on L'Equipe's front page.
Vollering celebrated with her teammates after winning three stages and the overall (Reuters)
It was a fitting end to a resounding success of a Tour – dramatic, cathartic, and magnified by moments of individual virtuosity. This year's Tour de France Femmes has been an enormous coup for race director Marion Rousse, and for the sport generally. The Classics-style parcours, where nearly every day has resembled the most intense one-day races, coupled with the dynamics of the peloton and the fact that there are multiple evenly-matched teams rather than one all-conquering super-team, has made for an unpredictable and volatile race.
The fact that no singular team can entirely control proceedings has made for genuine jeopardy over whether breakaways will be brought back or able to seize their moment of glory – best emphasised by the heroics of Sigrid Haugset on stage three. The attacking, all-out nature of the racing, from Niewiadoma's raid on Mont Ventoux to her team's attempts to dislodge Vollering on stage nine, with Vollering responding with a devastating attack of her own, has made for thrilling viewing.
#vollering #tour #france #made
After nine days of agonisingly close racing, with momentum swinging this way and that, this was a tour de force by the sport's premier stage racer, the deserving first winner of a landmark second Tour de France Femmes **** le. "Impériale," was the verdict on L'Equipe's front page.
Vollering celebrated with her teammates after winning three stages and the overall (Reuters)
It was a fitting end to a resounding success of a Tour – dramatic, cathartic, and magnified by moments of individual virtuosity. This year's Tour de France Femmes has been an enormous coup for race director Marion Rousse, and for the sport generally. The Classics-style parcours, where nearly every day has resembled the most intense one-day races, coupled with the dynamics of the peloton and the fact that there are multiple evenly-matched teams rather than one all-conquering super-team, has made for an unpredictable and volatile race.
The fact that no singular team can entirely control proceedings has made for genuine jeopardy over whether breakaways will be brought back or able to seize their moment of glory – best emphasised by the heroics of Sigrid Haugset on stage three. The attacking, all-out nature of the racing, from Niewiadoma's raid on Mont Ventoux to her team's attempts to dislodge Vollering on stage nine, with Vollering responding with a devastating attack of her own, has made for thrilling viewing.
#vollering #tour #france #made
2 months ago
Dutch rider Demi Vollering took the Tour de France Femmes overall ****** le in style on Sunday, winning the hilly final stage to extend her lead on nearest rival Kasia Niewiadoma, who finished second overall after a tense struggle.
The 29-year-old also won the 2023 ****** le and earned her second one by timing the nine-day slog to perfection, carving out solo wins on the final two stages, which both ended in Nice.
"It's a dream to live this life," Vollering said after hoisting her bike above her head at the finish line.
"I knew my level and even when Kasia won on Mont Ventoux I was still confident," added Vollering, who has also finished second on this race three times in its five editions since being relaunched in 2022.
Vollering's FDJ-United Suez are the first French team to win the race, earning her high praise from team boss Stephen Delcourt.
#kasia #race #team
The 29-year-old also won the 2023 ****** le and earned her second one by timing the nine-day slog to perfection, carving out solo wins on the final two stages, which both ended in Nice.
"It's a dream to live this life," Vollering said after hoisting her bike above her head at the finish line.
"I knew my level and even when Kasia won on Mont Ventoux I was still confident," added Vollering, who has also finished second on this race three times in its five editions since being relaunched in 2022.
Vollering's FDJ-United Suez are the first French team to win the race, earning her high praise from team boss Stephen Delcourt.
#kasia #race #team
2 months ago
Dutch rider Demi Vollering has won the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, also claiming victory on the ninth and final stage on Sunday, which started and finished in Nice.
Vollering became the first woman to win the race for a second time.
"It's not only the dream to win in yellow here, to win a second Tour de France, but it's the dream to live this life, to work hard together with people with a lot of passion," Vollering said after the race.
She raised her bike in the air after crossing the finish line, completing the race comfortably ahead of 2024 champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney.
Vollering nullified all of Niewiadoma-Phinney's attacks before opening up more than a minute on the 15-kilometre run-in to the finish.
#tour #niewiadoma #finish #demi
Vollering became the first woman to win the race for a second time.
"It's not only the dream to win in yellow here, to win a second Tour de France, but it's the dream to live this life, to work hard together with people with a lot of passion," Vollering said after the race.
She raised her bike in the air after crossing the finish line, completing the race comfortably ahead of 2024 champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney.
Vollering nullified all of Niewiadoma-Phinney's attacks before opening up more than a minute on the 15-kilometre run-in to the finish.
#tour #niewiadoma #finish #demi
2 months ago
Demi Vollering showed her prowess on the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes to become the race's first two-time winner.
The Dutch FDJ-Suez rider won the penultimate stage to ******* the leader's yellow jersey from Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney and carry an eight-second lead into Sunday's finale.
The fifth edition of the race culminated with a 99.2km mountain stage, beginning and ending in Nice, which featured four ascents of the Col d'Eze and totalled 2,100m of climbing.
Niewiadoma-Phinney's British team-mate Zoe Backstedt pushed the pace in the early stages before former race leader Marlen Reusser crashed on the second descent of the Col d'Eze.
Reusser was third in general classification, 72 seconds behind Vollering, and although the Swiss rider could finish, she was unable to get back in contention.
#vollering #reusser #race #d 'eze
The Dutch FDJ-Suez rider won the penultimate stage to ******* the leader's yellow jersey from Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney and carry an eight-second lead into Sunday's finale.
The fifth edition of the race culminated with a 99.2km mountain stage, beginning and ending in Nice, which featured four ascents of the Col d'Eze and totalled 2,100m of climbing.
Niewiadoma-Phinney's British team-mate Zoe Backstedt pushed the pace in the early stages before former race leader Marlen Reusser crashed on the second descent of the Col d'Eze.
Reusser was third in general classification, 72 seconds behind Vollering, and although the Swiss rider could finish, she was unable to get back in contention.
#vollering #reusser #race #d 'eze
2 months ago
Demi Vollering raced clear to win stage eight of the Tour de France Femmes and ***** the leader's yellow jersey with just one stage remaining.
The race lead has changed hands for the second day running, with Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney having won on Mont Ventoux to replace Marlen Reusser at the top of the general classification.
That gave the Polish Canyon-SRAM rider a 15-second lead over Vollering heading into Saturday's penultimate stage, a mostly flat 171.9km ride from Sisteron to Nice.
It was the longest stage of this year's race and looked set to suit the sprinters, but they were dropped on the Cote de la Ginestiere - the final climb of the day - about 8km from the finish.
Dutch FDJ-Suez rider Vollering then attacked in a bid to drop Niewiadoma-Phinney and Elisa Longo Borghini, and went clear right before she crested the final climb, with 6km to the finish.
#vollering #phinney #lead #rider
The race lead has changed hands for the second day running, with Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney having won on Mont Ventoux to replace Marlen Reusser at the top of the general classification.
That gave the Polish Canyon-SRAM rider a 15-second lead over Vollering heading into Saturday's penultimate stage, a mostly flat 171.9km ride from Sisteron to Nice.
It was the longest stage of this year's race and looked set to suit the sprinters, but they were dropped on the Cote de la Ginestiere - the final climb of the day - about 8km from the finish.
Dutch FDJ-Suez rider Vollering then attacked in a bid to drop Niewiadoma-Phinney and Elisa Longo Borghini, and went clear right before she crested the final climb, with 6km to the finish.
#vollering #phinney #lead #rider
2 months ago
Where to watch Tour de France Femmes 2026: Full schedule, stages, times, TV channels, live streams for women's race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The top women's cyclists in the world will race for the yellow jersey as the Tour de France Femmes returns for a fifth edition.
The 2026 race consists of nine stages that will take the riders from Lausanne, Switzerland to the ultimate finish line in Nice. This will be the longest Tour de France Femmes yet, covering 1,175 kilometers (730 miles) and featuring a finish atop the iconic Mont Ventoux.
The reigning champion is Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France, who was known primarily as a mountain biker before she took a pair of stage wins last year en route to the yellow jersey, but it's fair to say she won't enter as a favorite to repeat.
The Dutch riders, long dominant in the sport, have been strong once again in 2026. Demi Vollering won the Giro d'Italia in June, giving her a victory in all three major week-long stage races after previous triumphs in the Tour de France (2023) and La Vuelta Femenina (2024, 2025). Her veteran countrywoman Anna van der Breggen is also worth watching after podium finishes earlier this year at the Vuelta (third) and Giro (second).
#france #femmes #sporting
The top women's cyclists in the world will race for the yellow jersey as the Tour de France Femmes returns for a fifth edition.
The 2026 race consists of nine stages that will take the riders from Lausanne, Switzerland to the ultimate finish line in Nice. This will be the longest Tour de France Femmes yet, covering 1,175 kilometers (730 miles) and featuring a finish atop the iconic Mont Ventoux.
The reigning champion is Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France, who was known primarily as a mountain biker before she took a pair of stage wins last year en route to the yellow jersey, but it's fair to say she won't enter as a favorite to repeat.
The Dutch riders, long dominant in the sport, have been strong once again in 2026. Demi Vollering won the Giro d'Italia in June, giving her a victory in all three major week-long stage races after previous triumphs in the Tour de France (2023) and La Vuelta Femenina (2024, 2025). Her veteran countrywoman Anna van der Breggen is also worth watching after podium finishes earlier this year at the Vuelta (third) and Giro (second).
#france #femmes #sporting
2 months ago
Where to watch Tour de France Femmes 2026: Full schedule, stages, times, TV channels, live streams for women's race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The top women's cyclists in the world will race for the yellow jersey as the Tour de France Femmes returns for a fifth edition.
The 2026 race consists of nine stages that will take the riders from Lausanne, Switzerland to the ultimate finish line in Nice. This will be the longest Tour de France Femmes yet, covering 1,175 kilometers (730 miles) and featuring a finish atop the iconic Mont Ventoux.
The reigning champion is Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France, who was known primarily as a mountain biker before she took a pair of stage wins last year en route to the yellow jersey, but it's fair to say she won't enter as a favourite to repeat.
The Dutch riders, long dominant in the sport, have been strong once again in 2026. Demi Vollering won the Giro d'Italia in June, giving her a victory in all three major week-long stage races after previous triumphs in the Tour de France (2023) and La Vuelta Femenina (2024, 2025). Her veteran countrywoman Anna van der Breggen is also worth watching after podium finishes earlier this year at the Vuelta (third) and Giro (second).
#france #giro #vuelta
The top women's cyclists in the world will race for the yellow jersey as the Tour de France Femmes returns for a fifth edition.
The 2026 race consists of nine stages that will take the riders from Lausanne, Switzerland to the ultimate finish line in Nice. This will be the longest Tour de France Femmes yet, covering 1,175 kilometers (730 miles) and featuring a finish atop the iconic Mont Ventoux.
The reigning champion is Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France, who was known primarily as a mountain biker before she took a pair of stage wins last year en route to the yellow jersey, but it's fair to say she won't enter as a favourite to repeat.
The Dutch riders, long dominant in the sport, have been strong once again in 2026. Demi Vollering won the Giro d'Italia in June, giving her a victory in all three major week-long stage races after previous triumphs in the Tour de France (2023) and La Vuelta Femenina (2024, 2025). Her veteran countrywoman Anna van der Breggen is also worth watching after podium finishes earlier this year at the Vuelta (third) and Giro (second).
#france #giro #vuelta
2 months ago
Riders at the Tour de France Femmes were subject to extra clothing checks before Tuesday's stage following claims some could be using extra padding in their bras to seek an aerodynamic advantage.
A communique from race organizers confirmed the checks after Dutch outlet Wielerflits reported some teams had raised concerns that padded bras could smooth the airflow around the body for the stage four time trial.
"Riders must be to the final checks before the race (bikes and outfit) no later than 10 minutes before their respective start time," the communique said.
"Particular attention will be paid to compliance with article 1.3.032 of the UCI regulations, including non-essential elements and clothing or other items/accessories worn by a rider (including but not limited to helmets, glasses, shoes or in-race communication devices) which could modify riders' morphology."
The UCI defines non-essential elements as "any element which does not have a purpose which is exclusively of clothing or protection, or which is not strictly necessary for the functionality of the clothing, or other item, or accessory".
#clothing
A communique from race organizers confirmed the checks after Dutch outlet Wielerflits reported some teams had raised concerns that padded bras could smooth the airflow around the body for the stage four time trial.
"Riders must be to the final checks before the race (bikes and outfit) no later than 10 minutes before their respective start time," the communique said.
"Particular attention will be paid to compliance with article 1.3.032 of the UCI regulations, including non-essential elements and clothing or other items/accessories worn by a rider (including but not limited to helmets, glasses, shoes or in-race communication devices) which could modify riders' morphology."
The UCI defines non-essential elements as "any element which does not have a purpose which is exclusively of clothing or protection, or which is not strictly necessary for the functionality of the clothing, or other item, or accessory".
#clothing
2 months ago
Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes held on to a select group over a punchy climb before bolting in the final metres to take the Tour de France Femmes opening stage and first yellow jersey.
Last year's green jersey winner was favourite to win the 85.5-mile out-and-back route from Swiss city Lausanne but was put under serious pressure on a 1.5-mile 4.1% climb just before the finish line.
The 27-year-old Team SD Worx-Protime rider held on to a group of about 20 riders and sprinted away with 200 metres left to win by a bike's length from Mauritius' Kim le Court-Pienaar and Dutch 2023 champion Demi Vollering.
Last year's champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, of France, finished in the same group as Wiebes and general classification rival Vollering.
Wiebes' victory was her sixth at the Tour, extending her lead as the rider with the most Tour de France Femmes stage wins since the race's return to the World Tour in 2022.
#france
Last year's green jersey winner was favourite to win the 85.5-mile out-and-back route from Swiss city Lausanne but was put under serious pressure on a 1.5-mile 4.1% climb just before the finish line.
The 27-year-old Team SD Worx-Protime rider held on to a group of about 20 riders and sprinted away with 200 metres left to win by a bike's length from Mauritius' Kim le Court-Pienaar and Dutch 2023 champion Demi Vollering.
Last year's champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, of France, finished in the same group as Wiebes and general classification rival Vollering.
Wiebes' victory was her sixth at the Tour, extending her lead as the rider with the most Tour de France Femmes stage wins since the race's return to the World Tour in 2022.
#france
2 months ago
The Tour de France Femmes begins on Saturday with possibly the most difficult route yet for women's cycling's flagship race.
This year the peloton will tackle the infamous Mont Ventoux on a gruelling stage seven, the queen stage of the nine-day race, but the battle for the general classification could go right down to the wire with four summits of the Col d'Eze, outside Nice, crammed into less than 100km in an explosive final stage.
Dutchwoman and 2023 champion Demi Vollering is arguably the favourite to regain her crown but will face fierce competition from reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, who has had a mixed season but with everything building towards her **** le defence, and 2024 winner Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, who has finished on the podium in every edition.
Elsewhere Britain's Zoe Backstedt is one of the favourites to take a maiden stage win on stage four's individual time trial, as the 21-year-old makes her Tour de France debut.
Here's everything you need to know to watch the race.
#race #france #femmes
This year the peloton will tackle the infamous Mont Ventoux on a gruelling stage seven, the queen stage of the nine-day race, but the battle for the general classification could go right down to the wire with four summits of the Col d'Eze, outside Nice, crammed into less than 100km in an explosive final stage.
Dutchwoman and 2023 champion Demi Vollering is arguably the favourite to regain her crown but will face fierce competition from reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, who has had a mixed season but with everything building towards her **** le defence, and 2024 winner Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, who has finished on the podium in every edition.
Elsewhere Britain's Zoe Backstedt is one of the favourites to take a maiden stage win on stage four's individual time trial, as the 21-year-old makes her Tour de France debut.
Here's everything you need to know to watch the race.
#race #france #femmes
2 months ago
The Tour de France Femmes begins in Lausanne, Switzerland on Saturday - but it's the race's first ascent of the iconic Mont Ventoux that is really exciting fans.
Riders will cover 1,175km across nine stages - the most since the event returned to the World Tour calendar as a stage race in 2022.
That includes the stage-seven slog up one of the most iconic climbs in the sport's history - to the telecommunications and meteorological tower on the top of Provence's Mont Ventoux.
Ventoux has been an iconic mountain stage for the men's Tour for generations, won by legendary figures such as Eddy Merckx, Marco Pantani and Chris Froome.
Alongside in-form rivals such as the Netherlands' Demi Vollering of FDJ-Suez United, last year's winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of Visma Lease a Bike will be hoping to steal a march.
#france #femmes #switzerland #saturday
Riders will cover 1,175km across nine stages - the most since the event returned to the World Tour calendar as a stage race in 2022.
That includes the stage-seven slog up one of the most iconic climbs in the sport's history - to the telecommunications and meteorological tower on the top of Provence's Mont Ventoux.
Ventoux has been an iconic mountain stage for the men's Tour for generations, won by legendary figures such as Eddy Merckx, Marco Pantani and Chris Froome.
Alongside in-form rivals such as the Netherlands' Demi Vollering of FDJ-Suez United, last year's winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of Visma Lease a Bike will be hoping to steal a march.
#france #femmes #switzerland #saturday
2 months ago
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The 5th Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift runs from Saturday, August 1 to Sunday, August 9, and for the first time, the race's Grand Départ will begin in Lausanne, Switzerland. Riders will spend the first two stages in Switzerland before crossing into France for seven stages, the last of which will see them crossing the finish line in Nice, France, on August 9.
In the U.S., you can catch every stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes on Peacock — every stage will stream every day on the platform. You'll also be able to catch the final two stages on August 8-9 on NBCSN. You can stay on top of all the daily Tour de France Femmes news, including highlights and winners from every stage and much more, at our Yahoo Sports cycling hub.
Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, including the complete race schedule, streaming info and more.
Dates: August 1-9, 2026
#france #switzerland
The 5th Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift runs from Saturday, August 1 to Sunday, August 9, and for the first time, the race's Grand Départ will begin in Lausanne, Switzerland. Riders will spend the first two stages in Switzerland before crossing into France for seven stages, the last of which will see them crossing the finish line in Nice, France, on August 9.
In the U.S., you can catch every stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes on Peacock — every stage will stream every day on the platform. You'll also be able to catch the final two stages on August 8-9 on NBCSN. You can stay on top of all the daily Tour de France Femmes news, including highlights and winners from every stage and much more, at our Yahoo Sports cycling hub.
Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, including the complete race schedule, streaming info and more.
Dates: August 1-9, 2026
#france #switzerland
3 months ago
Zoe Backstedt is targeting a Tour de France Femmes debut after an "incredible" double ****** le-winning week at the British National Road Championships.
First the 21-year-old rider from south Wales successfully defended her elite time-trial crown with a dominant win on Thursday.
Then, on Sunday, the multiple world junior champion won her first British road race ****** le with an equally emphatic victory in Aberystwyth.
Backstedt returns to her European-base this week, with sights on the Tour de France Femmes Grand Depart in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 1 August.
"The next one for me is going to be a race in Belgium," Backstedt told the BBC's Radio Wales Breakfast programme.
First the 21-year-old rider from south Wales successfully defended her elite time-trial crown with a dominant win on Thursday.
Then, on Sunday, the multiple world junior champion won her first British road race ****** le with an equally emphatic victory in Aberystwyth.
Backstedt returns to her European-base this week, with sights on the Tour de France Femmes Grand Depart in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 1 August.
"The next one for me is going to be a race in Belgium," Backstedt told the BBC's Radio Wales Breakfast programme.
3 months ago
Zoe Backstedt retained her British national elite women's time trial **** le, topping an all-Welsh podium at the 2026 championships in Lampeter.
The 21-year-old, who last week won a stage of Tour de Suisse Femmes, covered the 15.9 mile (25.6km) Ceredigion course in 32 minutes and 45 seconds.
World track cycling champion Anna Morris, 31, was runner-up 22 seconds back, with Backstedt's 24-year-old sister Elynor third, 1min 05sec behind the winning time.
Earlier in the day, Ben Wiggins took the Under-23 men's time trial **** le, with Henry Hobbs second and Finlay Tarling - another Welsh rider on home territory - third.
Wiggins' winning time was 29min 02sec, with Hobbs 1min 19sec slower and Tarling a further three seconds behind.
The 21-year-old, who last week won a stage of Tour de Suisse Femmes, covered the 15.9 mile (25.6km) Ceredigion course in 32 minutes and 45 seconds.
World track cycling champion Anna Morris, 31, was runner-up 22 seconds back, with Backstedt's 24-year-old sister Elynor third, 1min 05sec behind the winning time.
Earlier in the day, Ben Wiggins took the Under-23 men's time trial **** le, with Henry Hobbs second and Finlay Tarling - another Welsh rider on home territory - third.
Wiggins' winning time was 29min 02sec, with Hobbs 1min 19sec slower and Tarling a further three seconds behind.
