Tour de France Femmes 2026: Toughest edition yet with Mont Ventoux debut
UKPulse Sport Desk
The Tour de France Femmes returns for 2026 on Saturday with nearly 19,000m of elevation gain and a first-ever visit to Mont Ventoux. The nine-stage race begins in Switzerland and finishes in Nice.
- The 2026 race features nearly 19,000m of elevation gain across 1,175km.
- Stage seven includes the first-ever ascent of Mont Ventoux in the race.
- Demi Vollering is seen as favourite, with reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot among her rivals.
The Tour de France Femmes returns for 2026 on Saturday with possibly the toughest edition yet of the women's cycling flagship race.
Now in its fifth year, the nine-stage race features just shy of 19,000m of elevation gain across 1,175km of largely hilly terrain, with an individual time trial and an historic first trip up Mont Ventoux on stage seven.
The race begins with three days in Switzerland before crossing into France, and could go down to the wire with an explosive final stage in Nice featuring four climbs of the Col d'Eze in less than 100km.
Dutchwoman and 2023 champion Demi Vollering is arguably the favourite, but faces fierce competition from reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, 2024 winner Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, and this year's breakout star Paula Blasi, among others.
Why this matters: The 2026 edition is described as possibly the toughest yet, with a historic first visit to Mont Ventoux and a demanding final stage in Nice.
What this means for you: Cycling fans can watch the race begin on Saturday, with the historic Mont Ventoux stage set for stage seven.