2026 Tour de France Femmes preview: Vollering, Ferrand-Prévot and the race for yellow

The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has quickly established itself as the pinnacle of women's stage racing since its revival in 2022. Organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the nine-day race brings together the world's best riders to compete for the most prestigious prize in cycling, the iconic yellow jersey.

In the four editions of the modern iteration, there have been four different winners: Annemiek van Vleuten (2022), Demi Vollering (2023), Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (2024), and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (2025).

Across the four editions, there have been 20 different stage winners, from nine different nations, with the Netherlands top of the chart with 17, and Kim Le Court from Mauritius claiming the only non-European stage win during the 2025 edition.

The 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is the longest edition of the race to date, covering a record 1,175km across nine stages (before homologation). The peloton will race through Switzerland and France, tackling three mountain ranges: the Jura, Massif Central and Alps, with a record total elevation gain of 18,795m. 

The route features three flat stages, three hilly stages, a 21km individual time trial and two mountain stages, including the race's first summit finish on Mont Ventoux.

The race begins in Lausanne, Switzerland, marking just the second foreign Grand Départ in the event's history. Although the opening stage is classified as flat, the uphill finish on the Côte Saint-François should see the battle for the first yellow jersey become selective. 

Stage 2 is the clearest opportunity for the sprinters, before the peloton crosses into France on Stage 3, where the Col de la Faucille and rolling terrain provide an opportunity for the breakaway.

After an absence in 2025, the individual time trial returns on Stage 4. Unlike the 6.3km test in Rotterdam in 2023, this 21km course from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon includes the Lacets de Marsannay climb and has the potential to create significant gaps in the general classification.

Stages 5 and 6 continue with two demanding days of almost constant climbing and descending. Neither features a major summit finish, but both profiles are suited to aggressive racing, whether from the breakaway or riders looking to gain time before the mountains.

Stage 7 is the centrepiece of the race, with the debut of Mont Ventoux as a summit finish. At 15.7km with an average gradient of 8.8%, the climb is likely to have a major impact on the general classification and where the yellow jersey is heading.

The race does not end there, however. Stage 8 presents another opportunity for the sprinters, although two late climbs could encourage attacks before the finish in Nice. 

The final stage then takes the riders over the Col d'Èze four times, with the final ascent coming from its steeper side before a technical descent back into Nice. It provides one final opportunity to attack before the winner of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes is crowned.

After finishing second in 2024 and 2025, Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) will be laser-focused on reclaiming the yellow jersey she won in 2023. Based on her season to date, the Dutch rider will be considered by many as the rider to beat. 

The European champion backed up an excellent spring, which included victories at the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, before an almighty comeback to win the Giro d'Italia on the final stage ahead of Anna van der Breggen.

With an outstanding Tour record of second, first, second and second, Vollering will be more determined than ever to add another yellow jersey to her glittering palmarès.

Vollering will also have one of the strongest teams supporting her bid for the yellow jersey, including Juliette Berthet (FDJ-SUEZ), who could make a case for leading many other teams in her own right. Berthet finished fifth at the Vuelta this season and seventh at last year's Tour, all while riding in support of Vollering. 

Paris-Roubaix winner and German champion Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) is another exceptionally strong teammate that Vollering will be able to call upon.

In addition, FDJ boast one of the biggest talents in the sport in French champion Célia Gery (FDJ United-SUEZ). The multi-discipline talent and under-23 world champion claimed a stage victory at the Giro in June while helping Vollering to overall success, and could make a similar impact in her home race. 

Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike) has endured a contrastingly quieter 2026 campaign compared to Vollering when it comes to stage races, though the exact same could have been said twelve months ago.

After a strong spring, which included second at the Tour of Flanders and third at Paris-Roubaix, Ferrand-Prévot lined up at the Vuelta España Femenina as one of the favourites for victory. The Frenchwoman never featured in the GC battle, eventually finishing 35th overall, in what was Ferrand-Prévot's most recent outing, leaving question marks over her current form. 

However, write the 34-year-old off at your own peril. Ferrand-Prévot knows exactly how to peak for the biggest occasions, as she demonstrated with her yellow jersey triumph last year.

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon//SRAM) once again heads to the Tour among the contenders after another consistent campaign. The 2024 champion finished second at Strade Bianche, the Amstel Gold Race and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, as well as third at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, before rounding out her Tour preparations with third overall at the Tour de Suisse.

Alongside Niewiadoma-Phinney is one of the sport’s brightest young climbers in Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM). The German finished second overall at the Giro d’Italia Women, underlining her credentials as a genuine GC contender.

With two riders capable of challenging for the podium, Canyon//SRAM have the luxury of multiple cards to play in the mountains.

Beyond last year's podium finishers, there are several riders capable of disrupting the GC battle and winning stages.

Arguably the most exciting debutant on the start list, and a genuine challenger for the yellow jersey, is Paula Blasi (UAE Team L’IMAD). 

The 23-year-old Spaniard has established herself as one of the brightest riders in the peloton this season and as a potential future Tour winner.

Following a podium finish at the Tour Down Under, Blasi claimed the biggest one-day victory of her career at Amstel Gold Race before becoming the first Spanish winner of the Vuelta, taking the red jersey from Anna van der Breggen on the final stage. 

Further overall victories at the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées and Volta a Catalunya have only strengthened expectations and excitement ahead of Blasi's debut.

Alongside Blasi, UAE Team L’IMAD also have one of the most experienced riders in the peloton in Elisa Longo Borghini. The Italian remains a proven performer at the highest level, winning the final stage of the Giro d’Italia Women on her way to fourth overall before finishing runner-up at the Tour de Suisse until a difficult final stage saw her drop to seventh. 

Longo Borghini responded by claiming a seventh Italian national road race title, and her consistency, climbing ability and race craft make her another strong option for UAE in the general classification alongside Blasi.

Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) has been involved in two high-octane Grand Tour battles this season. In cruel fashion, the Dutchwoman lost the race lead on the final stage of both the Vuelta and Giro, ultimately finishing second and third, respectively.

Despite those late setbacks, Van der Breggen has shown that she can still make a significant impact on the biggest races. Her 2026 campaign marks a clear step forward from her first season back in the peloton in 2025, and she arrives at the Tour with renewed confidence.

The individual time trial will also present a key opportunity for Van der Breggen to gain valuable time on many of her GC rivals ahead of the showdown on Mont Ventoux.

Marlen Reusser (Movistar) will be looking for redemption after being forced out of last year’s Tour on the opening stage. The world and European time trial champion could gain significant time in the race against the clock, while her record-extending third overall victory at the Tour de Suisse in June showed her climbing legs are ready for another podium challenge.

Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) is another rider who cannot be overlooked. The Kiwi is one of the most consistent climbers in the peloton, finishing fifth at last year’s Tour and fifth at the 2026 Giro in May. She thrives in the high mountains and is one to watch on Mont Ventoux.

Meanwhile, Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) remains a consistent contender in the top 10 conversation, while the presence of world champion Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly)will add intrigue after the Canadian finished 12th at the Giro.

Kim Le Court Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) represent two of the most exciting riders in the peloton. Le Court was one of the stars of the 2025 Tour, enjoying two spells in the yellow jersey and claiming a stage victory, while Pieterse also tasted success in 2024 with a stage win on her debut at the race.

Pieterse finished on the podium at the Tour of Flanders, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April, and with reports suggesting she will target stages rather than the GC, we could be in for some spectacular racing.

In terms of the sprints, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) stands out as the undisputed rider to beat. The Dutch champion has a staggering sprint record, with 131 professional victories at the age of 27, with 13 of those coming in 2026. 

It would take something monumental to stop Wiebes from adding to her tally of five Tour stage wins this August.

SD Worx-Protime also have two of the very best riders in the peloton in Lotte Kopecky and Mischa Bredewold. The pair have already shown how dangerous they can be when working together, combining for a one-two finish on stage 5 of the Vuelta, while also supporting Wiebes in the sprints.

While Bredewold continues to establish herself as one of the most versatile riders in the sport, Kopecky brings a huge range of options for the Dutch team. The Belgian is one of the biggest threats for stage victories but has also shown her GC credentials, finishing runner-up overall at the 2023 Tour behind then-teammate Vollering.

Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike), one of the greatest riders of all time, has been ever-present since the rebirth of the Tour de France Femmes and a persistent threat to Lorena Wiebes in sprint finishes and reduced finales. 

Vos won two stages in the 2022 edition and led the race from stage 3 until the end of stage 7. Vos claimed the green jersey at the race's conclusion, and added another green jersey in 2024. 

Last year, the Visma rider was back to stage-winning ways, claiming the opening stage and yellow jersey, which Vos would wear for another three stages. Heading into this year's edition, Vos has one victory to her name, the third and final stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in June.

Those hoping to challenge Wiebes and Vos in the sprints include Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) and Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech). Balsamo enjoyed a standout Giro, claiming three stage wins, while also being awarded the opening stage after Wiebes’ disqualification. Kool, meanwhile, won a stage at the recent Baloise Ladies Tour and finished fourth overall.

Finally, another of the most exciting debutants on the start list is the multi-discipline star Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon//SRAM). While Canyon//SRAM will have a strong focus on the GC with Niewiadoma-Phinney and Niedermaier, Bäckstedt gives the team another opportunity to win stages away from the mountains, most notably in the time trial, although the 21-year-old also possesses a strong finishing kick.

You will be hard-pushed to find many riders in better form than Bäckstedt, who won a stage at the Tour de Suisse and completed the British championship double in June before winning both stages against the clock en route to defending her title at the Baloise Ladies Tour this July.