The longest and hardest Tour de France Femmes yet is heading for a dramatic finale, with Col d’Eze looming over the battle for yellow.
Vollering delivered a stunning reversal to snatch yellow ahead of Sunday’s finale. (Photo: Gruber Images)
Updated August 8, 2026 12:18PM
The wildest and most unpredictable edition of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is going down to the wire Sunday.
Saturday’s dramatic turnaround above Nice flipped the race on its head, but nothing is decided.
Demi Vollering blasted into the yellow jersey with a devastating late attack on stage 8, overturning the 15-second deficit after Kasia Niewiadoma’s long-range raid on Mont Ventoux just 24 hours earlier.
Now, after one of the wildest swings in recent Tour history, Vollering carries only an 8-second advantage into Sunday’s explosive finale around Nice.
“I definitely expect a massive fight for basically everything, one second, sprints, everything,” Niewiadoma said Friday. “Because yeah, the gap is so small.”
The triple challenge of the Col d’Èze, the high-speed descent into Nice, and perhaps even a bike throw to the line is setting up a worthy conclusion to what has been a thrilling 2026 Tour de France Femmes.
Could time bonuses decide the yellow jersey?
Vollering attacked late to claw back time on Mont Ventoux. (Photo: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Two years ago, Niewiadoma edged Vollering by just four seconds in the closest winning margin in since the Tour de France Femmes was revived in 2022.
Now those two are headed for another nail-biting showdown.
Saturday’s dramatic reversal turned the standings upside down, but with only 8 seconds separating yellow from second place, every second will count.
With tempers flaring at the finish line on Saturday, things could get wild on the Côte d’Azur.
FDJ United-Suez now holds the upper hand, but Canyon-SRAM knows there’s still a chance to wrestle back the yellow jersey.
Sunday’s short, explosive 99.2-kilometer circuit — similar to what’s been used during Paris-Nice — packs four ascents of the iconic Col d’Èze before a technical plunge into Nice.
On the final lap, the peloton tackles the climb from its steepest side via the Cat. 1 switchbacks overlooking the yachts of nearby Monaco.
Once over the summit, it’s an eye-watering descent of about 12km before another 3km of flats to the line.
Who holds the advantage in Nice?
Niewiadoma celebrates victory on Mont Ventoux at the Tour de France Femmes. (Photo: Gruber Images)
Who holds the advantage Sunday? Col d’Èze is demanding, but even with four ascents, it is no Mont Ventoux.
Niewiadoma looked stronger on Ventoux, but Vollering was unstoppable on Saturday. Sunday’s shorter, more explosive climbs could play more to Vollering’s strengths.
On Sunday, the Dutchwoman will be defending.
Both descend well, so the finale might come down to who blinks first.
Vollering would be the odds-makers favorite if it’s a mano-a-mano sprint to the line.
If Niewiadoma wants to win, Canyon-SRAM will have to put Vollering under pressure long before the final sprint, and try to crack the Dutch star on the climbs before the luge run into Nice.
The tables are turned now. Vollering can race defensively, and now Niewiadoma has to try to break the race wide open.
Of course, Vollering and Niewiadoma won’t be racing alone, so tactics and positioning will be key. A few more riders in the mix could chew up the time bonuses or limit the separation in splits.
Of course, a crash, a misjudged corner, or an ill-timed puncture can shatter the best tactical plan.
A first repeat winner possible
Marlen Reusser lost the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes on Mont Ventoux. (Photo: Gruber Images)
Barring a major surprise, the Tour de France Femmes looks to have its first repeat winner since the race was revived in 2022.
Vollering won in 2023 and Niewiadoma pipped her in the dramatic finale on Alpe d’Huez in 2024. Those two are in pole position Sunday for the top spot.
Marlen Reusser, who surrendered yellow on Ventoux and lost more time Saturday, knows she’s now racing to defend the final podium.
Longo-Borghini can smell third place and clawed back a few more seconds on Reusser Saturday to trim the gap to 1:53. If she launches attacks early, that could help Niewiadoma to try to gap Vollering.
The longest and hardest Tour de France Femmes yet could still be settled on a sprint down the Promenade des Anglais.
This Femmes is going down to the wire.