Kasia Niewiadoma produced a spectacular solo victory on Mont Ventoux to take the Tour de France Femmes lead, but Demi Vollering seized it back a day later with a late escape near Nice, holding an eight-second advantage with one stage remaining.
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Key facts
- Kasia Niewiadoma won the Mont Ventoux summit finish solo, her first Tour de France Femmes stage win.
- On Ventoux, Demi Vollering trailed by 15 seconds and Marlen Reusser by 39 seconds.
- Niewiadoma took the overall race lead after the Ventoux stage.
- Vollering won the following penultimate stage into the hills behind Nice, taking yellow by eight seconds.
- It was Vollering's fifth stage victory and fifth yellow jersey in the Tour de France Femmes.
Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney produced a thrilling solo ride to the summit of Mont Ventoux to claim her first Tour de France Femmes stage win and, with it, the overall race lead, according to the Guardian and the BBC.
The Polish rider left behind fellow favourites Marlen Reusser and Demi Vollering on the iconic climb. Vollering finished 15 seconds back and Reusser 39 seconds behind, giving Niewiadoma a slim overall advantage. “It’s hard to describe my feelings because I’m still blown away by what just happened,” said Niewiadoma, who won the yellow jersey in 2024, of the first Tour stage victory of her career.
The stage had built through a series of attacks, the Guardian reported, with Jeanne Korevaar of Liv-AlUla-Jayco bursting clear of the peloton before being reeled back in as the road climbed toward the Col du Colombier ahead of the Ventoux finish.
The lead did not last long. On the following penultimate stage, from Sisteron to Nice, Vollering took the overall lead back with what the Guardian described as a vicious attack in the hills behind Nice, opening an eight-second advantage with one stage remaining.
Vollering eked out a slim margin on Niewiadoma on the final climb of the Cote de la Ginestière, then extended it on a breakneck descent and the long straight road to the finish on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. It was Vollering’s fifth stage victory and fifth yellow jersey in the Tour de France Femmes.
The move came after Vollering had regretted failing to mount a meaningful pursuit of Niewiadoma on the Ventoux summit finish the day before. Niewiadoma, meanwhile, was left fuming, claiming she had been blocked by a rival’s team during the stage, according to the Guardian.
Why it matters
The Tour de France Femmes lead has swung dramatically between two of cycling's biggest stars in the space of two days, setting up a tense final stage. With just eight seconds separating them, the outcome remains genuinely in the balance.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Mont Ventoux stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes?
Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney won the Mont Ventoux summit finish with a solo ride, taking her first career Tour de France Femmes stage victory and the overall race lead.
Who leads the Tour de France Femmes going into the final stage?
Demi Vollering leads by eight seconds after winning the penultimate stage into the hills behind Nice, reclaiming the yellow jersey from Niewiadoma.
How many Tour de France Femmes yellow jerseys has Demi Vollering held?
Her win on the penultimate stage was her fifth yellow jersey and fifth stage victory in the Tour de France Femmes, according to the Guardian.
Timeline
- Tour de France Femmes: Niewiadoma and Vollering fight for yellow on final stage – live updates
The Guardian Sport: Live cycling updates from 15.05 BST/16.05 CET Follow us on Instagram | Mail Luke Have you been affected by the Tour de France Femmes? Email me your views on Niewiadoma v Vollering, or anything else. Catch up on Jeremy Whittle’s stage eight report: Continue reading…
- Tour de France Femmes: Vollering’s late escape for yellow leaves Niewiadoma fuming
The Guardian Sport: Victory on penultimate stage secures eight-second lead Previous leader claims she was blocked by rival’s team Demi Vollering took the overall lead from Kasia Niewiadoma in the Tour de France Femmes with a vicious attack in the hills behind Nice to lead the race by eight seconds,
- Tour de France Femmes 2026: Vollering wins stage eight after dramatic late break and takes yellow – live
The Guardian Sport: ♀️ Rolling cycling updates from 12.40pm BST/1.40pm CET ♀️ You can email Tom | And you can follow us on Instagram 113km to go Coston is about one minute ahead of the peloton but sitll more than three minutes behind the lead pair, who will reach the summit Col des Robines shortly
- Niewiadoma crushes Tour de France Femmes rivals on Mont Ventoux and takes overall lead
The Guardian Sport: Pole leaves fellow contenders behind on iconic climb Demi Vollering trails by 15sec, Marlen Reusser by 39sec Kasia Niewiadoma took a spectacular solo victory on the legendary Mont Ventoux, securing a slim overall lead in the Tour de France Femmes after leaving behind her fellow r
- Niewiadoma-Phinney wins on Ventoux to take Tour lead
BBC Sport: Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney produces a thrilling solo ride to the summit of Mont Ventoux to claim her first Tour de France Femmes stage win and the overall race lead.
- Tour de France Femmes 2026: Kasia Niewiadoma wins on Mont Ventoux and takes yellow – live
The Guardian Sport: Updates as the riders head for the formidable Ventoux Stage six report | Follow us on Instagram | Mail Tom 114km to go Korevaar’s attack couldn’t hold. The peloton is back together as the road starts veering upward before we hit the category three climb up the Colombier. 122km to