Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering will lead the general classification contenders as the fifth edition of the Tour de France Femmes begins in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
The FDJ United-Suez rider enters the event after securing a Grand Slam of all three European Grand Tours with her recent Giro d'Italia Women overall victory.
Race Route and Key Stages
The nine-stage race covers 1,175 kilometers and 18,795 meters of elevation gain before finishing in Nice.
Cyclists will navigate flat and punchy stages in Switzerland before entering France for an individual time trial, rolling hills, and high mountain passes, including a first-ever peloton ascent of Mont Ventoux on stage seven.
Vollering's Preparation and Mindset
Vollering, who won the 2023 Tour de France Femmes title and finished second in both 2024 and 2025, prepared for this year's race with a dedicated three-week training camp in Tignes rather than competing in recent tune-up races.
"I knew this question was coming," said Vollering, recalling the press conference after last year's second-place finish behind France's Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.
"I was like, 'OK, I need to be very careful with my words now.'
I knew if I said something, maybe they'd write it down out of context or 'hear' it differently than I meant it."
Following media scrutiny regarding weight and performance after the 2025 event, Vollering publicly addressed the broader implications for young athletes watching the sport.
"I was super aware of the words I was choosing," said Vollering, reflecting on her interactions with the media.
"But I was not happy about a lot of articles, or some subtitles, that were used, just for clicks.
It was also difficult because, of course, I never wanted to undermine Pauline's performance."
Addressing modern athlete advocacy and traditional perceptions within professional cycling, Vollering noted the cultural shift taking place across the peloton.
"Young girls are watching us," said Vollering regarding athlete responsibility. "They notice what we say – and what we don't.
What we show. What gets celebrated as 'the way' to succeed.
We, as high-performance athletes, teams, and a sport, have a responsibility."
The Dutch champion emphasized that her candid approach and expressive personality contrast with historical norms in competitive cycling.
"There are always people who are not positive about what you say or find it too much, especially in cycling, since it's a bit of an old-school sport," said Vollering.
"I'm emotional, I have a lot of stories to tell. I'm just a different type, different personality, I think."
Vollering traced her development as a climber back to personal visits to Mont Ventoux during her youth.
"We all drove down there in a van and went camping," said Vollering about her early experiences on the mountain.
"It was the first time I saw real mountains and the first time I rode up a real mountain.
I was just so impressed. I really enjoyed riding up there."
The climb served as an early proving ground for her athletic capability against experienced riders.
"It was hard, but I was looking around the whole time and really pushing myself," said Vollering.
"I passed some men and I was super proud to see that they were really suffering and that I was passing them."
The self-realization on those slopes shaped her trajectory toward professional cycling.
"That's where I really found out I was a pretty good climber because against all the other girls I trained with, I was always the first at the top," said Vollering regarding her performance on Ventoux.
"And the coaches who came with us – I left them all behind too. I could see that my level was pretty good."
Her mental resilience proved just as pivotal as her physiological capacity on sustained ascents.
"Mentally too, I was able to suffer, maybe more than average people on that mountain," said Vollering.
"I saw that riding uphill was my strength and suited me as the type of athlete I am.
The Ventoux inspired me a lot."
Looking ahead to future editions, Vollering expressed enthusiasm for the race's planned route expansion.
"I follow some British football teams and they're amazing," said Vollering regarding the race visiting Britain in a year's time.
"They are really inspiring people to watch. So, it's cool to see."
Beyond competitive results, Vollering noted broader demographic shifts in spectatorship across international races.
"I think probably it's still mostly men who follow our sport, but I feel like it's changing slowly, especially with women's sport growing more," said Vollering.
"You see more women turning up at our races, more children, more families who come to watch and to support.
So, for me, this is a really positive change."
FDJ United-Suez team manager Stephen Delcourt confirmed that the rider's adjusted preparation schedule was designed to ensure peak physical condition for the target event.
"Last year she was sick after the Tour de Suisse and crashed at the nationals," said Delcourt.
"We did a three-week training camp in Tignes, with a fresh mind and fresh body, and she can really focus on the main goal."
Other Contenders and Teams
EF Education-Oatly enters the race with a diverse roster featuring Swiss rider Noemi Rüegg, who returns from a three-month recovery following a broken humerus suffered at the Vuelta España Femenina.
"I'm super excited to be finally back racing after three months," said Rüegg ahead of the race start on her home roads.
"I think I've never had a proper three month break from racing during the season so I'm really looking forward to it.
I'm also a little bit nervous, I have to say, because it always feels weird to come back after such a long time.
And it's a bit of an uncertainty, like where I'm really at and will I feel comfortable in the bunch again?
But mostly I'm really optimistic and really positive, just really happy to be back."
Rüegg highlighted the personal significance of competing in Switzerland for the Grand Départ.
"It's super special to have the start of the Tour in my home country," said Rüegg.
"Ever since they announced that, this has been a super big goal for me. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for cyclists to have the Tour's start.
And also the first two stages suit me really well so that makes it even more exciting.
I hope it brings a lot of fans to the start and inspires a lot of Swiss people to ride their bikes when they see us having fun on the bike."
The home atmosphere presents both an opportunity and a focus challenge for the returning rider.
"It's crazy, actually," said Rüegg about the surrounding media attention.
"I need to make sure to not get too excited and also to take some moments for myself to calm down.
But I would say, it's like 110 percent motivation and excitement coming up."
Teammate Nina Berton reflected on the opportunity to compete on legendary mountain passes featured in historical Tour coverage.
"I'm excited about everything," said Berton. "The Tour de France is the most iconic stage race, in my opinion.
I grew up watching it, so I'm just excited that I know I'm doing what little me was hoping to do, so that's just super exciting."
Berton emphasized the historical evolution of women's cycling to include iconic climbs like Mont Ventoux.
"Getting to ride up Mont Ventoux where I used to watch as a kid, it's just epic," said Berton.
"I mean, as a kid, you don't realize that you are not allowed to race with the men, and then later you get disappointed because the race doesn't exist for you.
And now it's here and we are riding up these crazy mountaintop finishes and we have a super exciting team.
I'm just stoked to ride for the team and get the best out of it.
With the squad that we have, I think we can have so much fun and get some crazy things out of it.
I'm just excited for it all."
Reigning world champion Magdeleine Vallieres joins the EF Education-Oatly line-up with targets on the mountain stages.
"I'm super excited," said Vallieres regarding the team's prospects. "We're coming with a really strong team.
We had a good camp all together, and I'm super excited to see what we do.
Watching Noemi, going into the red jersey at the Vuelta, I think it's extra motivation now for this Tour and to try to get the jersey in the first few stages.
I think all of the stages are quite good. We have someone that fits each stage quite well.
I'm mostly excited about stage five and the stage in Nice, but any stages where I can try to be aggressive, I am looking forward to."
Riding in the rainbow jersey adds unique significance to her national representation during the opening stages.
"It's always special to be back racing in Switzerland – the views are like nowhere else," said Vallieres.
"But to be back in the rainbow stripes, I think will be something like a full circle moment.
I'm super excited actually.
It's going to be something I will never forget, to be able to race the Tour, which is, for us, the biggest of the races in the season and also all the hype around it.
So to be able to raise it in the rainbow this year would be something I'll never forget."
American rider Kristen Faulkner returns to the EF Education-Oatly squad following an extended training block at altitude.
"I'm looking forward to racing with my teammates again," said Faulkner.
"It's been about six weeks or more since I've raced with them, so definitely I'm excited to be back with the team.
And since I did altitude camp in the US, it's been a while since I've seen them."
Off the course, roadside supporter initiatives like the Cheer Squad, organized by former professional rider Iris Slappendel, will assemble on Mont Ventoux at the Fontaine de La Grave, 4.7 kilometers from the summit on stage seven.
"It started three years ago when the Tour de France Femmes started in Rotterdam, where I'm from," said Slappendel regarding the origin of the fan gathering.
"I just thought it would be so great to [give] something back [to] the women's peloton.
I raced myself … for many years, and you're always focused on the race, but still, those people cheering on the side of the road – they have an impact.
I never forgot about them. Even though you pass them quickly, it's always something that sticks with you."
Slappendel highlighted the role of roadside support in sustaining the growth of women's professional cycling.
"And I thought, well, you know, women's cycling is growing, and there's so much happening," said Slappendel.
"We have to celebrate it, but we also have to keep giving attention to women's cycling."
Her work with amateur cycling communities revealed a gap between professional racing and everyday riders.
"In my new life, not as a pro rider anymore, I learned so much about the other kind of cyclists – women that just ride their bike for fun," said Slappendel.
"They're not focused on racing or getting faster or watts or whatever.
They just want to have fun on their bikes, and I just noticed that there is so little connection between pro racing and the grassroots community, especially for women."
Slappendel emphasized the distinct cultural dynamics within male and female amateur riding groups.
"When I ride with the guys here [in the Netherlands], they're always talking about racing and Mathieu van der Poel and [Tadej] Pogačar, etc.
," said Slappendel. "But when I ride with women, they're hardly ever talking about racing or women's racing.
So I thought I needed to get these two worlds connected in some way."
Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of Team Visma-Lease a Bike, 2024 winner Kasia Niewiadoma of Canyon//SRAM, and Vuelta España Femenina winner Paula Blasi are among the key contenders aiming for the general classification title as stage one gets underway in Lausanne.
