18.5km to go: Vollering now comes past her Polish rival … it looks like Niewiadoma is suffering a bit more than the Dutchwoman.
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19km to go: Niewiadoma still leads. Vollering, if anything, looks capable of counterattacking soon.
This is phenomenal racing. Another 3.5km of climbing to decide the Tour de France Femmes for 2026.
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19.2km to go: Niewiadoma attacks! Here we go! The Polish rider gets out of the saddle. Vollering covers the attack, staying seated, accelerating enough to hold the wheel.
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19.5km to go: Holmgren, who has put in a brave ride, will soon be caught. She has just 5sec now.
Vollering, as we expect, is glued to the wheel of Niewiadoma.
Niedermaier of Canyon/SRAM sets the pace for her teammate
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20km to go: I think Vollering was put in difficulty by the Backstedt attack, but has steadied the ship since then and had a chance to regather herself. Canyon/SRAM just needed another Backstedt for the third climb: a one-two might have broken the Dutchwoman.
20.5km to go: Five kilometres or so of climbing remain at this Tour des Femmes. It’s already been a classic race, but is there more drama to come? In 2024, Niewiadoma won by 4sec. As it stands, Vollering leads by 8sec. Here we go …
21km to go: Vollering continues to mark Niewiadoma. She will be marking her in the bar afterwards, no doubt.
What can Niewiadoma do about it?
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22km to go: It’s 33sec for Holmgren. The Canadian rider is about to hit the final climb … Who, if anyone, will have the strength left to counterattack from the front group?
25km to go: Reusser and Wiebes are in the sixth group on the road, 7min 50sec down. It’s a shame for Reusser, after she illuminated the early stages, that she will lose her podium place on the final day. She could not keep pace with Backstedt’s devastating attack on the climb, and then crashed on the following descent.
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27km to go: On the official site, the final climb is described as follows:
“Remember: this fourth and final loop features a slight variation in the climb to the Col d’Èze, with a detour via the Chemin du Vinaigrier (‘the Vinegar-maker Road’) and the climb of the Quatre-Chemins (‘the Four-Ways’), the toughest section of the day. This extends for 3.8km on a narrow road between housing estates that has an average gradient of 8.6% and a maximum of 14%, before rejoining the original route of the Col d’Èze, reaching the summit at km 83.8.”
A higher class of housing estate, I am sure.
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29km to go: Holmgren ploughs on at the front for Lidl-Trek. Her lead has fallen to 50sec. This is a truly selective stage, and anyone in that front group has documentary evidence that they are among the strongest riders on the planet.
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31km to go: Canyon/SRAM clearly wanted to set a hot pace on that third climb, but Niedermaier did not have the same destructive impact as Backstedt. As it stands, this is all looking good for Vollering’s second TdF Femmes title.
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32km to go: A reminder that the final insult from the course designers is that the final ascent of the Col d’Eze is a steeper alternative than the first three laps. There are ramps of up to 15%, so they say.
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34km to go: Now for the penultimate descent of the day … Holmgren is flying down it and is holding her lead of 1min.
In terms of staging an attack, Niewiadoma is literally running out of road. Is she keeping her powder dry for the final climb?
36km to go: In terms of the other jerseys: if Puck Pieterse finishes safely, she’s got the QOM competition long since sewn up.
Wiebes took another 17pts at the intermediate earlier, and her closest rival Vollering took zero, so that jersey is done and dusted too, presuming Wiebes finishes safely.
37km to go: There are now seven separate groups on the road. The back group, of 41, is nine minues down.
39km to go: Holmgren powers towards the top of the climb. This is a huge ride. She’s 58sec ahead.
In the group of favourites, Vollering is right on the wheel of Niewiadoma. She looks happy to mark her Polish rival for now. Maybe Vollering will have the legs to attack?
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41km to go: Holmgren, our lone leader, won the best young rider classification at the Giro this year.
Niedemaier, Blasi Cairol and Holmgren are the top three, in that order, in the white jersey classification at this race. Holmgren is 4min down, Blasi Cairol 1min 11 sec behind.
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42km to go: It’s 58sec for Holmgren out in front. In the chasing group, Berthet (FDJ United-Suez) is setting a hot pace.
44km to go: Holmgren’s lead has flown out to 1min.
45km to go: In yellow, Vollering looks calm, and is riding at a solid tempo in the front group.
Playstation cycling, I admit, but if Niewiadoma has anything in the tank for an attack on this climb, it would be very interesting to see if Vollering can respond after Backstedt’s earlier heroics.
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46km to go: Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) attacks at the front. She is nearly taken out by a fan in a giant panda costume, but lives to tell the tale.
46km to go: Niedermaier was setting the early pace at the start of the climb … but it’s now been taken up by others. Kerbaol (EF Education/Oatly) has a dig.
Worth noting that UAE Team L’Imad are the only team with three in the group.
Cherie Pridham, the DS, told TNT Sports they want a stage win, as well as a podium for Longo Borghini.
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50km to go: So, we still have 11 riders up front. They hit the climb for the third time. The riders are:
Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM)
Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM)
Vollering (FDJ United-Suez)
Berthet (FDJ United-Suez)
Longo Borghini (UAE Team L’Imad)
Blasi Cairol (UAE Team L’Imad)
Wlodarczyk (UAE Team L’Imad)
Kerbaol (EF Education/Oatly)
De Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Fisher Black (Lidl-Trek)
Holmgren (Lidl-Trek)
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52km to go: Backstedt has joined the second group on the road, now consisting of five riders. Gery is in there.
54km to go: Wlodarczyk (UAE Team L’Imad) takes a couple of bottles from the car.
Vollering continues to ride in yellow, determined to maintain her eight-second lead … do Canyon/SRAM have the firepower from here?
56km to go: Reusser is back on the bike, but she is looking very likely to lose her podium place.
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57km to go: Backstedt has dropped from the lead group after that phenomenal effort on the climb. Longo Borghini, up front, looks well set for the podium. Berthet rides on the front, for Vollering.
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59km to go: Reusser crashes on the descent. Is she going to carry on? It doesn’t look certain. Let’s hope she is OK.
60km to go: “Let’s face it, a feud is just what the race needs,” emails Paul.
“In the age of the algorithm, athleticism and talent is no longer enough. The contest needs snark, spite and sneering. The men’s race was made by bitter disputes between Henri Pélissier and Philippe Thys, Fausto Coppi v Gino Bartali (I can’t believe this one is not a movie, given the former’s outraging of Italian morals, and the latter’s wartime heroism), Bernard Hinault v Greg Le Mond and Laurent Fignon, and Lance Armstrong v anyone with shred of integrity. Hopefully the best woman will win, but with some acrimony.”
63.5km to go: Reusser is 50sec down. Disastrous? She’s still got a minute or so to play with v Longo Borghini in their battle for the podium, but the Italian rider’s hopes will be raised by seeing Reusser crack on this second climb.
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64km to go: Whatever happens now, it’s a cracking move from Canyon-SRAM to put Vollering under so much pressure at this point.
The TV helicopter shots from high above Nice are amazing, but those riders will be in too much pain to appreciate the scenery.
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65km to go: This is a crucial part of the race. If Backstedt can recover on the descent and make it 3 v 2 in the front group, it would be significant. But it looks like she might be spent. (Understandably so – it’s been a Herculean effort.)
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66km to go: The riders up front are: Niewiadoma, Vollering, Longo Borghini, Niedermaier, Kerbaol, Blasi Cairol, Wlodarczyk, Holmgren, Fisher-Black, De Vries, Berthet, Backstedt.
66.5km to go: Niedermaier of Canyon/SRAM is with Niewiadoma, along with Backstedt who is setting the pace. Vollering has fallen back a bit, but remains in the front group, numbering 12 in total.
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67km to go: Gery, Vollering’s teammate, is losing touch with the front group!
Reusser appears to have cracked too and is being dropped!
This is destructive riding from Backstedt.
Juliette Berthet is with Vollering … but she only had one teammate in the lead group now.
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68.5km to go: Vollering is riding sixth wheel in the lead group. She’s keeping the pace comfortably, it seems, but this pacesetting by Backstedt is a reminder for Vollering that she is going to have to work.
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69.5km: Again, worth noting just how powerfully Backstedt is riding at the front. The lead group is strung out. I like this move from Canyon/SRAM. I think Aldag said something about the finish line being halfway through the stage for some of their riders, and Backstedt’s effort here is the kind of thing he meant. She will be near-empty after this.
70km to go: Backstedt is putting in a huge dig, setting a fearsome pace for Canyon-SRAM on this second climb. Niewiadoma is riding third wheel. Looks like they are happy to burn a few matches early doors and try to put Vollering in trouble.
Will Niewiadoma unleash an attack close to the top? Still 4.5km of climbing to come.
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71km to go: Thinking about the last few days: it was a phenomenal effort on Mont Ventoux by Niewiadoma, but it came with risk attached in terms of what she would have left in the tank for stages eight and nine. She is going to need to try something similar in terms of distancing Vollering on one of these laps climb, but of course the climbs are so much shorter …
72km to go: The front of the race hits the second climb. Backstedt sets the pace, despite a recent spill. When will Niewiadoma make her move? She is going to have to try something, at some point, but for now Vollering looks comfortable in the front group.
73km to go: Indeed. Mul won the intermediate point, taking 25pts. Ostiz took 20. Wiebes was third, grabbing 17pts and strengthening her grip on the green jersey on this final stage.
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76km to go: Sorry, it’s not Noskova at the front. It’s her Cofidis teammate Malwina Mul. Paula Ostiz (Movistar) is there too.
Hmm, or is the official site currently wrong? We shall see.
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78km to go: The commentator describes the descent as “very pedally”. Noskova powers on at the front. Just over 2km to the intermediate sprint.
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82km to go: It’s 6km to the sprint point. Noskova is on the attack, flying down the descent.
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83km to go: “Whatever the rights and wrongs of last night’s incident, Demi’s pre-race interview was ridiculous,” emails Ally.
”Yes, Kasia won the Tour in 2024 because of time Demi lost when she crashed, but Demi’s own team didn’t wait for her. To imply Niewiadoma wasn’t playing fair is pathetic.”
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85km to go: There was a crash on the descent. Backstedt went down. Squiban was reeled in, and there is a big group at the front.
90km to go: OK, I can’t resist.
There’s a good camera angle from above (on a social media platform we don’t talk about) that shows Niewiadoma’s line into that now infamous corner was fine – not even taking the outside – before she is forced wide by Gery, who fails to hold her line.
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91km to go: Maëva Squiban (UAE Team L’Imad) is now on the move up front. Admirable, given her heavy crash yesterday. She was taken to hospital for checks, apparently, and it was confirmed no breaks or dislocations or anything too nasty.
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92km to go: “As a former racing cyclist I can tell you that you know exactly when someone is trying to purposely block you in and when someone is innocently pulling over after doing their bit for their leader,” emails Michael (a different one). “I believe Niewiadoma.”
“The fact that the three leaders were on their limit on that final steep climb, the loss of the extra energy to slow and go around Gery was critical, a masterful dirty tricks professional foul, in my opinion. Now it’s (kinda) okay for this carry-on in the final few kms among the sprinters, they are big boys and girls, but it’s unfair among GC contenders.”
92.5km to go: Wlodarczyk (UAE Team L’Imad) has attacked from the front, and dragged a few riders with her. Inside the final kilometre of the climb.
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93km to go: “Totally agree with A.M. Rossell,” emails Michael.
“To try to go on the outside at that speed in such a corner was close to suicidal, Niewiadoma is actually lucky she didn’t end up in the barriers.
“Gery having done the pulling was ahead and had the freedom to take her line, those behind had to consider both possibilities but at that speed and with such a tricky corner it would have been totally unreasonable to expect her to ride it even sharper to move inward (Everyone at the front was taking it as wide as possible to keep the momentum). Gery couldn’t just evaporate.
“It was just the perfect place for an attack of this type and N was sour for not having been prepared. She should have expected and pre-empted the move before the corner.”
93km to go: I’m going to post two more recently received (and conflicting) emails about Niewiadoma v Gery, then we will move on.
94km to go: Niewiadoma and Vollering are riding side-by-side and appear to be deep in conversation. I am guessing they are not talking about their respective holiday plans.
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94km to go: This is a horrible stage design, in a way. Horrible in the sense of cruel on these fatigued riders. But I guess it’s tough at the top.
95.5km to go: Niewiadoma, Vollering, Reusser, Longo Borghini are all up in the front group.
Longo Borghini is 3min 05 sec down on GC: 1min 53sec behind third-placed Reusser. It’s difficult to see her making up that much time today but you never know.
96km to go: An infernal pace is being set at the front. There are groups all over the road. Dani Rowe reckons that a lot of riders are going to miss the time cut today.
Green jersey top five as it stands
1) Wiebes 164pts
2) Vollering 132pts
3) Kopecky 114pts
4) Le Court 107pts
5) Ruegg 94pts
97km to go: Vollering is prominent at the front of the bunch.
At the end of that interview a while ago, she said that attack is always the best form of defence.
Niewiadoma moves towards the front of the main bunch.
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98km to go: Straight on to the first ascent of the Col d’Eze. Lidl-Trek are prominent at the front, including Lorena Wiebes in green.
Racing on stage nine
Allez!
The riders are on the road and we are nearly off and racing on stage nine.
Vollering 'disappointed' at Niewiadoma-Phinney comments
“I have a lot of respect for Kasia,” says Vollering on TNT Sports, before explaining at length what seems her lack of respect for Kasia.
“I was a bit disappointed when I saw her interview directly after the finish, because she really attacked my teammate [Célia Gery], and I think it’s not so fair to do that so high in emotions.
“I didn’t forget what she did when I was on the ground two years ago, so if she’s speaking about fair play, I think she’s not the one that can really say something about that. I don’t blame her … in the end, we all forget, we are still human …
“Célia is still so young, she is getting so much shit thrown at her now. It’s not fair in my eyes. She’s giving her all, she is so young, so talented, and we need to protect her … I find it really sad that we attack each other like this after the finish line.
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“Nothing to lose,” says Niewadoma. “A lot to gain. It’s been difficult, very hot Tour … a lot of teams want to go all-out.
“Honestly it’s not a lot of frustration [about yesterday]. In retrospect, there is nothing I can change about the past, it’s only to focus on what’s next.”
The riders are obliged to climb 2,100m in 99km of racing today.
The climbing is going to be brutal, but I suspect the descending may prove to be key. Those GC contenders will be on the limit.
“I don’t think Niewiadoma has the respect from Vollering,” emails A.M Rossell. “Kasia was damn lucky to win the Tour in 2024, Vollering was extremely pissed at what happened and does not see Niewiadoma as her equal. As for the scandal from yesterday, Vollering was so much stronger than ELB and Niewiadoma was gassed. Actually a common tactic is for the teammate to let go of their leader’s wheel at the start of a leader’s attack to force the opponent to go the long way round. It’s nothing new, and Niewiadoma should have been alert to that, and also to being on the wrong side of the wheel going into a sharp corner.”
“The Tour de France Femmes has been fabulous as always,” emails Robin. “And a welcome competitive GC after five men’s grand tours in succession with comfortable victories. I would love to have the entire stage on TV but I think we take for granted what a recent development that has been in the men’s race and the complexity and cost of TV coverage. Hoping to see Demi take the GC today and full stages broadcast next year!”
“Conditions are super-hard,” says Rolf Aldag, Canyon/SRAM sports director: “It feels like you have a hot soup at 40C, and that is how the bottle is going to taste after five minutes.
“We are not here to hang on. We will try to force things. Marlen wants to defend her podium … Elisa wants to be on the podium … it’s going to be exciting racing.
“We all put it [the controversy between Niewiadoma and Gery] behind us … it’s an opportunity … people wrote us off at 1min 17sec [behind in GC] … now we are 8sec … why wouldn’t we be optimistic?”
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Lars Boom, the FDJ United-Suez DS, talks to TNT Sports about stage nine: “Brutal profile. It’s humid also. It will be key to cool down and stay fresh. It’s a really, really hard day.
“The aim is to defend yellow, but also to attack yellow … to try and win the stage.
“Of course we sometimes will take the risk – for me, Kasia needs to go in the final, or earlier …”
“Yesterday was amazing. We were really happy … to be in yellow was a big surprise … really cool to be part of this team, with the riders and staff.”
“This edition is probably the best I’ve ever seen,” emails Dave.
“Demi Vollering is compulsive watching - sometimes not in a good way. This woman is hard as nails and absolutely driven, seemingly scarily oblivious to pain. The back story of 2024, when she later revealed that she broke her coccyx in the crash on stage 5 - and yet still won the final stage 8 on the Alpe d’Huez, only to succumb by 4 seconds (4 seconds after 8 stages!) to Niewiadoma, is the added spice to today’s race, even without the needle of yesterday’s “blocking” allegations. I have absolutely no idea who will prevail today, so looking forward to it.
”Great to hear too that next year’s Grand Départ will be in the UK, lucky us.”
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My take on Gery v Niewiadoma, having seen a couple of replays? Niewiadoma absolutely has a case. It was subtle, but it was deliberate. [In my opinion.]
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Top five on GC before stage nine
1. Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) 28hrs 10min 18sec
2. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon/Sram) +8sec
3. Marlen Reusser (Movistar), +1min 12sec
4. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L’Imad) +3mins 5sec
5. Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon/Sram) +3mins 54sec
Vollering, after taking yellow yesterday: “In a stage race you take it day by day … you can be disappointed in the evening.
“But in the morning, you put on a new mask, and you go again.”
Channelling her inner John Terry.
Marc emails: “VIVA KIM LE COURT OUR MAURITIAN HERO.”
Merci.
Regarding the telly coverage: As I understand it, without Zwift’s commitment to sponsor the event, there would be no Tour de France Femmes. Most likely there would still be a one-day nod to women’s cycling instead. (Like La Course.)
ASO don’t generate enough revenue from the event to cover every stage in full (again, this is merely as I understand it) so I guess we should be grateful to Zwift for the ploughing in the cash in the first place.
Could ASO be doing more? If you think so, please mail me and tell me why.
“Have I been affected by the Tour de France Femmes..?” asks Jez.
“In a word - no. Not as much as I would have loved to have been - and it’s ASO’s fault.
“The lack of TV coverage of an exceptional race featuring exceptional athletes, not effectively promoted by its own organisation to an audience that is clearly there and wanting more … in 2026, what possible response is there to this? There must be loads of emails saying the same thing.”
“I have absolutely loved Tour de France Femmes this year, it’s been jam-packed with everything you want from a Tour, drama, suspense and actual competition that’s sorely lacking in the men’s edition,” emails Nathan.
“No spoilers tho mate, the missus is dragging me to see Odyssey so will watch tonight!”
Thank you Nathan. Enjoy the film. I will definitely be posting spoilers though, this being a live news blog. Kindly pop back tonight after watching the race on telly! Enjoy!
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The first three ascents today are category-two: 7.7km at 5.9% average, cresting at 491m.
The fourth and final ascent is via a different route, a shorter and sharper category-one: 6km at 7.6% average.
The bonification point comes after one climb, after 23.5km of racing. It is going to be flat-out from the start – it is going to be draining to watch, let alone ride – and it promises to be an incredible denouement to a fascinating race for the maillot jaune.
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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:
Niewiadoma, yesterday: “They should compete fair play and not look to block me on the barriers because it is so childish. I lost all the respect for them for that.”
Vollering’s response: “I didn’t see anything, I just saw what was in front of me,” she said. “It happened behind me. I don’t have eyes in the back of my head. Celia probably didn’t see Kasia and I’m sure she didn’t do it on purpose. I’m sure Kasia knows deep in her heart that those kinds of things just happen sometimes in racing. It’s the shit part of racing.”
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Preamble
The previous two stages could hardly have been more dramatic: Kasia Niewiadoma climbed to a dominant victory on Mont Ventoux on Friday, before Demi Vollering staged a daring late attack to snatch the maillot jaune from her Polish rival yesterday.
That leaves us with an enthralling, nerve-jangling conclusion to a fierce and unpredictable battle for the general classification, with the 2023 champion Vollering leading Niewiadoma by a mere eight seconds overall.
To make things even more intriguing, Niewiadoma angrily claimed to have been deliberately blocked by Vollering’s teammate Célia Gery of FDJ United–Suez yesterday. There will be tension within the peloton.
The concluding stage is short and sharp: 99.2km on a circuit around the hills near Nice, with four categorised ascents of the Col d’Eze. The intermediate sprint comes after just 23.5km of racing, and it can be guaranteed that Niewiadoma and Canyon/SRAM will try anything they can to dislodge Vollering from the top of GC. It’s perfectly set up.
Neutralised start: 15.05 BST/16.05 CET
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