The Tour de France Femmes with Zwift 2026 From 1 to 9 August, it features nine days of racing, 21 teams and a varied route profile. The starting line-up comprises 147 female riders, who will have to cover a total of 1,174.7 kilometres and 18,775 metres of elevation gain.
The key figures from the fifth edition show that the Tour de France Femmes is developing into a modern, high-performance race that places a variety of demands on the riders. However, a look at further figures quickly reveals that there is still room for improvement.
Tour de France Femmes: Key figures at a glance
| Racing days | 9 |
| Teams | 21 |
| Female drivers | 147 |
| Total distance | 1,174.7 kilometres |
| Total increase | 18,775 metres of elevation gain |
| Swiss cantons at the Grand Départ | 4 |
| French départements | 12 |
| Categorised climbs | 39 |
| Highest point | Mont Ventoux, 1,910 metres |
| Longest stage | 171.9 kilometres |
The pitch and team size
The starting line-up for the Tour de France Femmes comprises 21 teams, each with seven riders. This means 147 athletes will be taking part. The size of the teams makes teamwork a key factor, particularly in the long transition stages and when controlling the race. At the same time, the compact team size (compared to eight riders per team in the men’s race) increases the importance of tactical decisions. Every rider dropping out and every loss of energy can have an impact over the course of the tour.
1,174.7 kilometres in nine days
The route covers 1,174.7 kilometres. On average, that’s just under 130.5 kilometres per stage. However, the actual physical demands during the Tour de France Femmes vary considerably, as the stages have different characteristics and are not all the same length.
The longest stage is the eighth stage, from Sisteron to Nice. It is 171.9 kilometres long. The shortest stage is the 21-kilometre individual time trial on the fourth stage. The route profile is well-balanced, but by no means easy. The organisers have divided the nine stages into the following categories:
- Three flat stages
- Three hilly stages
- Two mountain stages
- An individual time trial
This means that the Tour de France Femmes is not tailored to a single type of rider. Sprinters can compete for stage victories on the flatter days, whilst the general classification will be decided by the time trial and the two mountain stages. The hilly stages are particularly important for attacking riders. However, one thing many fans had been hoping for has not materialised. Compared with last year, there has been no increase in the number of stages. Given the current boom in women’s cycling, this seems almost absurd; A.S.O. has clearly missed an important opportunity here.
39 categorised climbs and mountain finishes
The route features a total of 39 mountain passes, climbs or mountain finishes. They are classified according to the familiar categories:
- A climb in the Hors-Catégorie category
- Two Category 1 climbs
- Ten Category 2 climbs
- Twelve third-category climbs
- 14 Category 4 climbs
This means that the mountains classification is spread out over the entire tour. The polka-dot jersey is not decided only on Mont Ventoux, but riders can lay a crucial foundation for it as early as the first hilly stages.
Mont Ventoux: the highest point of the Tour de France
The sporting highlight is the seventh stage, which finishes at Mont Ventoux. At 1,910 metres, the famous ‘Géant de Provence’ is the highest point of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes. The stage features 3,565 metres of climbing, making it the most demanding stage of the race based on the elevation profile. This day is of particular importance for the general classification: long climbs are difficult to manage tactically, and the gaps between the favourites can widen quickly.
TV broadcasts and audience reach
The organisers boast that the event is broadcast across five continents and in a total of 190 countries. Last year, in France alone, 24 million people followed the Tour de France Femmes. But then, in small print, it also says: 2 hours and 30 minutes of live coverage per stage. Blimey! That’s quite a lot to take in. One question springs to mind: Why? What’s the point? The technology and equipment to broadcast the entire stages are available. So why is only part of each stage being shown?
Enough grumbling. The development of the Tour de France Femmes and women’s cycling as a whole is definitely very positive. The organisers of the major races just need to get fully on board now, and then this development can continue to grow as rapidly as it has in recent years.
Leon Weidner
Editor