Key information on Stage 7 of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes
- Friday, 7 August: La Voulte-sur-Rhône – Mont Ventoux
- 146.8 kilometres, 3,500 metres of elevation gain (mountain finish)
- Mountain climbs: KM 13.6 (Category 2), KM 41.1 (Category 3), KM 105.3 (Category 2), KM 146.8 (HC)
- Sprint classification: km 97.9
- Start: 12.50 pm, Finish: approx. 5.17 pm
- Live updates and results
The route of the 7th stage of the Tour de France Femmes
The women had already tackled the Tourmalet and Alpe d’Huez in previous editions, as well as the Col de la Madeleine, Le Markstein and the Planche des Belles Filles. For the fifth edition of the Tour de France Femmes, another legendary climb is now on the itinerary: Mont Ventoux.
The “Giant of Provence”, the “Grand Kahle”, standing at just under 2,000 metres, is the undisputed highlight of this edition. On Stage 7, it far outshines all the other climbs – which, on other stages, would by no means be to be overlooked. The route also features two Category 2 climbs: the Col de la Grande Limite and the Col de Suzette. So far, the race hasn’t been much more challenging than this.
The stage, which covers a total of 3,500 metres of climbing over 147 kilometres, begins in La Voulte-sur-Rhône, not far from the previous day’s finish, and initially heads south for a long stretch. The first mountain classification comes after just under 14 kilometres, the second after 41, and the third after 105. By then, the riders will have already climbed around 1,500 metres. But it is only now that the day really begins. The route enters the Provençal Pre-Alps and heads for Mont Ventoux, which has been in the riders’ line of sight all day.
The route first passes through Malaucène. This is where the western ascent of Mont Ventoux begins. However, the peloton bypasses it, continuing for a few more kilometres to Bédoin before tackling the slightly more challenging southern ascent. The women face a 15.7-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 8.8 per cent. The climb is relatively steady, with only a brief flatter section around Chalet Reynard at the start of the final third.
A sporting analysis of Stage 7 of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes
127 kilometres of build-up to the grand finale: it cannot be ruled out that absolutely nothing will happen on the way up to Ventoux. There is no bonus sprint offering valuable seconds on this stage, and given Lorena Wiebes’ (SD Worx – Protime) dominance in the battle for the Green Jersey, the intermediate sprint is not a worthwhile target. Meanwhile, the mountains’ jersey sits relatively securely on the shoulders of Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech).
A breakaway victory is essentially out of the question. The favourites will do nothing before the decisive climb; everyone else will watch and take care not to waste their energy. This is because, particularly for riders from the smaller teams – the gap in performance within the women’s peloton is still relatively wide – the Ventoux could well spell the end of the tour for them anyway, as the time limit could become a serious factor here. This is particularly true if no group forms, the pace is slow and perhaps someone does get dropped on the first climb after all.
On Mont Ventoux itself, it’s the legs that do all the talking. And they seem to be in excellent form, particularly for Demi Vollering (FDJ United – SUEZ). The Dutch rider is the top favourite to win, although Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) in particular following her poor time trial and, having lost time in the Beaujolais, is under pressure to act and must make up ground on the stage that suits her best. This is likely to require taking a certain risk – in other words, an early attack. Vollering, however, also has the much stronger team and can let the Frenchwoman go if she makes an early breakaway.
Whoever ends up winning: there’s a strong likelihood it will be a solo winner. Even further back, there’s a good chance there will be hardly any groups, with everyone riding at their own pace. Large gaps and a rather jumbled general classification are almost guaranteed – including some early decisions.
