The route for the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has been officially unveiled in Paris, confirming the return of one of cycling’s most iconic climbs – Mont Ventoux – as the centrepiece of next summer’s race. The fifth edition of the women’s Tour will take place from 1 to 9 August, covering 1,175 kilometres across nine stages from a Swiss Grand Départ to a double finale in Nice.
Presented by race director Marion Rousse and Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme at the Palais des Congrès, the route continues the race’s growing legacy of tackling legendary French mountains. After visits to La Planche des Belles Filles (2022), the Col du Tourmalet (2023), Alpe d’Huez (2024) and the Col de la Madeleine (2025), the 2026 edition will take riders up the “Giant of Provence” – Mont Ventoux – for a decisive summit finish on stage 7.
While the headline climb is expected to determine the general classification, the route is more balanced than in previous editions, offering opportunities for puncheuses, sprinters and time trial specialists throughout the week.
A varied route from Switzerland to the Riviera
The race opens in Lausanne, Switzerland, marking the second foreign Grand Départ in the event’s history. The first two stages stay in Swiss territory, setting up early chances for fast finishers before the peloton crosses into France. The inclusion of a 21-kilometre individual time trial on stage 4 in Dijon will test the all-rounders, while the transition through Beaujolais and the Rhône Valley builds towards the Queen Stage on Ventoux.
The final weekend in Nice promises a spectacular conclusion. Stage 8 from Sisteron to Nice is the longest of the race at 175km and likely to favour the sprinters, while the short, punchy final stage features four ascents of the Col d’Èze before finishing on the Promenade des Anglais.
Full 2026 Tour de France Femmes Stage List
| Date | Stage | Start | Finish | Distance | Profile / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 August | Stage 1 | Lausanne | Lausanne | 137 km | Rolling opening stage for the puncheuses around Lausanne. |
| 2 August | Stage 2 | Aigle | Geneva | 149 km | Flat stage expected to end in a bunch sprint along Lake Geneva. |
| 3 August | Stage 3 | Geneva | Poligny | 157 km | Another chance for the sprinters or a strong breakaway. |
| 4 August | Stage 4 | Gevrey-Chambertin | Dijon (ITT)** | 21 km | Individual time trial – a crucial test for the GC favourites. |
| 5 August | Stage 5 | Mâcon | Belleville-en-Beaujolais | 140 km | Punchy stage through the vineyards and rolling climbs of Beaujolais. |
| 6 August | Stage 6 | Montbrison | Tournon-sur-Rhône | 153 km | Undulating stage suited to breakaways or opportunists. |
| 7 August | Stage 7 | La Voulte-sur-Rhône | Mont Ventoux | 144 km | Queen stage – summit finish atop the 15.7km climb from Bédoin to the Ventoux weather station. |
| 8 August | Stage 8 | Sisteron | Nice | 175 km | Longest stage, mostly flat with some late climbs. |
| 9 August | Stage 9 | Nice | Nice | 99 km | Short, explosive finale featuring four ascents of the Col d’Èze before finishing on the Promenade des Anglais. |
Total: 1,175 km over 9 stages
2026 Tour de France Femmes Stage Profiles
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 8
Stage 9
Ventoux takes centre stage
The 15.7km climb from Bédoin to the Mont Ventoux summit will be the defining moment of the race. Its punishing gradients and exposure to the elements have made it one of cycling’s most revered climbs, and its inclusion in the Tour de France Femmes marks a major milestone for the event.
Before the mountain showdown, riders will face a mix of stages designed to test every discipline – from flat, high-speed finishes to punchy climbs and the Dijon time trial. The design ensures that general classification contenders must be strong across all terrains, not just in the mountains.
Zwift partnership extended to 2029
Alongside the route reveal, Zwift announced an extension of its title sponsorship of the Tour de France Femmes until 2029. The partnership, which began with the race’s rebirth in 2022, has been instrumental in raising the visibility of women’s cycling and expanding global engagement through Zwift’s Watch The Femmes initiative.
“Growing women’s participation in cycling is a critical mission,” said Zwift CEO Eric Min, confirming the long-term commitment.
L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes
Amateur cyclists will also get their chance to tackle the challenge a day before the professionals, with the Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift returning for its second edition on 6 August. Starting in Vaison-la-Romaine, the sportive will follow a modified version of the Ventoux stage, including the ascent from Bédoin to the summit.
The 2026 route encapsulates the race’s ambition – balancing spectacle, inclusivity and challenge. With the Giant of Provence looming large and a fitting finale on the Riviera, next year’s Tour de France Femmes looks set to deliver another chapter in the sport’s growing legend.
