Stage 2 of the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026 is the day most likely to decide the race. The peloton heads from Arrens-Marsous to Bagnères-de-Bigorre on Saturday, 13th June, with the Col du Tourmalet placed as the defining climb of the stage.
For UK viewers, the key timing is simple: the stage begins at 10:00 BST, with the official racing start expected around 10:15 BST. The finish is expected between 12:53 and 13:13 BST, meaning this is a late-morning and early-afternoon watch rather than a full-afternoon broadcast.
The stage can be watched free of charge in the UK via a French-language YouTube stream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQXxDuNV9q0. Live coverage should also be available through HBO Max, with Eurosport International listed by the organiser. As with many smaller women’s stage races, the stage may not always appear prominently on the main cycling page, so it is worth checking under multiple names, including Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées, CIC Tour Féminin des Pyrénées and Tour Féminin des Pyrénées.
For wider race context, see our Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026 full route guide, Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026 stage 2 preview, GC and jerseys after Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026 stage 1 and how to watch Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026 in the UK.
What time does Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026 stage 2 start?
Stage 2 starts in Arrens-Marsous at 10:00 BST on Saturday, 13th June. The official start is expected around 10:15 BST after the neutralised section.
The stage is 94.9km long and finishes in Bagnères-de-Bigorre, with the expected finish window between 12:53 and 13:13 BST.
Key stage 2 timings for UK viewers:
| Stage 2 detail | UK time |
|---|---|
| Neutralised start | 10:00 BST |
| Official start | Around 10:15 BST |
| Expected finish | 12:53-13:13 BST |
| Main live window to check | From around 11:55 BST |
| Stage distance | 94.9km |
Because the stage is short and mountainous, the most important racing should come quickly. The Col du Tourmalet is expected to be the decisive point before the descent and run-in to Bagnères-de-Bigorre.
Where can I watch Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026 stage 2 in the UK?
UK viewers have a free option for stage 2, with a French-language YouTube stream available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQXxDuNV9q0.
HBO Max should also carry live coverage of stage 2 in the UK, with Eurosport International listed by the organiser. That gives viewers both a free French-language route and the usual Warner Bros. Discovery route through HBO Max.
The race may be listed under slightly different names, so check for:
- Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées
- CIC Tour Féminin des Pyrénées
- Tour Féminin des Pyrénées
- Women’s cycling
- Eurosport International cycling
The stage may sit deeper in the live sport section rather than appearing on the front page. The Tourmalet stage is the key GC day of the race, so it is worth checking manually if it does not appear immediately.
Is Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées stage 2 free to watch in the UK?
Yes. Stage 2 is available free of charge for UK viewers through the French-language YouTube stream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQXxDuNV9q0.
That makes it the easiest option for anyone who wants to watch the Tourmalet stage without a paid subscription. The commentary will be in French, but the pictures should cover the key part of the stage, including the decisive climbing and run-in to Bagnères-de-Bigorre.
For viewers who already have access, HBO Max remains the main paid option in the UK, with Eurosport International also listed by the organiser.
Why stage 2 is the main viewing day
Stage 2 is the queen stage of the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026. The route runs for only 94.9km, but the Col du Tourmalet gives the stage its clear sporting weight.
This is where the race changes from the sprint-stage shape of stage 1 into a climbing contest. Martina Alzini starts the day in the leader’s jersey after winning the opener in Mourenx, but defending that lead over the Tourmalet will be a much harder task.
The key difference is that this is not a summit finish. The climb should create the selection, but the stage finishes in Bagnères-de-Bigorre after the descent. That means the winner and new race leader may need to climb strongly, descend well and still finish the job once the road flattens out again.
For Paula Blasi, Usoa Ostolaza, Juliette Berthet, Dominika Wlodarczyk and Julie Bego, this is the day to move. Sunday’s stage to Jurançon can still change the overall, but stage 2 is the clearest climbing platform of the race.
Stage 2 route: Arrens-Marsous to Bagnères-de-Bigorre
The stage begins in Arrens-Marsous and finishes in Bagnères-de-Bigorre after 94.9km. The route includes around 2,038 metres of climbing, with the Col du Tourmalet forming the heart of the stage.
The top of the climb comes around kilometre 67, which means there is still a substantial descent and run-in before the finish. That makes the stage more tactically interesting than a straight summit finish. A lone rider over the top will need to defend the gap. A small group may come back together if the leading climbers hesitate. A rider who loses contact near the summit can still limit damage if she descends well.
The Tourmalet should still be the key point. It is the climb most likely to split the GC group and expose riders who survived stage 1 without difficulty but cannot follow the pure climbers.
What happened on stage 1?
Stage 1 ended in a bunch sprint in Mourenx, with Martina Alzini taking victory ahead of Federica Venturelli and Marie Le Net. That puts Alzini into the race lead before the Tourmalet stage.
The opening day gave Cofidis Women Team the perfect start, but it also placed UAE Team ADQ in a strong position through Venturelli. That matters because UAE Team ADQ also have Paula Blasi and Dominika Wlodarczyk for the climbing stage, giving them multiple cards before the race reaches the Tourmalet.
FDJ United-SUEZ also start stage 2 well placed, with Marie Le Net on the stage 1 podium and Juliette Berthet still their main GC option. Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi will look towards Usoa Ostolaza, who has the strongest race history in the field.
For a full breakdown of how the race stands, see our GC and jerseys after Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026 stage 1.
Who should viewers watch on stage 2?
Paula Blasi is one of the central names. After winning La Vuelta Femenina earlier in the season, she carries a different level of expectation and should be watched closely once the race reaches the Tourmalet. UAE Team ADQ also have Dominika Wlodarczyk as a second climbing option and Federica Venturelli well placed after stage 1.
Usoa Ostolaza is the rider with the strongest record in this race. She has won the overall twice and knows how to manage Pyrenean stages. If Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi can place her well before the climb, she is one of the obvious contenders for the stage and the race lead.
Juliette Berthet gives FDJ United-SUEZ a strong GC card, while Julie Bego may become important for Cofidis Women Team once the race shifts away from Alzini’s sprinting strength. Karoline Perekitko and Eglantine Rayer are also worth watching if the front group becomes selective but not completely reduced to the biggest favourites.
Could the stage be won after the Tourmalet?
Yes. The Tourmalet should decide who is strong enough to win, but the finish in Bagnères-de-Bigorre means the race may still be alive after the summit.
A rider who attacks near the top can win if she descends well and keeps enough momentum into the valley. A small group could also come back together if the strongest climbers mark each other after the climb. That makes the final part of the stage important even if the decisive selection is made earlier.
This is why the live window matters. Viewers should aim to be watching before the final hour if possible, because the key move may happen before the descent rather than in the last few kilometres.
What time should UK viewers tune in?
The safest option is to check the free French-language YouTube stream from around 11:55 BST, then stay with the stage through the expected finish window between 12:53 and 13:13 BST. HBO Max should also be checked from the same time if you are watching through the paid UK route.
The race itself starts earlier, at 10:00 BST, with the official start around 10:15 BST. But if the broadcast window does not cover the full stage, the key live section should still include the Tourmalet, descent and finish.
Suggested UK viewing plan:
| Time | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 10:00 BST | Neutralised start in Arrens-Marsous |
| Around 10:15 BST | Official racing start |
| Around 11:55 BST | Main live window to check on YouTube and HBO Max |
| 12:53-13:13 BST | Expected finish in Bagnères-de-Bigorre |
Because this is a mountain stage, the race could be active before live pictures begin. Checking live updates alongside the broadcast is sensible, especially if a strong breakaway goes early.
How stage 2 could shape the GC
Stage 2 should be the decisive general classification stage of the race. Stage 3 to Jurançon is punchy enough to change things, but the Tourmalet offers the clearest opportunity to create major gaps.
Alzini starts in the leader’s jersey, but the race is expected to pass towards the climbers. Blasi, Ostolaza, Berthet, Wlodarczyk, Bego and Perekitko all have reasons to race aggressively, while Venturelli’s stage 1 result gives UAE Team ADQ a useful tactical position.
If the favourites wait until late on the Tourmalet, the gaps may stay manageable. If UAE Team ADQ or Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi make the climb hard early, the race could split quickly and leave only a small group fighting for yellow.
The stage is short, but there is little room for recovery. Once the Tourmalet starts, the GC race should become much clearer.
Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026 stage 2 summary
Stage 2 of the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026 starts at 10:00 BST on Saturday, 13th June, with the official start expected around 10:15 BST. The stage runs for 94.9km from Arrens-Marsous to Bagnères-de-Bigorre and should finish between 12:53 and 13:13 BST.
UK viewers can watch free of charge through the French-language YouTube stream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQXxDuNV9q0. HBO Max is also available as the main paid UK route, with Eurosport International listed by the organiser. The main live window to check is from around 11:55 BST, which should take viewers into the decisive Tourmalet section and the run to the finish.
This is the stage that should define the race. Alzini starts in the leader’s jersey, but the Tourmalet gives Blasi, Ostolaza, Berthet and the other climbers the chance to take control before Sunday’s final stage to Jurançon.
