Barbara Malcotti will not start Stage 6 of the Tour de France Femmes, bringing her race to an end before the 153.4-kilometre stage from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône.
Human Powered Health confirmed the withdrawal on Thursday morning but did not provide a specific reason.
“Unfortunately, Barbara will not take to the start of Stage 6,” the team said. “We wish her the best in her recovery. Our fighter will be back soon.”
Malcotti completed Wednesday’s demanding Stage 5 in 110th place. She had previously finished 124th in the Stage 4 time trial and 121st on Stage 3.
Her withdrawal reduces the climbing support available to Human Powered Health before the race reaches Mont Ventoux on Friday.
Malcotti returned from a fractured pelvis
Reaching the Tour de France Femmes start line had already represented a significant recovery for Malcotti.
The Italian fractured her pelvis in two places during a training crash in November 2025, disrupting the beginning of her winter preparation for the new season.
The injury required a cautious rehabilitation, but Malcotti recovered sufficiently to return to racing and earn selection for the Tour.
Human Powered Health’s announcement referred to her recovery but did not identify a new injury or illness. It would therefore be premature to connect her Stage 6 DNS directly to the pelvic fractures she suffered last November.
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Photo Credit: Getty
A very different exit from the 2022 Tour
Malcotti’s first Tour de France Femmes appearance also ended during Stage 5, but under very different circumstances.
She was disqualified from the 2022 edition after receiving what the commissaires classified as irregular assistance during a bike change.
Malcotti was riding near the front of the race when she crossed the road to change bikes beside the Human Powered Health team car. Race regulations required the change to take place behind the peloton, and the commissaires removed her from the Tour.
Human Powered Health argued at the time that the sanction was harsh because the bike change had not provided a meaningful sporting advantage.
There is no comparable disciplinary issue in 2026. Malcotti completed Stage 5 before the team confirmed that she would not return for Thursday’s start.
Her withdrawal leaves Human Powered Health with fewer options for the remaining climbing stages, although Thalita de Jong and the team’s other attackers can still target breakaways during the second half of the race.
Further coverage of the Italian rider is available on our Barbara Malcotti rider page.
