Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 route: Swiss start, Mont Ventoux ascent, and Nice finish
Race to take place from 1-9 August, with first three days in Switzerland
The 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will include an ascent of Mont Ventoux, an individual time trial, and a punchy finish in Nice.
The route for the fifth edition of the race was unveiled in a presentation inside Paris's Palais des Congrès on Thursday. It will begin in Lausanne, Switzerland, the second time it has begun outside France, with three stages in Switzerland out of a total of nine.
It will begin on Saturday 1 August, a week after the men's Tour de France finishes on the 25 July, and conclude on Sunday 9 August. After a punchy start, there is a 21km-long individual time trial on stage four. Everything will build up to Mont Ventoux on stage seven, however, before a finale in Nice which includes four ascents of the Col d'Èze.
Lausanne offers a relatively straightforward start for riders, before the hills mount later in the day, with two categorised climbs just over halfway to go, offering a chance for both sprinters and climbers to make their mark on day one. The course will loop between two lakes before returning to Lausanne.
Day three, however, is littered with climbs, the first of which erupts just 24km into the race, rising at 6.3% over 11.3km.
It's not until the fourth day of racing that the Tour enters its home country, beginning in Gevrey-Chambertin weaving through vineyards in an individual time trial to Dijon - the first time trial hosted by the Femmes in two years.
On Wednesday 5 August, the race will enter the mountains, taking a course from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais over eight categorised climbs. But the true test comes days later, with a summit of the iconic Mount Ventoux at an elevation of 1,909 metres after a day of relatively flat racing.
Over a gradual climb to the Col de Toutes Aures that climbs 4.6% over 6.4 km, the next day, a sharp descent will set up the race for a bunch sprint into Nice, ready for the finale to kick off a day later. This final day of racing features a brutal, four-time summit of the Col d'Eze over 99 kilometres, before a sharp descent towards the coast.
It was here in 2020 that Lizzie Deignan overtook Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) in a sprint finish to victory at La Course, the curtain-raiser for the Tour de France.
In total, the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will climb a total of 18,275m over 1175km of racing during the nine-staged race.
The 2025 Tour de France Femmes was won by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike), the first French winner, after a dominant final two stages in the Alps. Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) finished second, with defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) in third.
Stage
Day
Start
FInish
Distance
Type
1
1 August
Lausanne
Lausanne
137km
Hilly
2
2 August
Aigle
Geneva
149km
Flat
3
3 August
Geneva
Poligny
157km
Hilly
4
4 August
Gevrey-Chambertin
Dijon
21km
ITT
5
5 August
Mâcon
Belleville-en-Beaujolais
140km
Hilly
6
6 August
Montbrison
Tournon-sur-Rhône
153km
Hilly
7
7 August
La Voulte-sur-Rhône
Mont Ventoux
144km
Mountains
8
8 August
Sisteron
Nice
175km
Hilly
9
9 August
Nice
Nice
99km
Mountains
It’s off to the home of the International Olympic Committee and the shores of the Lac Leman in Switzerland for the race’s second Grand Depart in its five year history. The loop takes the riders north to the Lac de Neuchâtel and the Canton de Fribourg before turning south at Payerne and back torwad the finish. On the way the peloton will take three cat three climbs that range between 1.6 and 4km before the final cat four climb to the finish at the top of the Côte Saint-Francois.
Today's Route
Classified as a flat stage, this definitely isn’t a day for the pure sprinters. The climbs aren’t huge, but the two that come back to back at 83 and 97 kilometers could see them slip out the back if the stronger teams decide to up the pace. The GC riders will want to save their energy for the final climb, more to not lose time rather than to gain any. But they’ll still have to stay alert which could make it a nervy affair. The climb to the line is only 4.6% but over that’s enough to see gaps open up if the strongest riders take it on, and if htat happens, riders could be caught out.
What to expect
The kick up from the Olympic park on the shores of Lac Leman favours the classics style rider who can get over the climbs. In the women’s peloton this is the Grand Tour favourites plus the likes of Lotte Kopecky, Marianne Vos and Kim Le Court. With a few corners before and on the climb positioning will be key, meaning the run in to Lausanne will be critical.
From the alpine eyrie of Aigle ('Eagle' in French), home of the UCI headquarters and the World Cycling Centre, the route for the second day of the Grand Départ arcs around the northern edge of Lac Léman, passing through the Vaudois vineyards to reach the historic waterside city of Montreux. Once past Vevey the profile kicks up, and riders will face a series of sometimes-stiff ascents, before picking up the pace for the final 40km, which culminates in a lakeside finish on Quai du Mont-Blanc in Geneva.
Today's Route
Although this is a relatively flat stage, there are five catagorised climbs to contend with, including a trio of cat-threes, starting with a 3.2km haul up Côte de Chexbres followed by a further 2.5km of incline to the highpoint of the day, 843-metre Côte de Savigny. Three more climbs follow, but they’re not enough to split a peloton full of riders with fresh legs, and the final half of the stage is flatter than the first. It could be a day for a break, even if it goes later in the stage, but expect SD Workx, Lidl-Trek and Fenix Premier Tech to work together for a sprint finish.
What to expect
The route profile is lumpier than the ‘flat’ description implies, but this will still be a day for the sprinters. Expect Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx–Protime) to let loose after her frustration at being booted out of the Giro earlier this year, and to mount a spirited defence of the green jersey she took home last year. Charlotte Kool, Elisa Balsamo, and Marianne Vos will be the ones to challenge her.
Day three is when things start to get serious, as the peloton pedals from Switzerland into France, where riders immediately start ascending into the Jura Mountains that form a raised seam between the two countries. The rollercoaster route rocks and rolls through the peaks and passes of the range, before traversing a lumpy limestone plateau punctuated by chateaus and castles. From floral Champagnole on the banks of the young river Ain, the race drops towards a scenic finish in Poligny, the ‘Capital of Comté’ (a distinctive and delicious hard cheese), which hosted the finish of stage 19 during the 2023 Tour de France.
Today's Route
Although not a mountain stage, this is a hilly day with 2,400 metres of vertical gain and four categorised climbs to contend with. Leaving the lakeside in Geneva, riders instantly point their front wheel towards the sky with a category one 11.4km climb of Col de la Faucille. Sprinters will be spat out the back almost instantly while others will be holding on if the pace is high. What will shape this stage is what happens over the top of that first climb. If a truce is called, dropped riders will catch back to the leaders, but while it’s downhill to the finish in Poligny, there are other climbs to get over before that.
Tired legs are likely to show on the final climb - where bonus seconds are on offer - thinning out the peloton again, although all the GC riders should stay together.
What to expect
General classification contenders will be looking to get through this stage burning as few matches as possible. With the hardest section at the start of the stage they know they can’t take time today, but they could be left exposed at the end if they lose teammates. The Stage is too hard for the pure sprinters to arrive at the finish with any speed in their legs so look out for the likes of Lotte Kopecky and Puck Pieterse instead.
We haven’t had an individual time trial at the Tour de France Femmes for the past two editions, but it’s back this year to shake things up and provide a test for the contenders in the General Classification. It’s a relatively short route with one main climb, followed by a fast, flat run-in to the finish line in Dijon, capital of the wine-making region of Burgundy. Despite its brevity, stage four has the potential to open up some gaps in the GC.
Today's Route
With a total elevation gain of just 255 metres, this fast and furious stage favours the stronger specialists against the clock, and gives them the chance to gain some time before reaching the bigger climbs. At just 1.8km the ascent of the Lacets de Marsannay isn’t a classified climb, but it’s enough to impact a rider’s pacing strategy
It averages 6.9% and after the timing check point at the top is followed by a little more ascent along the limestone ridge. There’s then eight kilometres of dead straight descent and flat road before a right turn at two kilometres to go. Holding speed here will be crucial, riders will need a big gear and a dialled in aero position to make time gains.
What to expect
This is a key stage for the GC hopefuls who can afford to lose a little time to the likes of TT specialists Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon SRAM), but not to each other. There are just a handful of corners on the route giving the advantage to those used to riding in the TT position. Everyone knows they won’t win the Tour today, but a lot of riders will be worried about losing time while the TT riders will be have today’s stage win on their wish list.
Today's stage takes a circuitous and very hilly path southwards on the edge of the Massif Central. The riders will be surrounded by the tidy ranks of vines that produce the wine this region is famous for, but with eight classified climbs to tackle today, the only drink the riders will be thinking about will be the sports hydration in their bidons.
Today's Route
The Classics specialists in the bunch will be licking their lips at the prospect of today's route which, with its spread of cat-two, three and four climbs and its meandering nature, looks more like something they might usually face in the Ardennes in April.
The key appointments look set to be the final two climbs, which come as a pair in the final section of the stage. The cat-three Col de Durbize (3.6km at 5.5%) comes at 110km ridden, and after its lengthy descent comes the final climb, the cat-two Mont Brouilly (3km at 7.7%).
The final selection will probably be made here, but before that the riders have to get through the shark's-tooth profile of the first half, with its four cat-fours, a cat-three and a cat-two making up the bulk of the day's considerable 2,850m vertical ascent.
What to expect
While a breakaway is likely to try its luck, this is a hard day that is likely to favour the strongest teams and riders in the race. They could choose to wear their opponents down over the successive climbs so the front group of contenders gets smaller as the race goes on. The hardest day so far – although there are harder ones to come – this stage could well see those GC riders battling at the front to snatch time and begin shaping their designs on the win in Nice.
With almost as many classified climbs as yesterday's hill-fest, the Tour Femmes offers little let-up for the riders on this sixth stage, which takes them further south through the Massif Central and into the Ardèche. This is sumptuous terrain with gorgeous views, deep into rural France. But it's rugged and challenging too – there's little flat that the riders can rest their legs on.
Today's Route
The 153km length of the stage is peppered with cat-three and cat-four climbs pretty much from the off. The cat-two Col de la Lalouvesc the only foray over the 1,000-metre mark, however, and is the one that the peloton will have its eye on. It comes with around 50km to go and its 8km / 5.5% slopes are likely to refine any breakaway already up the road or, if the peloton is still together, provide the launch pad for one. It's around 30km from there to the final climb, the cat-three Côte de Boucieu-le-Roi, which comes 17km from the finish and is closely followed by a time bonus sprint.
Prior to this the peloton will be treated to a quartet of classified climbs (a trio of cat-fours and a cat-three), cresting the first with just 20km gone. Packed in there somewhere (at Flaminges with 63.5km ridden, to be precise) is the day's intermediate sprint.
What to expect
It's the kind of day that if enough riders are interested, a breakaway could easily succeed on, for the GC riders will have tomorrow's appointment with Mont Ventoux weighing on their minds. All the same, none will want to concede time to rivals on that time bonus near the end, so they'll need to keep their wits about them until the day is done.
If the many small climbs of the past couple of days have been a flurry of tentative jabs, today's Queen stage delivers a thundering haymaker that could make or break a rider's entire Tour, in the form of Mont Ventoux.
Yes, there are smaller climbs along the route, but they are dwarfed by the Ventoux. Known with good reason as the Giant of Provence, the Ventoux is one of cycling's most iconic climbs. and will loom large both literally and metaphorically over the riders for the duration of today's stage. It's a regular fixture in the men's Tour de France, but this will be the first time it has featured in the women's race, and promises to be a thrilling stage to watch.
Today's route
Heading south along the path of the Rhône river, via a multitude of French départements, today's stage is a tour of French gastronomy. Wine, cheese and sausage are among the specialities of the region, with a life-giving drop of mineral water to wash it all down (taken with an electrolyte tab if you're riding the race).
While the Ventoux is undoubtedly the main course, there are tasters along the way in the form of three smaller ascents – the cat-two Col de la Grande Limite (6.6km at 5%), the cat-three Col du Colombier (3.2km at 6.4%) both come in the first third of the stage, while the cat-two Col de Suzette (3.9km at 6.4%) is placed on the run-in to the Ventoux, at 105km ridden. Those interested in the points classification will find a welcome amuse-bouche at 97.9km – the intermediate sprint at Beames-de-Venise. It is at this point that the race swings east towards the day's final destination.
The riders will approach the Ventoux from the popular Bedoin side, from where the official stats put the ascent at 15.7km long at a biting average gradient of 8.8% – though the road starts slowly rising well before then. Topping out at a shade under 2,000 metres, the Ventoux rises up alone and towers over the region, to the extent that the riders should be able to see it for much of the stage. It's a climb of two halves, the lower section wooded and meandering, before the road breaks through the tree line at Chalet Reynard, and continues across the barren moonscape unique to the Ventoux, a rocky expanse that exposes riders fully to sun's glare and, even in the summer, strong winds which can shape the final 5 kilometres
The riders will finish at the summit weather station, passing the Tom Simpson memorial at 1km to go as they do so.
What to expect
While the final stage around Nice looks a toughie with four ascents of the Col d'Eze, the Ventoux offers the final obvious opportunity for the GC riders to take major time chunks as they’ll be climbing for over an hour and getting into thinner air. It’s bound to be a battle royale that plays out on its infamous slopes.
The main players are likely to keep their powder dry until Mont Ventoux, but its earlier climbs offer a couple of perfect jumping-off points for any brave escapees hoping to be first through Bedoin and onto the fabled slopes. They are likely to be caught on the Ventoux though, as the top riders know that this is the place to win the race. They’ll leave everything on the road in order to do this.
Starting in Sisteron, which has hosted stages of the men's Paris-Nice on many occasions, the penultimate day could be a cut and paste from that race, starting, as it does on the edge of the Alps, skirting the Alpes-Maritimes as it heads to the coast.
Today's route
The longest stage of the race, the organisers describe the route as flat, though to look at the profile appears pretty lumpy, with four classified climbs. However, all these are fourth category, with the second of the day, the Col de Toutes Aures, not only the highest point, but the stage's longest climb, at 6.4km it averages 3.1%.
Almost all the remaining 95.4km is downhill, with an intermediate sprint coming at Puget-Thénieres, some 35km later. The run into the finish in Nice follows the course of the Vars River, though rather than replicate the finish of the 2020 La Course, organisers have inserted two late climbs, the Côte de Colomars and Côte de la Ginestière. These aren't too challenging though, and the final 3km is flat.
What to expect
Though a bunch sprint is the most likely outcome, the lumpy nature of the course allows for many scenarios.
The green jersey is likely to be the focus of the day, and whether a breakaway is allowed to form, or even take the stage, could depend on how close the points classification is. Some teams may well want to ensure a break takes the points while others will want them.
While those two late climbs may put some sprinters in trouble, on their own they're unlikely to prevent a bunch kick. They're highly unlikely to draw out the GC riders, but a small group might be able to get away.
The final day resembles the last day of Paris-Nice, starting and finishing in the city, and the punchy route not only following the theme of the entire week, but providing a fitting finish to the race.
Today's route
At only 99.2km this is the shortest road stage of the race, but with four ascents of the Col d'Eze, it's by no means easy. It’s also circuit based with three long laps and one shortened one. The bunch starts climbing the 7.7km Col d’Eze as soon as they set off with the intermediate sprint coming just after the bottom of the descent.
The final lap is shorter, as is the route they take up the Col d’Eze just 6km, but averaging 7.6%, and is classified as first category, while the previous three ascents are second cat.
What to expect
Once again the points classification may impact what happens at the start of the day. If the green jersey is still up for grabs, sprinters will be desperate to hang on over the first climb and compete for the points at the intermediate sprint after 23.5km.
The fast women are highly unlikely to take the stage though, that'll be for the GC riders who might want to make race hard all day.
With plenty of mountains points on offer in quick succession through the stages, expect those fighting for that classification to be near the front. If, as the organisers will hope, the GC is still close, there'll be defensive and offensive jabs each time the race hits the climb.
It's 15.4km to the finish from the top of the final ascent, which could be anything from a victory parade to a fierce battle of descending nerves.