Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026: Full Stage-by-Stage Preview and Predictions

Queen Stage is back with a complete preview of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the biggest race on the women's cycling calendar. Rosael is joined by co-hosts Molly Hurford and Anne-Marije Rook to break down all nine stages, the top GC contenders, and bold predictions ahead of the August 1 to 9 race. This year's edition is the longest in the race's five-year history, with a return of the individual time trial after a two-year absence and a queen stage finish atop Mont Ventoux. Whether you're a longtime fan or watching your first Tour, this episode has everything you need going into race week. **What's in this episode** - Stage-by-stage breakdown, from the Lausanne opener through the Nice finale The return of the time trial: what it means for GC contenders Why Mont Ventoux on stage 7 is the make-or-break day of the race - **GC favorites:** Kasia Niewiadoma, Demi Vollering, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Anna van der Breggen, Marlen Reusser, and Paula Blasi - **Riders to watch:** Mavi García, Marianne Vos, and breakout talent like Célia Gery and Maëva Squiban - A Tour de France Femmes 101 explainer for new fans: GC, points, polka dot, and white jerseys, time bonuses, and how to follow the race **Stage-by-stage guide** 1. August 1: Lausanne to Lausanne, 137km. A flat stage on paper with nearly 1,800 meters of climbing and a punchy finish. 2. August 2: Aigle to Geneva, 149km. Early climbs set up a likely breakaway and sprint finish battle for green jersey points. 3. August 3: Geneva to Poligny, roughly 155km. The Col de la Faucille offers the first real test for climbers. 4. August 4: Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon, 21km individual time trial. The race's first return to a time trial format in two years. 5. August 5: Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais, 140km. Nearly 3,000 meters of climbing across six categorized climbs, including a brutal 16 percent ramp on the Col de Gerbaix. 6. August 6: Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône, 153km. A relentless medium mountain stage through the Loire and Ardèche with five categorized climbs. 7. August 7: The queen stage. 147km finishing atop Mont Ventoux with 3,500 meters of elevation gain. The defining GC day of the race. 8. August 8: Sisteron to Nice, 172km, the longest stage of the race. Mostly flat, likely a recovery day for GC riders and a chance for breakaway specialists. 9. August 9: Finale around Nice, 99km with four ascents of the Col d'Èze and a flat finish. The last chance for late GC movement and a potential sprint from a select group. **How to watch the TdFFaZ 2026** - US: Peacock, NBC Sports Network and YouTube for highlights - Canada: FloBikes - UK and Europe: HBO Max via TNT Sports Eurosport - Australia: SBS Network (free) - Everywhere: Follow race highlights and social coverage on Zwift and Le Tour channels **Join the Queen Stage community** Queen Stage is running daily coverage of all nine stages, plus a musette giveaway every day of the race. Join the conversation in the Queen Stage WhatsApp Community for live race chat, Q&A with the hosts, and giveaway details. Link in the show notes and on Instagram @queenstage.cc. **Our Sponsors** Bike Tires Direct: Presenting sponsor of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes coverage. Use code queenstage for 10 percent off your order at Bike Tires Direct. SRAM: Presenting sponsor of Queen Stage's race coverage, supporting daily analysis throughout the Tour.