Tour de France Femmes 2026 Begins with Mont Ventoux Ascent

The Tour de France Femmes kicks off in Lausanne, Switzerland, featuring its first climb of Mont Ventoux, with riders covering 1,175km over nine stages.

<p>The Tour de France Femmes commenced in Lausanne, Switzerland, with excitement surrounding its inaugural ascent of Mont Ventoux. This year's race will cover a total of 1,175 kilometers across nine stages, marking the longest distance since the event's return to the World Tour calendar in 2022.</p><p>Among the notable challenges is stage seven, which leads to the summit of Mont Ventoux, a legendary climb in cycling history. Previous champions of this ascent include renowned cyclists like Eddy Merckx and Chris Froome. Last year's winner, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, aims to defend her title, while facing competition from strong rivals such as Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney.</p><p>Ferrand-Prevot, who has a rich history with Mont Ventoux, has prepared extensively for this stage. She will wear a special jersey designed by children, symbolizing her goal to inspire young cyclists. Other contenders, including Vollering, who has previously placed highly in the race, and newcomers like Zoe Backstedt, are also set to make their mark in this year's competition.</p>