Demi Vollering won the longest stage of this 2026 Tour de France Women between Sisteron and Nice, also claiming the yellow jersey in the process. The Dutch rider broke Kasia Niewiadoma in the final, before an explosive final stage around Nice on Sunday.
The eighth stage of the 2026 Tour de France Women, measuring 171.9 km, linked Sisteron to Nice the day after a decisive passage at Mont Ventoux. After the incredible performance of Kasia Niewiadoma on Friday, who had claimed the yellow jersey at the summit of the Provence giant, the peloton set off on Saturday with 126 riders, two fewer than the day before following the withdrawal of defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, weakened and forced to leave the race. This stage, presented as a transition before the Côte d’Azur finale, nevertheless offered a lively scenario, marked by a tenacious breakaway, a crash, then fierce battles between the favorites in the final kilometers.
The breakaway was hotly contested from kilometer zero, imposing a high pace on the early slopes of the Route Napoléon. Counter-attack attempts multiplied, notably from Marianne Vos, quickly caught, then Morgane Coston, positioned between the peloton and the two leaders. Meanwhile, Maëva Squiban and Loes Adegeest managed to build a gap reaching up to two minutes, taking advantage of terrain still uneven before the Robines and Toutes Aures passes.
A breakaway that crumbles
As kilometer 61 approached, the gaps began to shrink, wider roads favoring the peloton’s return. The chase was organized behind, led by Nadia Gontova and Justine Ghekiere, while Morgane Coston’s lead dwindled. The breakaway held on, but never posed a threat to the general classification, with Maëva Squiban 21st at more than 24 minutes and Adegeest 60th at over an hour.
In the descent towards Nice, Maëva Squiban crashed, restarting in difficulty before being caught and then dropped by the peloton. Ahead, Loes Adegeest was caught 8 km from the finish under the push from Célia Gery, opening the way to a showdown among the favorites.
In the Ginestière climb, then in an unmarked wall just after the summit, Demi Vollering launched several accelerations. The Dutch rider finally dropped Kasia Niewiadoma, gaining an initial six-second gap before extending it in the final hectometers. She won the stage with 17 seconds ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini and the Polish rider, claiming the yellow jersey in the process, now held with 8 seconds ahead of Kasia Niewiadoma.
At the finish, the latter expressed frustration with FDJ United-Suez’s tactics, citing a blocking move against the barriers. Demi Vollering, meanwhile, praised the team effort and reminded that “everything can still be decided tomorrow.”
An explosive finale expected on Sunday around Nice
The final stage, a loop of 99.2 km around Nice with four ascents of the Col d’Èze, promises to be decisive. With just eight seconds between Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma, suspense remains intact before the final finish on the Promenade des Anglais. The Patrouille de France will fly over the start from Place Masséna, concluding in style a 2026 edition that could be decided in the final kilometers.
NicePremium is a free, independent local news outlet.
Help us keep going by supporting our work from €5 per month.
