Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026: preview and favorites on the eve of the most anticipated edition

Race presentationOn Saturday, August 1, 2026, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 will start, a WorldTour event entirely held in France. At the time of writing, the official route has not yet been revealed: total distance and elevation gain are not available, but we can expect a mix of flat stages and mountain stages, as tradition dictates for the most prestigious women's stage race in the calendar.Expected protagonistsThe provisional start list includes 58 riders, among which many champions stand out. Key names include Demi Vollering (FDJ United - SUEZ), Kasia Niewiadoma (CANYON//SRAM), Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx - Protime), Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) and Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ). Also keep an eye on the young talents Zoe Bäckstedt (CANYON//SRAM) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech), who have been on a steady rise throughout the season.This year's results of the big namesLooking at the placements of the main riders in the 2026 one-day races, significant data emerge. Demi Vollering dominated the medium/high mountain classics: 1st at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes, 1st at La Flèche Wallonne Femmes, 1st at Ronde van Vlaanderen Women and 2nd at Dwars door Vlaanderen. Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) won the Amstel Gold Race Ladies and finished on the podium at Flèche (3rd) and Liège (5th). Puck Pieterse was 2nd at both Liège and Flèche, and 3rd at Ronde. Kasia Niewiadoma placed 3rd at Liège, 4th at Flèche and 2nd at Amstel. Among others, Marlen Reusser won Dwars door Vlaanderen, while Franziska Koch triumphed at Paris-Roubaix Femmes.Favorites for the overall winBased on certified results, the top favorite is Demi Vollering, capable of winning the hardest races on the calendar. Behind her, Paula Blasi and Puck Pieterse have shown impressive consistency on the toughest courses. Kasia Niewiadoma is also not to be underestimated, always present in the top rankings. Riders like Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky might instead aim for stage wins, leveraging their experience and versatility. The eve of the Tour de France Femmes 2026 promises great spectacle and a battle down to the last meter.