Mont Ventoux has humbled champions for generations.
On Friday afternoon, it crowned another.
Kasia Niewiadoma (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) delivered the ride of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, attacking high on the barren slopes of the Giant of Provence to win Stage 7 in commanding fashion and pull on the Maillot Jaune.
The Polish star capitalized brilliantly as Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser hesitated behind her, launching a decisive attack with nine kilometres remaining before riding alone into history atop one of cycling’s most iconic summits.
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Vollering eventually salvaged second after finally distancing race leader Reusser inside the final kilometre, but by then Niewiadoma had disappeared into the distance—and with her, the yellow jersey.
The Queen Stage Arrives
If there was one stage every GC contender had circled, this was it.
The 145-kilometre route from La Voulte-sur-Rhône to the summit of Mont Ventoux featured a succession of early climbs over the Col de la Grande Limite (6.6km at 5%), Col du Colombier (3.2km at 6.4%) and Col du Suzette (3.9km at 6.5%), before the race’s only Hors Catégorie ascent: the legendary Mont Ventoux, climbing 15.7 kilometres at an unforgiving 8.8%.
Everyone knew the Tour would be decided here.
Early Moves Fail to Stick
The opening hours unfolded cautiously.
Although the climbing steadily reduced the peloton, no serious breakaway managed to escape until roughly 80 kilometres remained, when an eleven-rider move finally established itself.
Among those represented were Human Powered Health’s Marit Raaijmakers and Lotto-Intermarché’s Sandrine Tas.
Behind them, Marianne Vos and Sophie Von Berswordt attempted to bridge across, but their counterattack quickly turned into a classic chasse patate.
Vos eventually surrendered her effort before being reabsorbed by the peloton, while Von Berswordt soon suffered the same fate.
By the summit of the Col du Suzette, the escape held roughly a minute and a half over a peloton already significantly reduced by the relentless pace.
The Ventoux Begins
The breakaway’s hopes evaporated almost immediately on the lower slopes of Ventoux.
As the favourites took control, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Femke de Vries were among the first notable casualties, leaving Visma | Lease a Bike relying solely on Marion Bunel among the principal contenders.
Niamh Fisher-Black briefly launched the opening attack, but Noemi Rüegg quickly shut it down for EF Education-Oatly.
The American squad continued to drive the pace through Cédrine Kerbaol and Rüegg, steadily thinning the elite group until even Bunel could no longer hold the wheel.
With eleven kilometres remaining, the real race finally began.
Vollering Fires the First Shot
Demi Vollering attacked.
The acceleration instantly shattered what remained of the favourites’ group.
Only yellow jersey Marlen Reusser and Kasia Niewiadoma could respond.
For a brief moment, it looked as though the Tour would become a three-way battle.
Instead, hesitation changed everything.
Vollering and Reusser began watching one another, each waiting for the other to assume responsibility for the chase.
Niewiadoma needed no second invitation.
With nine kilometres still to climb, the Pole accelerated decisively, immediately opening daylight as Vollering refused to tow Reusser back into contention.
Poker on the Giant of Provence
Eventually Vollering tried again.
The Dutchwoman accelerated sharply, hoping to finally crack Reusser while also reducing Niewiadoma’s growing advantage.
She succeeded only partially.
Reusser matched every acceleration, while Niewiadoma continued extending her lead.
What followed became an increasingly costly game of poker between the two remaining favourites.
Each acceleration was followed by hesitation.
Each hesitation allowed Niewiadoma to disappear even further up the mountain.
Behind them, another dangerous chase group gradually formed featuring Antonia Niedermaier, Paula Blasi, Elisa Longo Borghini and Cédrine Kerbaol.
Canadian Isabella Holmgren took 10th on the stage, and sits 9th overall.
Alone Into Yellow
By Chalet Reynard, Niewiadoma’s advantage had approached a full minute.
Ahead still lay Ventoux’s infamous lunar landscape – completely exposed to the wind and baking beneath another brutal afternoon of Provençal heat.
If there was anywhere for a solo rider to crack, this was it.
Instead, Niewiadoma looked stronger with every pedal stroke.
The 2024 Tour champion simply rode away from everyone.
By the base of the final two steep kilometres, her lead had ballooned to well over a minute and a half, and the yellow jersey had effectively changed shoulders.
There would be no collapse.
There would be no comeback.
Niewiadoma crossed the summit alone to claim both the biggest stage victory of her season and the race lead in unforgettable fashion.
Marlon Reusser surrendered the maillot jaune after battling Vollering and Longo-Borghini
GC Battle Turns Again
Behind, Vollering finally managed to distance Reusser inside the final kilometre, limiting some of the damage by securing second place on the stage.
But it was far too little, far too late.
Vollering finished 1:16 behind the flying Pole, while Reusser crossed the line in fourth after conceding another 30 seconds to the Dutchwoman.
After one of the defining stages of this year’s Tour, the general classification has been turned completely upside down.
Kasia Niewiadoma now leads the Tour de France Femmes by 15 seconds over Demi Vollering, with Marlen Reusser another 24 seconds further back, setting the stage for a fascinating final showdown over the race’s closing stages.
Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift 2026 Stage 7 Results
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