Kasia Niewiadoma's masterclass at Mont Ventoux: she wins, puts on the yellow jersey, and turns the Tour upside down

Kasia Niewiadoma has made the most important move of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes. The Polish rider from CANYON//SRAM attacked at the right moment while Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser were watching each other, opened a gap that eventually exceeded a minute, and crowned the Mont Ventoux solo to take the queen stage and the yellow jersey.

Niewiadoma conquers Mont Ventoux and dons yellow in the Tour de France Femmes

The 146.8-kilometer stage between La Voulte-sur-Rhône and Mont Ventoux was set to decide a large part of the race, and it lived up to expectations, but not as the forecasts anticipated. Niewiadoma not only achieved her first stage victory in the Tour, but she also left the overall standings completely open for the final weekend: Vollering is just 15 seconds behind and Reusser 39 seconds behind.

The race arrived relatively controlled at the foot of the Ventoux. During the first part of the stage, a large breakaway formed, with riders like Sandrine Tas, Ruby Roseman-Gannon, Amalie Dideriksen, Paula Patiño, and Idoia Eraso, but Movistar and FDJ United-SUEZ kept the gap under control.

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In the kilometers leading up to Bédoin, the pace increased and the advantage of the breakaway began to fall rapidly. Puck Pieterse, very active throughout the day, continued to accumulate points to strengthen her lead in the mountain classification.

The final selection came on the ascent to Mont Ventoux, with 15.7 kilometers at 8.8%. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot lost contact early again, while the group of favorites was reduced to about ten riders.

Vollering launched the first serious attack 11 kilometers from the summit. Reusser responded at her pace and Niewiadoma stayed on her wheel, making it clear that the top three in the overall standings were also a step above the rest.

The attack that changed the Tour

The decisive move came shortly after. Niewiadoma took advantage of a moment of hesitation between Vollering and Reusser to break away and quickly open a small gap.

The reaction from behind was inconsistent. Vollering accelerated several times, but Reusser merely responded and avoided collaborating continuously. This mutual marking allowed the Pole to first consolidate a 20-second lead, then 45 seconds, and finally more than a minute.

As she passed Chalet Reynard, Niewiadoma already had a 55-second lead. With six kilometers still ahead and the open landscape of the Ventoux exposed to the wind, the virtual leader maintained a steady pace while her two pursuers continued to struggle to find effective collaboration.

The gap continued to grow in the final kilometers. Vollering and Reusser began to show signs of fatigue, while behind them Elisa Longo Borghini, Paula Blasi, Antonia Niedermaier, and Cédrine Kerbaol were closing in.

Vollering reacts too late and Reusser loses the yellow

Niewiadoma arrived solo in the final meters and crossed the finish line with a time of 4:22:53. Her lead was enough to complete a double blow: stage victory and new leadership of the Tour.

wins Stage 7 and takes the overall lead!

s’impose au Mont Ventoux et endosse le @MaillotJauneLCL ! #TDFF2026 #WatchTheFemmes pic.twitter.com/1G6HLPntjy

— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) August 7, 2026

Vollering found the strength to launch one last acceleration in the final hundreds of meters and finished second at 1:16. This reaction also allowed her to surpass Reusser in the overall standings and place herself just 15 seconds behind Niewiadoma.

Elisa Longo Borghini was third at 1:42, while Reusser finished fourth at 1:46 and lost the yellow jersey. The Swiss rider is now third in the overall classification, 39 seconds behind.

Paula Blasi and Antonia Niedermaier finished at 1:48, while Cédrine Kerbaol completed the group of the seven best of the day at 2:01.

Stage 7 results Tour Femmes 2026

1. Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (CANYON//SRAM) – 4:22:53
2. Demi Vollering (FDJ UNITED-SUEZ) – at 1:16
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L’IMAD) – at 1:42
4. Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) – at 1:46
5. Paula Blasi (UAE Team L’IMAD) – at 1:48
6. Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON//SRAM) – at 1:48
7. Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) – at 2:01

General classification after Stage 7 Tour Femmes

1. Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (CANYON//SRAM) – 24:07:34
2. Demi Vollering (FDJ UNITED-SUEZ) – at 15 s
3. Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) – at 39 s
4. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L’IMAD) – at 2:59
5. Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON//SRAM) – at 3:21
6. Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) – at 4:01
7. Paula Blasi (UAE Team L’IMAD) – at 4:32

The Tour now enters its final weekend with a situation much more open than expected. Niewiadoma has the yellow jersey, but Vollering is just 15 seconds behind and Reusser is still less than a minute back. After the Ventoux, the race will be decided among three riders separated by just 39 seconds.