Niewiadoma’s Solo Triumph on Mont Ventoux Propels Her to Yellow Jersey

On August 7, 2026, stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift ended with a solo finish atop Mont Ventoux. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, the 2024 champion riding for Canyon-SRAM, attacked with roughly 9 km left and held a clear advantage to the summit. She crossed the line 1 minute 16 seconds ahead of Dutch rival Demi Vollering, with Swiss rider Marlen Reusser arriving 30 seconds later. The win gave Niewiadoma a 15-second lead over Vollering in the general classification (GC) and placed Reusser 39 seconds behind in third overall, with two stages remaining.

The GuardianBBC NewsThe Hindu'I’m just blown away' – Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney soars to victory and yellow jersey on Mont Ventoux on stage seven of Tour de France Femmes ESPNThe Independent

The 2026 edition is the fifth Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and the first to feature Mont Ventoux as a queen stage. Niewiadoma entered the day third in the GC, 1 minute 17 seconds off race leader Reusser and 12 seconds behind Vollering, after her 2024 dominance. The 146.8-km route from La Voulte-sur-Rhône to the summit included three categorized climbs and a final Hors Catégorie ascent of 15.7 km at an average gradient of about 9 percent.

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

• Attack point: ? 9 km from the summit.

ESPN

• Climb length: 15.7 km, average gradient ? 8.8–9 %.

Kasia Niewiadoma conquers Mont Ventoux to take Tour de France lead

• Stage distance: 146.8 km (some sources list 147 km).

The Independent

• Finish gaps: Niewiadoma + 1 min 16 s over Vollering; + 30 s over Reusser.

'I’m just blown away' – Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney soars to victory and yellow jersey on Mont Ventoux on stage seven of Tour de France Femmes

• GC after stage: Niewiadoma leads Vollering by 15 s; Reusser trails by 39 s.

The Guardian

• Remaining stages: Stage 8 – 171.9 km from Sisteron to Nice (flat, sprinter-friendly); Stage 9 – 99.2 km circuit around Nice with four climbs.

The Independent

Niewiadoma said the victory was “overwhelming,” noting the personal significance of seeing her parents on the climb. Reusser called Niewiadoma “incredible today.” Team director Danny Stam explained the withdrawal of Anna van der Breggen, citing her inability to perform at her usual level.

The Guardian

Sources differ on the exact gap between Niewiadoma and Reusser. The Guardian and BBC report a 30-second deficit, while the Independent and France 24 list 39 seconds. No official timing sheet has been released to resolve the discrepancy.

'I’m just blown away' – Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney soars to victory and yellow jersey on Mont Ventoux on stage seven of Tour de France Femmes

• “It’s hard to describe my feelings because I’m still blown away by what just happened,” — Kasia Niewiadoma.

The Guardian

• “She was incredible today, really, well done for her,” — Marlen Reusser.

France 24

Stage 8 on Saturday will cover 171.9 km from Sisteron to Nice, favoring sprinters but containing four categorized climbs that could affect the GC. The final stage on Sunday is a 99.2 km circuit around Nice, featuring four ascents of the Col d’Eze and a fast downhill finish, setting the stage for the decisive showdown for the overall title.

The Independent