CyclistPre-Ventoux podium watch at the Tour de France Femmes 2026Six stages of the Tour de France Femmes are now complete, but the real race starts now, with Mont Ventoux looming on Friday and the final stage in Nice not to be underestimated, so how is the race for the podium shaping up?Weve looked at the current top ten to assess their chances before the mountains come calling.1st: Marlen Reusser (Movistar)A.S.O./Billy CeustersMarlen Reusser is aiming to continue the trend of there being no repeat winners at the Tour de France Femmes. Movistars leader is in prime position to do so having stepped into the yellow jersey following her commanding win in the time-trial.Despite not having an ideal start to the season with a spinal fracture in the spring, the 34-year-old was in the top five until the crazy final day at the Giro dItalia before winning the Tour de Suisse after back-to-back stage wins in the TT and in the mountains on the final day. This is almost certain to be her best result in the Tour yet having abandoned twice and finished 28th in 2023. Shes looking incredibly strong, however the challenge doesnt get any tougher than Mont Ventoux, especially with this competition Best Tour de France Femmes result:28th (2023)Best Grand Tour result:2nd (Vuelta Femenina 2021, 2025; Giro dItalia 2025)2nd: Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) +12secA.S.O./Gatan FlammeFavourite to become the first rider to win this race twice is 2023 champion Demi Vollering, who came into the race off an incredible Classics campaign and overall victory at the Giro.She has been on the GC podium since the opening stage, moving into second after the time-trial with a deficit of just 12 seconds to Reusser. Vollering will be confident she can win on Mont Ventoux having previously taken victory on the Col du Tourmalet and Alpe dHuez. Shes looking mightily strong, winning a tough Stage 5 in the sprint against Reusser and Niewiadoma-Phinney, and shes yet to show any sign of weakness.Best Tour de France Femmes result:1st (2023)Best Grand Tour result:1st (Tour de France Femmes 2023; Vuelta 2024, 2025; Giro 2026)3rd: Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM) +1min 17secA.S.O./Billy CeustersGiven the time gaps, Reusser, Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney look likely to be the final podium, but in what order?Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney has really stepped things up a notch this year for the Tour, having put in one of the best time-trials of her life, limiting the damage against thoroughbred TTists like Reusser and Vollering vital for staying in the overall battle, although her last Tour TT in 2023, she finished down in 51st but would go on to win overall ahead of Vollering.I definitely spent a huge amount of time working on my TT skills because as everyone knew, I wasnt the best at it, she said after the stage. As you can see, if you believe in something and you put a good amount of work in, anything is possible.She was on par with Vollering throughout the Classics this year without coming away with a win largely due to her weaker sprint and that is still the case, outside of the TT she has only lost bonus seconds to her rivals. And while she did lose the three-up sprint against Vollering and Reusser on Stage 5, she came mightily close. Its also worth noting she did attack on top of the final climb on that stage a bold move, but one that shows shes ready for the fight and is stronger than ever.She said before the race she was ready to break the Mont Ventoux record. Can she do it and can she drop her rivals?Best Tour de France Femmes result:1st (2024)Best Grand Tour result:1st (2024 Tour)4th: Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team LImad) +2min 28secA.S.O./Jennifer LindiniElisa Longo Borghini has twice been a champion of the Giro but hasnt managed to replicate that success at the Tour abandoned her previous two appearances in 2023 and 2025. Her best finish was sixth place back in 2022, and in her most recent stage races, the Giro and Tour de Suisse, she raced to fourth and ninth overall and moved up from seventh on the final stage of the Giro after a crazy day.The Italian moved up from sixth to fourth in this race after going on the attack on Stage 6, gaining back half a minute on her rivals, but did she use up too much energy the day before Mont Ventoux? With three UAE riders in the top ten, it will be interesting to see how they play the final two GC days in this race they have plenty of options.Best Tour de France Femmes result:6th (2022)Best Grand Tour result:1st (Giro 2024, 2025)5th: Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM) +2min 40secA.S.O./Billy CeustersThings are looking good for Canyon-SRAM with both Niewiadoma-Phinney and Antonia Niedermaier in the top five overall, and the German currently holds the white jersey as the best young rider too.Niedermaier is having a fantastic season so far having finished runner-up to Vollering at the Giro, only losing time in the TT and on bonus seconds. She lost a bit more in the time-trial at this race, which was far flatter than at the Giro, but she has shown shes not afraid to go on the offensive, getting into the breakaway on Stage 5.She did have to do some domestique work for Niewiadoma-Phinney on Stage 6, so well have to wait and see whether Canyon-SRAM will ask her to work for her leader on Ventoux or ride for her own position. Shes only 12 seconds behind Longo Borghini and is a better climber on paper, so she could still ride up the standings.Best Tour de France Femmes result:N/A, making debutBest Grand Tour result:2nd (Giro dItalia Women 2026)6th: Dominika Wodarczyk (UAE Team LImad) +2min 54secA.S.O./Billy CeustersOne cog in a strong UAE Team LImad machine, Polish champion Dominika Wodarczyk announced herself to the world with a stunning fourth place at the Tour in 2025 in just her second year at the highest level. This year, she lines up alongside Longo Borghini and breakthrough Catalan star Paula Blasi and the trio sit fourth, sixth and tenth overall before Ventoux.In the last edition, Wodarczyk kicked things up a notch in the harder half of the race to rise up from 15th. She hadnt yet even scored her first WorldTour victory, which came in 2026 at Itzulia. With UAEs multi-leader strategy, expect Wodarczyk to attack.Best Tour de France Femmes result:4th (2025)Best Grand Tour result:4th (Tour 2025)7th: Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) +3min 05secA.S.O./Gatan FlammeLidl-Treks Isabella Holmgren (top right) enjoyed a strong Giro to finish seventh overall and she currently finds herself within 40 seconds of fourth and just 25 seconds off the white jersey of Niedermaier. The 21-year-old Canadian is an impressive talent, so dont be surprised if she stands out on Ventoux.Best Tour de France Femmes result:N/A Best Grand Tour result:7th (Giro 2025, 2026)8th: Cdrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) +3min 07secA.S.O./Billy CeustersInitially third after the time-trial, CdrineKerbaol was dropped from the maillot jaune group around 30km from the finish of Stage 5 and lost six places on GC. However this gave her the opportunity to jump away in the group with Longo Borghini at the end of Stage 6, and the Frenchwoman came second on the day to gain precious seconds back. Shes still very much in the mix, and her descending talent may yet play a big part on the final stage in Nice.Best Tour de France Femmes result:6th (2024)Best Grand Tour result:4th (Vuelta 2025)9th: Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance Soudal) +3min 26secA.S.O./Billy CeustersKim Le Court-Pienaar was initially targeting a strong overall classification for the Tour and sat in second for the first three days. The time-trial scuppered her plans, pushing her down to 15th, but an impressive victory on Stage 6 after an aggressive finale saw her rise four places back into the top ten. Shes still less than a minute off Longo Borghini in fourth.Best Tour de France Femmes result:16th (2025)Best Grand Tour result:16th (Tour 2025)10th: Paula Blasi (UAE Team LImad)A.S.O./Gatan FlammeVuelta victor Paula Blasi played down expectations for the most hotly anticipated debut at the Tour by claiming her role was to work for Wodarczyk and Longo Borghini instead of chasing her own goals. She rode her way into seventh overall after the ITT but had to work for Longo Borghini when the race exploded on Stage 5. Blasi, who is expected the leave the team at the end of the year, is now rounding out the top ten. She did briefly attack on Stage 6, so is it #FreeBlasi or are UAE playing mind games?Best Tour de France Femmes result:N/A Best Grand Tour result:1st (Vuelta 2026For more on the Tour de France Femmes, visit our hub page.The post Pre-Ventoux podium watch at the Tour de France Femmes 2026 appeared first on Cyclist.