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Tour de France Femmes: Niewiadoma-Phinney wins on Ventoux
Published 00:20 8 Aug 2026 BST
Updated 10:45 8 Aug 2026 BST
Homesport
A thrilling stage win at Tour de France Femmes
Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney produced a thrilling solo ride to the summit of Mont Ventoux to claim her first Tour de France Femmes stage win and, with it, the overall race lead. The Polish Canyon-SRAM rider attacked with 9km of the fabled climb remaining on stage seven.
How Niewiadoma-Phinney seized the Tour de France Femmes lead
The 31-year-old, who won the race in 2024, began the 146.8km stage from La Voulte-sur-Rhône third overall, 1min 17secs behind leader Marlen Reusser — who had taken the race lead earlier in the week. She crossed the line 1min 16secs clear of Demi Vollering, with Reusser a further 30secs back and defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot more than 10 minutes down. Mont Ventoux featured in the women's race for the first time as its 'queen stage'.
"I'm blown away with what just happened. As we started to climb Mont Ventoux I looked to my right and saw my parents. They made a surprise visit and I could see my dad crying. I was like 'I just need to make them proud'."
Niewiadoma-Phinney now leads Vollering by 15 seconds, with Reusser 39secs adrift in third and two stages remaining. Saturday's flat 171.9km run to Nice should suit the sprinters before Sunday's 99.2km mountain finale, as BBC Sport reported, settles the title.
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