L'Étape du Tour de France Femmes

The Giant of Provence

In 2026, L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift treated itself to a legendary backdrop: Vaison-la-Romaine → Mont Ventoux, 111.7 km and 2,950 m of climbing. The final 70 kilometres were identical to the route of Stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes — the very first time the professional women’s peloton took on the Ventoux. A piece of history, and we were there.

The course first climbs the Col de Propiac, then the Col de Suzette in the heart of the Dentelles de Montmirail, crosses the Provençal Col de la Madeleine, before dropping down to Bédoin for the final ascent: 15.7 km at an average of 8.8% up to the 1,909 m summit, in heat that was already above 30 °C by midday.

In FFGVA colours

There were about twenty of us at the start. Twelve riders wore the special Mont Ventoux × GIRL GANG jersey — a one-off edition illustrated by Geneva artist JAZI, with glasses provided by Julbo — joined by other members and friends of the community who came to ride in our colours. A real FFGVA peloton on the roads of Provence.

The results

Everyone’s times at the cols, in starting order. The colour links those who rode together; the number is their start pen (SAS).

👑 Bravo Aneta, champion of the day — first of the FFGVA pack to the summit of the Ventoux, in 6:06:16!

Alone, in pairs, in a pack

Behind the coloured badges, as many ways to ride the race.

Some set off alone — Giulia, Marta, Aneta, Maëlle A. With no teammate at the start, they found wheels to work with along the way: shelter from the wind, a turn on the front, a stretch of road shared with strangers for the length of a climb.

Others chose to ride together. Pauline and her sister Emily, Soumaya and her sister Sonia: two lovely sister-duos, side by side from start to finish. Sophie and Caroline helped each other all the way to the Ventoux, never letting go.

And then the big group, under the GIRL GANG banner: they chose to start together despite their different speeds. Queens of drafting, riding as a pack, they brought a whole lot of atmosphere to the roads of Provence.

Knowing when to stop

Four of us turned back — Monica at the Col de Suzette, Livia at the foot of the Giant, Dune and Giulia already high on the slopes of the Ventoux, a few kilometres from the summit. And yet.

“Sometimes it takes more strength to keep going alone, knowing there’s a whole group up ahead. It takes more courage to let go and give up a goal you wanted to reach at all costs, and to turn back when you realise your reserves are running dry. And it takes more determination to come back the next time after the fall, with less naivety and a sharper awareness of what the effort demands.” Sofia