Tour de France Femmes stage 8 LIVE: Longest stage of the race may suit sprinters or a breakaway
The 8th stage of the race is the longest at 171.9km in blazing sunshine as the peloton race from Sisteron to Nice with a potential sprint on the Promenade des Anglais.
After 10km of racing the peloton is still all together despite a few skirmishes to try and form a break.
A look at Niewiadoma-Phinney's beautiful yellow Canyon Aeroad CFR...
First look at Niewiadoma-Phinney decked out in yellow. But she hasn't gone all out just yet.
💛 Dressed all in YellowTout de jaune vêtue 💛#TDFF2026 #WatchTheFemmes l @MaillotjauneLCL pic.twitter.com/lhdJBVPbCLAugust 8, 2026
All together for the moment.
Ma Petite Entreprise launch a rider on the first attack of the day to try and form the early breakaway.
To get to Nice from Sisteron the organisers could have chosen a brutal day in the Maritime Alps. But, after the finish on Mont Ventoux yesterday and the laps around Col d'Eze tomorrow, they have gone with this 'flatter' terrain to give some potential to recover a bit on the bike. That said, with the neutral the riders are going 182km.
The riders are still very much in the neutral zone as they leave Sisteron.
Niewiadoma-Phinney wears yellow but also has the green numbers for most combative rider after her superb performance yesterday on Mont Ventoux.
The riders are all set for the racing today...
Un midi au départ de Le Tour de France Femmes : Nice, on arrive ! 💪 #TDFF2026 🎥 Lisa Guérin
— @teamcofidis.bsky.social (@teamcofidis.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-08-08T11:50:10.332Z
The top three in GC are split by just 39" with Niewiadoma-Phinney, Vollering and Reusser all looking like they could potentially take the crown tomorrow in Nice.
Neutral start
The riders roll out for what is a rather long 10.5km neutralised start to the day as they leave Sisteron.
Five minutes until the neutral start.
Make sure to vote in our 'have your say' section and comment below who you pick is for the day. It could be one of the most open stages of the whole week.
Temperatures are expected to be in the mid to high 30s today with the current temperature in Sisteron sitting at 33°c.
Breaking news!
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) will not start today's stage after feeling unwell over night. The defending champion has had a Tour to forget.
🇫🇷 #TDFF2026 Unfortunately, Pauline was not feeling well this morning. In consultation with the medical staff, it has been decided that she will not start today. We wish Pauline a speedy recovery! pic.twitter.com/8kww4zUJUVAugust 8, 2026
Unfortunately, one rider didn't make the time cut on Mont Ventoux yesterday. Charlotte Kool (Alpecin-Premier Tech) missed it and is out of the race.
Yesterday was a very special day for Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney as the Canyon-SRAM rider moved into yellow for the first time since she was crowned overall winner in 2024. She has two days to go but they aren't straightforward in the slightest!
Teams have been completing sign on and rider presentation in Sisteron before the start that will come in roughly half an hours time. 13:40 local time is when the neutral start is scheduled.
Starting in Sisteron the route gradually climbs almost constantly for the first 77km with the rest of the day almost entirely being downhill before the final 20km where the climbs come before a mad dash to the line in Nice.
Today is the longest stage of the race with a tough route that takes on four category four climbs along the route with two of them coming in the final 20km. That said, it is expected to be a sprint with Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) saying her team are going all in for her...
>>> Tour de France Femmes 2026 stage 8 preview - Longest stage at 171.9km could end in a mass sprint
Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews' live updates of stage 8 at the Tour de France Femmes 2026!
