The Tour de France Femmes Power Ranking: Who Are the Race’s 25 Most Important Riders

The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is underway, and to get you primed on who will be creating the action over the next nine days, we have power-ranked the 25 most important women of the 2026 race.

In cycling, it isn’t always clear how to value general classification riders, sprinters, stage hunters, and domestiques against one another. Yet, with all of these riders operating on the same teams that must try to balance all of the different ambitions, it is nevertheless a question of relative value, like it is in any sport.

While there is no way to perfectly quantify any of this relative value, when you put all the top riders together and present the pros and cons of each, trying to put together a ranking of the 25 most important riders to the race proves to be an enlightening experiment. This year, that seems to be the case more than ever for the biggest names at the Tour de France Femmes.

Of course, this list is just a starting point. There are endless arguments to be made about every rider on this list—and surely ones who were left off—but that is part and parcel with the point. It gets the people going, talking, and, most importantly, watching the women take on the greatest race on the calendar.

1. Demi Vollering — FDJ United-Suez — General Classification

The case for: Vollering has been the gold standard on the women’s scene for a few years now. She has been upset a few times; she doesn’t have the undisputed claim to any category of racing, but with a well-rounded race on tap, that all-around ability should bode well for the 2026 Tour.

The case against: For all her strength and success around the calendar, Vollering has only won the Tour once. While she operates at a top level throughout the year, can the peak climbing level from the other top contenders disrupt Vollering’s dominance again?

2. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot — Visma-Lease a Bike  — General Classification

The case for: She won a yellow jersey and a cobblestone, in dominating fashion, in her first year back on the road after an extended stint racing off-road. This year hasn’t been great, but she almost won Paris-Roubaix again. She clearly has steep peaks, and who am I to doubt her after she crushed everyone in the mountains in 2025?

The case against: Last year, there was no time trial; Vollering had a little bit less of a head start heading into the race, and Anna van der Breggen

3. Lorena Wiebes — SD Worx-Protime — Sprinter

The case for: She is better at her thing, sprinting, than any women cyclists are at their best thing. There are other sprinters, but if Weibes has a good run to the line, she basically is never beaten.

The case against: There are not a ton of straightforward sprints for her to take. Plus, at some point, other sprint teams are going to try to tip the race equation away from the power of Wiebes and SD Worx.

4. Paula Blasi — UAE Team L’IMAD  — General Classification

The case for: The Spanish GC rider has gone from a promising young rider to the hot underdog pick at the Tour de France Femmes in just half a season. Winning the Amstel Gold Race and the Vuelta will do that.

The case against: Will she be a woman without true team support? Blasi has been rumored to be leaving team UAE and cycling has a history of teams not being so kind to those who are departing.

5. Anna van der Breggen — SD Worx-Protime — General Classification

The case for: Hey, in case you don’t know, Van der Breggen is back, and she might win the Tour de France Femmes. If it weren’t for last-stage heroics by Vollering, the Dutch legend would have another pink jersey to go on her mantle. She is back at her best, and that means a lot for a top-five rider of all time.

The case against: Can SD Worx balance of the ambitions it teams have? The past two editions of the race, they have been a mess. If that continues, Van Der Breggen might not get the support she needs to challenge for her first-ever yellow jersey.

6. Kasia Niewiadoma —  Canyon//SRAM — General Classification

The case for: Big game players make big plays in big games. Consider Kasia a big game player given the fact that she has NEVER finished off the podium at the Femmes.

The case against: Niewiadoma was hit or miss this year, especially in stage races. Then again, we have seen this movie before, and it simply hasn’t mattered at the Tour.

7. Elisa Longo Borghini — UAE Team L’IMAD  — General Classification

The case for: The Italian general classification contender is one of the savviest riders in the peloton and can hit her mark as few riders can. As Longo Borghini continues through the late peak of her career, what is clear is just how impactful she has been, while never being the biggest star of the sport. 62 wins—including two Flanders, Roubaix, Strade, a Giro title and four wins this year—is enough to put her in the discussion until proven otherwise.

The case against: Realistically, it is hard to see how ELB wins the Tour. This year, it seems like she is a clear case of high floor, low ceiling.

8. Marlen Reusser — Movistar — General Classification

The case for: Reusser is the best time trial rider in the women’s peloton, and the race against the clock is back at the Femmes this year. Consider her a big winner from that decision.

The case against: From a few different avenues, Reusser hasn’t exactly covered herself in glory. In the controversy around rider weight from the Tour de France Femmes last year, she came off worst with comments disparaging Pauline Ferrand-Prevot. That, and starting the Tour de France Femme clearly sick, has contributed to a feeling that Reusser might have a big race problem. 13th at the Giro this year doesn’t change that much, either.

9. Lotte Kopecky — SD Worx-Protime — Stage Hunter

The case for: While Kopecky hasn’t found the form that saw her play a fascinating role in the 2023 Tour de France, she has had a much better year in 2026. While SD Worx will have many cooks in the kitchen once again this year, the race has room for each of the three leaders to go for their own goals over the nine days of racing.

The case against: The Belgian has more competition than ever for the terrain that suits her. The likes of Kim Le Court-Pienaar and Célia Gery will be a thorn in her side on the days that suit her profile as a durable sprinter.

10. Niamh Fisher-Black — Lidl-Trek — General Classification

The case for: The Kiwi climber has shown flashes of greatness. When she can get on the front foot, her riding has garnered a budding list of accomplishments, including second at worlds in Rwanda, fifth at last year’s Tour de France, and fifth at this year’s Giro. A stage like the Femmes final in Nice is well-suited to her attacking style.

The case against: Fisher-Black hasn’t won since 2024. She often finds herself in the right move or climbing among the best, but hasn’t yet cracked how to beat the best. She could fly up the list if she did find a way this August of getting a win or on the podium in Nice.

11. Juliette Berthet (née Labous) — FDJ United-Suez — Climber

The case for: The Frenchman was sixth in the UCI ranking from last year without winning a race. This year it is the same story. On one hand, that has to be frustrating for the 27-year-old all-rounder. On the other hand, she is a key teammate for Vollering and will be vital for her Tour this year.

The case against: She just doesn’t win very much, and FDJ is filled with a ton of talent. Her efforts might get lost in the line-up, where, if cards fall a certain way, Berthet might be the fourth-best rider.

12. Mischa Bredewold — SD-Worx Protime — Climber

The case for: I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say SD Worx’s Tour hinges on the Dutch all-rounder. A WorldTour GC winner in her own right, Bredewold will have the task of being the super domestique, bridging the gap between the sprint, breakaway, and GC ambitions of the three riders on the team who, theoretically, sit above her on the pecking order.

The case against: When you put it all together, the SD Worx power structure does seem tenuous. Is Bredewold enough to hold the ambition together, or will the more cohesive cohorts of Visma-Lease a Bike and FDJ United-Suez be too much to handle?

13. Isabella Holmgren — Lidl-Trek — Climber

The case for: The young Canadian is a budding GC threat, as evidenced by her consistent riding at the Giro, and she will look to build on that form at the Tour. The white jersey appears to be the likely target for the 21-year-old.

The case against: Lidl-Trek will try to juggle the ambitions of both Holmgren and Niamh Fisher-Black. Fisher-Black is older, but at 25 will still be looking to improve on her fifth-place finish last year. Holmgren will have to balance her ambition with a possible support role, should it be required.

14. Célia Gery — FDJ United-Suez — Stage Hunter

The case for: Young women have often come onto the pro scene and immediately made a difference, now more than ever, yet we shouldn’t forget how impressive it is. This year, Célia Gery, who is 20, has been one of those young riders who has exploded onto the scene. But its more than that. It feels like she is not just powerful, but has figured out the little things that should require the wisdom of age. Or, counterpoint, she is just an incredibly strong rider on the best team, and that papers over the rest.

The case against: Riding in a super team swings both ways. Although Gery can, on paper, win multiple stages early in the Tour de France Femmes, will the GC ambitions of her leader, Vollering, get in the way?

15. Puck Pieterse — Fenix-Premier Tech — Stage Hunter (?)

The case for: Pieterse is a fan favorite, a fierce racer, and one of the biggest tactical gamblers in the women’s peloton. While that doesn’t yield a flawless record on her resume, it does generate a ton of fans for one of cycling’s favorite gingers.

The case against: Genuinely, what type of rider is Pieterse going to be? Can she be content with being a great classics rider with Van der Poel-type side quests? Or will she make an effort to try to improve her longer climbing? Both options are on the table and would provide different targets this Tour, but it could divert her attention in a way that takes away from the best possible outcome.

16. Marianne Vos — Visma-Lease a Bike — Sprinter

The case for: Vos is the greatest female cyclist of all time, and as stage one of the 2025 Tour de France Femme showed, her count of 258 victories keeps ticking up to even dizzier heights.

The case against: At some point, Father Time will catch up to Vos, right? Right??

17. Elisa Balsamo — Lidl-Trek — Sprinter

The case for: Balsamo is super consistent. In both classics and group sprints, Balsamo just makes the right splits, makes the right moves, and finds top results throughout the year.

The case against: Balsamo is a sprinter who seems to have no shot at winning any group sprint that Weibes shows up for. This year, Balsamo has beaten Weibes once in a sprint. And she finished second in that race.

18. Franzi Koch — FDJ United-Suez — Rouleur

The case for: The German is the breakthrough rider of the year. Koch is most well known for her win at Roubaix, beating two legends of the sport riding on the same team, but the revelations have come all season long. Anticipation couldn’t be higher for her first Tour de France Femmes with FDJ United-Suez.

The case against: How much will she be able to spread her wings? Vollering should command a team dedicated to her overall victory, and that means Koch will likely have a lot of thankless work to do.

19. Noemi Ruegg — EF Education-Oatly — Stage Hunter

The case for: If Ruegg can get a win at this year’s Tour, the Swiss rider can cement her breakthrough as a true blue versatile sprinter and one-day threat at the highest level.

The case against: Reugg has only won once since the Tour Down Under, which was a similar trajectory to her resume last year, where she struck out at the Tour de France.

20. Maeva Squiban — UAE Team L’IMAD — Climber

The case for: Do you remember the 2025 Tour de France Femmes? If you do, you remember the French woman who absolutely obliterated the race on two key breakaway days. Her form at the recent French championships showed that she is rounding into shape at the right time.

The case against: Two stage wins are a lot to live up to, and even a successful Tour could pale in comparison to her star role last year.

21. Kim Le Court-Pienaar — AG Insurance-Soudal — Stage Hunter

The case for: Kim Le Court-Pienaar was one of the big breakthrough riders last year and she now commands attention as one of the premier rouleurs in the women’s peloton. She hasn’t had the same level of success this year, but the Tour was a happy hunting ground last year, and the opportunities for success start straightaway on stage one.

The case against: Le Court-Pienaar hasn’t won yet this year, and the list of contenders for winning her kind of stage is getting very long. If luck goes her way, it could be a return to the success of 2025. If the breaks go the other way, it could be more frustration.

22. Femke de Vries — Visma-Lease a Bike — Climber

The case for: Last year, Ferrand-Prévot didn’t really seem like a rider who needed much of a team to detonate the Tour peloton. This year, should it prove to be more difficult, De Vries is a crucial cog in the team that will look to defend yellow. Look no further than her sixth at the Giro to see how she can handle the high mountains.

The case against: De Vries might be leaned on pretty heavily in the high mountains, as Visma will look to her, Sarah van Dam, and young Marion Bunel to carry a lot of weight. While she is 32, she hasn’t been a pro for very long, and this year will be a step up for everyone at Visma as the competition for yellow has only intensified.

23. Charlotte Kool — Fenix-Premier Tech — Sprinter

The case for: There was a day when Kool could beat Weibes in a sprint. If the route was right (i.e. flat) she could beat her straight up. After a couple of down years, Kool has got her groove back and will be looking for more opportunities to get back into the winners’ circle at the Femmes this year.

The case against: She doesn’t beat Weibes anymore. Stage 3 of the 2024 Tour was the last time she did and it’s been a long two years since.

24. Kristen Faulkner — EF Education-Oatly — Stage Hunter

The case for: The American is one of the riders who will be excited that a time trial is back on the route and will look for other opportunities to hunt stages as she gets back to the form that made her one of the most fearsome riders in the sport.

The case against: What should we make of the Olympic road race champion? Since she won in Paris, Faulkner has no wins in Europe. There have been injury and setbacks, but it has been a long time since we’ve seen the American be at the front of the biggest races in the world.

25. Magdeleine Vallieres — EF Education-Oatly — Stage Hunter

The case for: Vallieres is the world champion, and it wasn’t an accident. The Canadian was the best rider on the day, put herself in the position to win, and closed the deal against proven WorldTour talent.

The case against: Beyond Rwanda, Vallieres has not been on the level of the other riders on this list, plain and simple. Age is on her side, but the general CV suggests that more information is needed before she is really considered among the elite of the elite.