Published on : 08/08/2026
The eighth stage of the Tour de France Femmes took the peloton from Sisteron to Nice over 175.2 kilometers. On the eve of the final finish, the contenders for the general classification had one last chance to set themselves apart on a course with a particularly demanding finish.
From the very first kilometers, the Cofidis riders tried to break away. The race got off to a fast start, and after numerous attacks, only two riders finally managed to pull away, building a lead of up to six minutes. It wasn’t until the final climbs that the race was decided.
Unfortunately, the day was marred by two crashes involving Cofidis riders. Malwina Mul, who was being protected by the team, was involved in the first crash, before Nikola Nosková took a fall of her own as they approached the final climbs. These incidents made it difficult for the team to regroup just as the race was coming to a head. The pace set on the climbs quickly made the difference. The climbers and punchers took the lead, and the Cofidis riders were unable to keep up with the top contenders in the general classification.
After eight stages and a week full of attacks, learning, and first-time experiences, the Cofidis riders now have just one day left to wrap up this Tour de France Femmes. Tomorrow, they head to Nice for the final battle.
The reaction
Gaëtan Lemoine, sports director: “The race got off to a pretty fast start; the girls tried to make the most of the breakaways, but in the end, only two riders ended up at the front with a six-minute lead, so all we could do was wait for the final hills. We had two crashes today—Malwina Mul, who was well-protected, and Nikola Noskova as they approached the climbs. That prevented us a bit from racing as a group in the final stretch. Amalie Dideriksen handled the climbs well, but the pace picked up so quickly that we struggled on the first one and couldn’t keep up with the overall leaders in the final stretch.”