Elisa Longo Borghini takes third overall in the Tour de France Femmes. UAE Team L’IMAD wins the Team Classification
Three riders in the overall top 10: Paula Blasi finishes fifth and Dominika Włodarczyk seventh. A remarkable team performance sees UAE Team L’IMAD take the overall Team Classification and close the Tour de France Femmes as one of the race’s standout teams.
The ninth and final stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes once again delivered spectacular racing, providing a fitting finale to an unforgettable edition. The final chapter of the women’s Grande Boucle covered 99.2 kilometres from and back to Nice, featuring four ascents of the Col d’Èze.
Demi Vollering (FDJ United – SUEZ) claimed the stage victory with a powerful solo attack in the finale, securing the yellow jersey and overall victory in the process. Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon SRAM) finished second.
Elisa Longo Borghini was once again among the protagonists. The Italian national champion, perfectly supported by her teammates, helped put Marlen Reusser under pressure before the Swiss rider was later involved in a crash, and went on to secure a magnificent third place overall in the final general classification.
When the race exploded, the leading group of favourites was formed and UAE Team L’IMAD once again demonstrated its collective strength, with Elisa Longo Borghini, Dominika Włodarczyk and Paula Blasi all represented at the front.
Włodarczyk was subsequently dropped following Vollering’s acceleration. The Dutch rider had initially gone clear with Niewiadoma before launching her decisive solo move towards both the stage victory and the overall Tour de France Femmes title.
Behind Vollering, the chasing group of Longo Borghini, Blasi, Nierdmaier, Fisher-Black and Holmgren caught Niewiadoma, setting up a battle for the remaining podium positions on the stage.
In the finale, Longo Borghini put herself at the service of Blasi for the sprint. The italian suffered a puncture just a few hundred metres from the finish, but Blasi still managed to take an outstanding second place. Longo Borghini crossed the line in seventh, while Włodarczyk finished ninth after arriving with the second group.
The final stage therefore confirmed an outstanding overall result for UAE Team L’IMAD: Elisa Longo Borghini finished third in her first Tour de France Femmes podium, Paula Blasi climbed to fifth overall and Dominika Włodarczyk finished seventh, once again confirming her place among the very best riders in the sport after finishing fourth overall one year ago.
Three UAE Team L’IMAD riders in the overall top 10 of the world’s most important women’s stage race represent a remarkable achievement, further strengthened by the team’s victory in the overall Team Classification after nine days of racing at the front.
The success was celebrated both on the road, with the riders wearing special all-yellow MET helmets during the final stage, and later on the evening podium in Nice, where the entire team gathered to celebrate the achievement together.
Elisa Longo Borghini, Paula Blasi, Dominika Włodarczyk, Silvia Persico, Maeva Squiban and Mavi Garcia showed throughout the Tour de France Femmes that they are a true team, both on and off the bike. Brodie Chapman, who was forced to leave the race after the opening stage for health reasons, was also an important part of the team’s journey.
In response to the external attention surrounding the team, UAE Team L’IMAD chose to let its performances on the road speak. Unity, focus, and collective strength were evident throughout, reflecting the team’s shared commitment.
Elisa Longo Borghini mirrored this approach, building her form steadily and rediscovering her best sensations as the race unfolded. Her effort was rewarded with a landmark result, securing the first Tour de France Femmes podium of her career in Nice, a clear reflection of consistency, belief, and teamwork.
For 23-year-old Paula Blasi, meanwhile, this was her first Tour de France Femmes. The young Spaniard gained invaluable experience throughout the nine stages, growing alongside and learning from her highly experienced teammates, who supported her every step of the way. After also wearing the white jersey as best young rider, Blasi completes her debut Tour in fifth place overall, establishing herself as one of the brightest young talents in international cycling.
Dominika Włodarczyk once again confirmed her place among the leading riders in the sport, finishing seventh overall after her fourth-place result in last year’s edition.
UAE Team L’IMAD therefore closes the 2026 Tour de France Femmes as one of the race’s absolute protagonists, with an individual podium, three riders in the overall top 10 and victory in the Team Classification, the perfect reward for a campaign built on extraordinary unity, commitment and team spirit.
Elisa Longo Borghini said: “I’m really happy. Until a few days ago, this podium seemed out of reach after having had more than our share of bad luck, but I believed in it. Day after day, together with my teammates, we grew stronger and proved that we are a very strong team.
Today, on the climbs, I didn’t feel that good. I had even told Paula not to push too hard because I wasn’t feeling great. But on the final climb, I changed my mind.
Paula and I worked really well together again today and we managed to achieve a very important result. Once again, we proved that we are a very strong team.”
(ph. Getty Sport)
