France’s strong Tour axis: Four riders, four roles

Lausanne – 31/07/2026: When the peloton sets off from Lausanne for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift on 1 August, French cycling will bring an unusually broad range of rider profiles to the start. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot lines up as defending champion, Cédrine Kerbaol as an attacking overall classification rider, and Maëva Squiban as a stage hunter. Célia Géry will ride the French Grand Tour for the first time with FDJ United-SUEZ.

The benchmark comes from the summer of 2025. French riders won four stages then, while Ferrand-Prévot also took the overall classification. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider secured the Yellow Jersey with two solo victories in the mountains. That success changed expectations for a country whose Tour hopes had previously often focused on breakaways and isolated day wins.

Kerbaol represents the second French strand. The 25-year-old of EF Education-Oatly combines climbing ability with a willingness to take risks on descents and experience in battling for seconds over several days. In May, she won the third stage of the Vuelta Femenina after a late attack, and in June she finished second at the Tour de Suisse. On its demanding climbs, she held her own against Marlen Reusser and Kasia Niewiadoma.

Ferrand-Prévot remains the central reference point. Her 2025 Tour victory was built on precise race management: riding under control for long periods, letting the team do its work and breaking up the overall classification with changes of pace on the decisive mountains. Visma-Lease a Bike has named a balanced squad for the title defense. The Frenchwoman should therefore not have to rely on spectacular individual moves to remain competitive in the fight for yellow.

Squiban offers a different possibility: racing aggressively, reading groups and seizing the right moment before the final climb or a hectic finish. The UAE Team ADQ rider won two Tour stages in 2025, demonstrating that she can tactically convert long breakaways into victories. Her value lies precisely in the fact that she is not confined to a role in the overall classification.

Géry completes the quartet as a representative of a new generation. The French champion has been selected by FDJ United-SUEZ for her Tour debut. In a team supporting Demi Vollering in the battle for overall victory, Géry will initially take on domestique duties. At the same time, she will learn the workings of a top team on the biggest stage in women’s cycling.

French strength stems from the distribution of roles. Ferrand-Prévot is racing for yellow, Kerbaol can put pressure on the overall classification, and Squiban can win stages from dynamic race situations. Géry will gain experience in her debut. France therefore begins the race with several tactical options.