For The Love Of Cycling

The Vuelta a España is almost here, and there’s no great mystery over the favourite. Tadej Pogačar arrives as the overwhelming man to beat, with the real question being who can join him on the podium.

Ned Boulting, Lizzie Deignan and Pete Kennaugh look ahead to this year’s Vuelta, discussing Pogačar’s dominance, the riders who could challenge for second and third, the parcours and the stages that could shape the race.

They also look ahead to the Women’s Tour of Britain, with Lizzie drawing on her own experience of racing the event, while the trio discuss the riders, route and storylines to watch this year.

Who will take the remaining podium places behind Pogačar? Which stages could prove decisive? And what can we expect from this year’s Women’s Tour of Britain?

All that and more on For The Love Of Cycling.

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🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.

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Demi Vollering has done it! She is now a two-time Tour de France Champion after a dramatic final stage around Nice.

It all came down to this. The final stage of the Tour de France Femmes was a brutal 99.2km mountain stage around Nice, featuring four ascents of the Col d’Èze and 2,100 metres of climbing, and with just eight seconds separating Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney at the start, there was everything to race for.

Ned Boulting and Lizzie Deignan are on the ground in France to dissect a dramatic final day that saw the race explode on the climbs. Zoe Bäckstedt drove the pace on the front in support of Niewiadoma-Phinney, while riders were dropped one by one as the favourites were whittled down.

Marlen Reusser, sitting third overall, was eventually distanced before a crash on the descent dealt a devastating blow to her hopes of finishing on the podium. Elisa Longo Borghini took advantage, moving into third overall.

Then came the final ascent of the Col d’Èze. Niewiadoma-Phinney attacked, Vollering followed, and the two went clear of the remaining contenders. Vollering then made her move, opening a gap over her closest rival before extending her advantage on the descent into Nice.

Demi Vollering crossed the finish line to win the stage and, more importantly, secure her second Tour de France title, becoming the first rider to win the race twice.

Ned Boulting and Lizzie Deignan break down Stage 9 of the Tour de France Femmes.

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🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

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Stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift delivered a dramatic finale on the road to Nice, with a long breakaway eventually caught and the GC contenders battling it out on the final climbs. Demi Vollering launched a decisive solo attack on the steep final ascent, breaking clear of Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney and Elisa Longo Borghini before holding on to win the stage by 17 seconds. The victory also saw Vollering take the Yellow Jersey, with Niewiadoma-Phinney just eight seconds behind in the overall standings — the closest top two ever heading into the final stage of the Tour.

Ned Boulting and Lizzie Deignan break down Stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes.

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🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

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🚴‍♂️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Muc-Off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code FTLOC20 for 20% off
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Mont Ventoux rarely disappoints, and Stage 7 was no exception. The first summit finish of this year's Tour de France Femmes delivered a thrilling battle between the race favourites, with the general classification turned on its head on the slopes of the Giant of Provence.

After Demi Vollering's early acceleration reduced the lead group to just the main contenders, Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney seized her moment, attacking with 9km remaining. As Marlen Reusser and Vollering hesitated behind, the Canyon//SRAM rider steadily increased her advantage, holding her effort all the way to the summit to claim a famous stage victory. Behind her, the fight for every second continued to the line, leaving just 15 seconds separating the top two in the overall standings with two stages still to race.

Ned Boulting and Lizzie Deignan breakdown Stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes 2026.

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🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

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🚴‍♂️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Muc-Off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code FTLOC20 for 20% off
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Stage 6 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift delivered a thrilling Classics-style battle, with relentless attacks and a late breakaway deciding the stage. After an early escape was reeled in, a select group featuring Cédrine Kerbaol, Puck Pieterse and Elisa Longo Borghini forged clear before Kim Le Court-Pienaar bridged across from the Yellow Jersey group.

The Mauritian champion produced a powerful long-range sprint to claim her second Tour stage victory, while Longo Borghini climbed to fourth overall. Behind, the main GC favourites finished together, allowing Marlen Reusser to retain the Yellow Jersey ahead of the race's decisive showdown on Mont Ventoux.

Ned Boulting and Lizzie Deignan break down Stage 6 of the Tour de France Femmes.

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🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music

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