Women's Tour de France: five riders from the Côte d'Azur
This year the Women’s Tour de France concludes on the Côte d’Azur, where five athletes from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Var regions are taking part. Among them are both young talents and experienced riders, each with her own unique story. On Saturday, 8 August, the final stages passed along the picturesque roads of Nice, offering spectators not only sporting competition but also the beauty of the Riviera.
🚴♀️ Five faces of the local cycling scene
Since the first start of the Women’s Tour de France in 2022, the participation of local athletes has become a particular source of pride for the region. This year five riders from Alpes-Maritimes and neighbouring Var reached the finale: Maëva Squiban, Marion Bunel, Constance Valentin, Marine Allion and Titian Rio. Each represents a different level of skill and has her own ambitions for the final stages.
- Maëva Squiban (24 years old, UAE Team L’IMAD) — two-time stage winner last year
- Marion Bunel (21 years old, Visma Lease a Bike) — an up-and-coming star of cycling
- Constance Valentin (Mayenne Monbana MyPie) — a former resident of Cannes
- Marine Allion (Mayenne Monbana MyPie) — the “indomitable” rider from Var
- Titian Rio (21 years old, Human Powered Health) — a Breton who chose Nice for training
«I didn’t expect to be here at 21,» admits Marion Bunel. «To be in the team of my dreams and to take part in the most beautiful race in the world alongside legends like Pauline Ferrand-Prévot or Marianne Vos — it’s incredible!»
On 19 July 2026, on the stage to Mont Ventoux, Bunel showed 11th place, confirming her status as a promising athlete.
🏆 Maëva Squiban: from leader to team player
Last year Maëva Squiban’s name echoed through the cycling world — two consecutive stage wins made her a Tour star. This season the Breton, who lives in Trans-en-Provence, has changed role, becoming a key workhorse for UAE Team L’IMAD.
Despite criticism over her positions in the general classification (21st at the time of the final stages), Skibben herself is unconcerned:
«With four leaders in the team you can’t do without domestiques,» she explains. «I’m calm about it. Yes, I’m far down in the standings, but that’s because I’m doing my job. My legs are even better than last year!»
Skibben is particularly proud of the yellow numbers (a sign of the best team) which her squad has held since the early days of the race.
On 26 July, on the 5th stage, Skibben performed a feat, continuing the race after a crash to help the team captain.
⛰ Marion Bunel: the rising star of the Côte d’Azur
21-year-old Marion Bunel, who moved to Bormes-les-Mimosas after a childhood in Le Lavandou, is considered one of the most promising young talents in world cycling. A third place at La Vuelta in early May and an 11th position on the stage finishing on Mont Ventoux confirm her status.
- Record for the climb to Col du Babaou from Collobrières — 13:45 (average speed 24.6 km/h)
- Record on the north face of Pas du Serf — 6:07 (27.5 km/h)
«I’ve had an exceptional season,» says Bunel. «I don’t want to set limits for myself. I have a dream in my head about the yellow jersey, and I’ll dedicate part of my life to achieving it.»
🌄 Constance Valentin and Marine Allion: the Mayenne Monbana MyPie team
Both riders compete for the same team. Constance Valentin once lived in Cannes and knows the local roads well, while Marine Allion, nicknamed the “indomitable” in the peloton, comes from neighbouring Var — the home region for half of the riders on this list.
🏁 Titian Rio: a Breton who chose Nice
Rider for Human Powered Health Titian Rio hails from Brittany, but has long shifted her training base to the Côte d’Azur — the roads around Nice have become her second home arena.
🏆 Finish on the Promenade des Anglais
The concluding stages of the Tour de France Femmes 2026 did indeed finish in Nice: the peloton crossed the line on the Promenade des Anglais, and the overall victory was taken by Dutchwoman Demi Vollering. For the five local riders the home finish was a special moment of the season, and for spectators — an opportunity to see the stars of world cycling alongside places for which the region is famous beyond elite sport: for example, the gravel routes of Mandelieu. For those wanting to test the local climbs themselves, the ride up to Gréolières 1400 — one of the stages of the regional Cols Connectés 06 cycling marathon — is suitable.
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Photo: João Godoy / Pexels