Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026: The Grand Départ

Your Tour de France Femmes adventure begins—in Switzerland! Board your overnight flight to Geneva, where you’ll soon be witnessing cycling history at the 2026 Grand Départ and riding iconic Alpine roads.

Welcome to Switzerland! You’ll touch down in Geneva and transfer to Montreux, an elegant lakeside town on the shores of Lake Geneva where the Alps rise dramatically across the water. This stunning setting will be your home for the first four nights as you experience the Tour de France Femmes Grand Départ.

Your first full day on the bike begins gently—easing you into the rhythm of cycling while introducing you to the world of professional cycling. This morning, you’ll roll out from your lakeside hotel into the heart of the Lavaux—Switzerland’s legendary wine country and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The route climbs gently through terraced vineyards that have been carved into these steep hillsides for centuries, their rows cascading down toward Lake Geneva. Each turn reveals new vistas: the deep blue of the lake below, villages like Chexbres and Saint-Saphorin nestled among the slopes, and the scent of grape leaves and wildflowers hanging in the air. Your ride concludes at a winery, where you’ll sit down for a picnic lunch paired with local Chasselas and Pinot Noir wines, with panoramic windows framing the lake and mountains beyond. Later, you’ll meet EF Pro Cycling Team staff for an exclusive behind-the-scenes session about what it takes to support a professional cycling team during the Tour de France Femmes.

Today is about chocolate, cheese, and cycling history. You’ll start at Maison Cailler in Broc, where Switzerland’s oldest chocolate brand tells its story through immersive exhibits and a generous tasting of their finest creations. Then comes Gruyères, a perfectly preserved medieval village where cobblestone streets wind past centuries-old chalets to the 13th-century castle. Your Tour Director will lead you through the fortress and into a traditional fromagerie (cheese shop) for a tasting of authentic Gruyère cheese. From here, riders will split: shorter-route riders transfer to Châtel-Saint-Denis while longer-route riders begin their journey from Gruyères itself. Both routes converge on the official Stage 1 racecourse of the Tour de France Femmes. You’ll ride the same roads the pros will tackle later that afternoon, feeling every curve and gradient that defines this historic day. As you approach Lausanne, the terrain opens toward Lake Geneva’s shimmering shores, building toward the flamme rouge (final kilometer). You’ll cross the actual Stage 1 finish line, take victory photos on the official podium, then settle into VIP seating at the Lausanne Grandstand to watch the stage finale unfold.

Today you'll ride to Aigle for the Stage 2 Starting Village where your VIP pass grants access to the signature podium, the riders’ paddock, and an exclusive tour of the EF Pro Cycling Team bus. You’ll watch the peloton depart on big screens with drinks and snacks throughout. Three route options get you there on two wheels: the shortest follows Lake Geneva's waterfront and crosses the Rhône River valley, while the longer two routes climb inland through the valley with sweeping peak views before arriving in Aigle, Switzerland’s cycling heartland. After the Starting Village, the longest route continues back to Montreux. In the evening, join the optional excursion to a chalet for a traditional Swiss dinner high above Montreux—or relax and do your own thing.

Today marks your transition from Switzerland into France for the first time on this tour. You’ll begin in Geneva, where your Tour Director will lead you through the city’s elegant streets and historic landmarks before heading to an exclusive roadside viewing spot to watch Stage 3 of the Tour de France Femmes pass—one of your final moments catching the race in action. From there, you’ll cross the border into France and travel to Annecy, the “Venice of the Alps," where canals wind through the medieval old town and the lake stretches toward snow-capped peaks. This charming alpine gateway marks the beginning of your final days on the tour.

The French Alps reveal themselves best from a bike, and today’s loop around Lake Annecy proves exactly why. You’ll experience one of the most beautiful lakeside rides in all of Europe, with the Bauges and Bornes massifs rising dramatically on all sides. The route hugs the shoreline through charming lakeside villages—each one a postcard of French Alpine life. Those opting for the shorter route will enjoy a gentle loop around the lake. Those seeking a bigger challenge will turn inland and tackle Col de Leschaux—a local legend among cyclists for its steep switchbacks through forests and alpine meadows, rewarding every pedal stroke with sweeping panoramic views of the lake basin and surrounding mountains. Both routes pass beneath the striking Duingt Cliffs and through historic Talloires. After your ride, you’ll explore Annecy’s Old Town on foot, stopping for a French pastry tasting at a local bakery, crossing the romantic Pont des Amours (Lover’s Bridge), and strolling through the peaceful Jardins de l’Europe (Gardens of Europe). Tonight, consider joining the optional sunset boat cruise on Lake Annecy to see the landscape from a completely different perspective.

Your final day of riding is all about the cols (mountain passes), which have made the Haute-Savoie region a favorite training ground for professional cyclists, offering everything from steep technical climbs to rolling pastoral landscapes. You’ll begin along the lakeshore before the road tilts upward toward Col de la Forclaz, a climb that has featured in multiple Tour de France races and remains a local proving ground for aspiring pros. The ascent is relentless—1,600 feet of climbing in just over 4 miles—with exposed switchbacks that offer little shade but spectacular views as the altitude builds. A fast descent brings you into the countryside, where those opting for the shorter route will finish their ride. For those continuing on, quiet country lanes lead toward Col du Marais. This second climb is gentler but equally scenic, winding through meadows dotted with wildflowers and pastures where cows graze beneath the Aravis mountains. Tonight, you’ll gather with your fellow riders for a Farewell Dinner, reliving the week’s best moments—from Lausanne’s Grand Départ to Annecy’s alpine climbs.

After experiencing the Tour de France Femmes Grand Départ and riding through parts of Switzerland and the French Alps, it’s time to head home. You’ll transfer 45 minutes to the Geneva airport for your international flight, carrying memories of stage finishes, Starting Village access, and alpine climbs witnessed firsthand.