Faun Tour Femmes 2026 – Stage 2 [FULL STAGE] (ladies)

September 11, 2026

24th Faun Tour Femmes 2026 🇫🇷 (2.1) WE – Stage 2 – Dieulefit – Dieulefit : 106,1 km

Faun Tour Femmes is a UCI 2.1 four-stage women’s road race across the hilly terrain of the Drôme and Ardèche, covering 476.5 km with approximately 7,750 metres of elevation gain. The route combines narrow rural roads, rolling plateaus, steep climbs and fast descents, with each stage demanding frequent changes of pace. The opening 115.7 km stage includes around 1,600 metres of climbing, while the following stages of 106.1 km and 120 km continue across undulating terrain before the 134.7 km finale provides the most sustained mountain challenge. The final stage features repeated ascents of the Col de Tourniol and Col des Limouches, where gradients can reach double digits and the accumulated elevation places increasing pressure on energy reserves. Positioning before climbs and careful line choice through twisting descents are important, while the varied terrain creates opportunities for breakaways and late counterattacks. The field can fragment on the harder ascents before regrouping on faster sections. Finishes can come from reduced groups, solo attacks or uphill sprints.

After Thursday’s surprise stage winner, normal service resumed on Friday as Juliette Berthet (FDJ United-SUEZ) won stage 2 in Dieulefit at the Faun Tour Femmes.

Berthet was dropped by Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) on the last of three climbs, but stayed in touch, reaching the New Zealander at the top and then out-sprinting her to take her first win in two years.

With two stages to go, the two riders are tied on time, but Fisher-Black leads the general classification by dint of finishing two places ahead of Berthet on stage 1.

For the second stage of what was once snappily-named the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche, the rebranded Faun Tour Femmes took on a 106.1 km route starting and finishing in Dieulefit.

After an attacking opening, two riders got away, Maite Urteaga (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) and Elisa Valtulini (Vini Fantini-BePink), building a lead approaching four minutes.

With almost 1,500 metres of climbing, the route consisted of three laps, each tackling the second category Col du Pertuis, and on the second ascent not only was Valtulini dropped, but the gap began to drop.

At the start of the final 35km lap, Urteaga’s lead sat at 1:35 with attacks from Lidl-Trek in what remained in the peloton lifting the pace, but a concerted effort from Anna Henderson provided the impetus to bring the Spanish rider back, and she was caught with 29km to go.

As the peloton swelled, the pace eased and Ema Comte (France) attacked, the 21-year-old allowed a lead of 1:50. However, she was brought back by Berthet and Fisher-Black at the base of the final climb with 10km left and the duo got away.

Results :