The Tour de l’Avenir Femmes will not take place in 2026. Organizers have confirmed that the event, which was preparing for its fourth edition in August, has been paused for the coming season.
The decision stems from concerns about the current state of the under‑23 women’s peloton. Philippe Colliou, speaking to Direct Vélo, explained that there simply aren’t enough under-w23 women’s teams that are both well‑structured enough to fulfil the race’s original purpose. Which is to uncover and showcasing emerging talent, in the way the men’s version has traditionally done, according to Colliou.
The Frenchman said this was a key factor in the choice to put the event on hold.
WorldTour riders versus development
Another major point raised by organizers is that a large number of promising under-23 riders are already competing in top‑level WorldTour races. Colliou pointed out to Direct Vélo that over a quarter of the field at the 2024 Tour de l’Avenir had already raced in elite events earlier in the season. One standout example was Marion Bunel, who returned from the Tour de France Femmes and went on to win the under-23 title on the climbs of the Finestre.
In second that year was another WorldTour rider–Oro. Medonte. Ont.’s Isabella Holmgren. She went on to dominate the 2025 edition, taking two stage wins, the overall, as well as the white and polka dots.
Tour de l’Avenir to mix things up for 2026
Last year, Direct Vélo noted that at least 17 women, roughly 18 per cent of the start list — had taken part in WorldTour races earlier in the year, including nine at the Tour de France Femmes, before lining up at the Tour de l’Avenir. In contrast, this pattern remains rare among the men’s under‑23 ranks. (Although last year’s Avenir winner, Paul Seixas, will be racing the Tour de France this year.) Holmgren is on a WorldTour team, Lidl-Trek, but she has not yet done the TdFF, yet.
The men’s Tour de l’Avenir, which began in 1961 was always considered a stepping stone for developing riders–the younger sibling of the Tour. Riders Greg LeMond, Miguel Indurain, Laurent Fignon, Nairo Quintana, Egan Bernal, Tadej Pogačar and, most recently, Mexican Isaac del Toro, who won the 2024 edition.
That year, Michael Leonard won the prologue and wore yellow.
Despite the major blow to under-23 women’s racing, the organizers have said they are considering bringing the race back in 2027, but as a junior race.