QueenStage Women's Cycling Podcast

2026 UCI Road Worlds Montréal: How Team Netherlands Pulled Off the Perfect RaceWomen's cycling news, race analysis, and Elite Women's Road Race recap from the 2026 UCI World Championships in Montreal.On this episode of the QueenStage cycling podcast, hosts Rosael and Rook report live from Montreal, Canada, breaking down the 2026 UCI Road World Championships Elite Women's Road Race — one of the most talked-about women's cycling races of the year.Topics covered in this women's cycling podcast episode:Demi Vollering wins 2026 World Championships Rainbow JerseyDutch cycling star Demi Vollering claims the world champion title after an all-in Dutch national team strategy. Learn how Team Netherlands cycling coach Laurens ten Dam unified riders like Puck Pieterse, Amber Kraak, and Riejanne Markus around a single team goal, and why this UCI Worlds tactic is rare in women's road cycling.Elite Women's Road Race results and full recapA detailed breakdown of the 180km Montreal Worlds circuit race, including the Camillien-Houde climb, a major peloton crash with 95km to go, Maeva Squiban's solo breakaway, and the dramatic final sprint between Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma, Elisa Longo Borghini, and Marlen Reusser.Full Elite Women's Worlds top 10 finishers:Demi Vollering (Netherlands)Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Poland)Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy)Marlen Reusser (Switzerland)Juliette Berthet (France)Puck Pieterse (Netherlands)Celia Géry (France)Dominika Włodarczyk (Poland)Maeva Squiban (France)Franziska Koch (Germany)Peloton crash updateNews on riders affected by the major Worlds crash, including Caroline Anderson (Sweden) and Loretta Hansen (Australia), plus how the pileup impacted GC contenders like Kate Courtney, Kim Le Court, and Kristen Faulkner.U23 and Junior Women's World Championships highlightsCoverage of Bella Holmgren's (Canada) breakaway ride and silver medal finish, plus emerging talent in the deepening U23 women's cycling field.Cycling retirements at UCI Worlds 2026Tributes to Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio's final professional road race and Amanda Spratt's farewell World Championships appearance; two major names in women's cycling retiring from the road.Bike theft recovery storyA real-life bike theft and recovery story from Montreal, featuring GPS tracking with a Knog Air Tag. Plus, practical bike security tips for cyclists traveling to races.Demi Vollering UCI fine explainedDetails on the 1,000 Swiss franc fine and 25 UCI points penalty issued to Vollering after the race.Women's cycling in North AmericaWhy Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma, and Elisa Longo Borghini are calling for more women's professional cycling races in North America, including hopes for the Philadelphia Cycling Classic 2027 and a possible return of a Montreal women's race.Presented by Hunt Wheels — performance wheelsets for elite cycling.Giveaway: Win a Hunt Aerodynamicist wheelset. Follow @QueenStage.cc on Instagram and sign up for the Hunt newsletter, or comment "the chase is on" on our Worlds posts. Ends October 2nd.Send race questions to [email protected] or join the QueenStage WhatsApp community for real-time race reactions.

UCI Worlds 2026 Preview: Can Anyone Beat Demi Vollering in Montreal?The rainbow jersey is up for grabs in Montreal! In this episode, hosts Rosael, Rook, and Molly break down everything you need to know about the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, with the elite women's road race taking place Saturday, September 26th.In this episode:Recap of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic's triumphant return and a big win for Chiara ConsonniTiff Cromwell's retirement after 16 years as a pro, and what it means for Canyon//SRAMTransfer season roundup: Fem van Empel's comeback at FDJ-SUEZ, Kate Courtney's off-road-to-road move, Blanka Vas and Arlenis Sierra heading to Lidl-Trek, and Cédrine Kerbaol's switch to SD WorxA history lesson on the UCI World Championships — from its 1921 men's debut to the first women's road race in 1958Rainbow jersey vs. Olympic gold: why the rainbow stripes carry unique prestige in the pro pelotonWho qualifies and how many riders each nation gets based on UCI rankingsFull breakdown of the Montreal course: 180.4 km, 8 laps of the Mont Royal circuit, 2,570 meters of climbing, and two key climbs — the Côte Camillien-Houde and the punchy Côte de PolytechniqueWhy this course is being compared to Stage 9 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift — and why even Mathieu van der Poel says it's brutally hardNotable absences: Urška Žigart (injury), Marianne Vos (skipping for gravel worlds), and a wishful case for a Pauline Ferrand-Prévot comebackRoad race contenders: Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Elisa Longo Borghini, Lotte Kopecky, and dark horses like Kate Courtney, Paula Blasi, and Kim Le Court PienaarTeam-by-team tactics for the Netherlands, USA, Canada, Belgium, Poland, Germany, and moreHow racing without radios changes tactics and opens the door for surprise winnersFull TV and streaming guide for the US and CanadaHow to WatchElite Women's Road Race: Saturday, September 26, ~9:00 AM–2:10 PM ETStream in the US: FloBikes, HBO Max, or PeacockStream in Canada: FloBikesCatch highlights on the UCI's YouTube channel, and follow Queen Stage on Instagram for live updates and behind-the-scenes coverage from MontrealGiveaway AlertQueen Stage has teamed up with our World Championships presenting sponsor, Hunt Wheels, to give away a Hunt Aerodynamicist wheelset (valued at $1,000+). To enter:Follow @QueenStage on InstagramSign up for the Hunt newsletter.Instagram users can also comment "the chase is on" on any of our World's posts to get the entry link sent directly to their DMs. Entries close October 2nd.Get InvolvedSubscribe to Queen Stage and leave a rating and reviewSend your questions to [email protected] — we might answer them on the podcastJoin the Queen Stage WhatsApp community to share your rainbow jersey predictions and follow along live on race dayThank You to Our SponsorHuge thanks to Hunt Wheels, our official presenting sponsor for World Championships coverage, for supporting women's cycling and independent media.

The dust has settled on Col d'Èze, and the full Queen Stage crew, Rosael, Molly, Anne-Marije "Rook," and Betsy, reunites for a complete breakdown of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. From Sigrid Haugset's stunning eighty-five-kilometer solo breakaway on stage three to Demi Vollering's commanding overall victory in Nice, this year's race delivered some of the tightest, most tactical racing in the event's short history.The crew retraces all nine stages before digging into the storylines that defined the tour: Marlen Reusser's heartbreaking near-miss on the final podium spot, the swirling contract rumors around Paula Blasi and a reported move to Movistar, and whether Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney could be headed to Lidl-Trek in search of stronger GC support. They also spotlight the next generation of climbers to watch, including Antonia Niedermaier, Bella Holmgren, Nienke Vinke, and Marion Bunel.A major segment tackles the "was this tour too hard?" debate head-on with real numbers. Rosael walks through five years of start list and finish list data (2022 through 2026) to calculate the actual did-not-finish rate for each edition, correcting a common misconception fueled by inaccurate ProCyclingStats filtering, and finds this year's DNF rate wasn't the outlier some fans assumed.The second half of the episode answers listener questions sent in through the Queen Stage WhatsApp community, covering:How TV broadcast rights actually work, including the UCI's 2.5-hour minimum coverage requirement and why broadcasters like Peacock and FloBikes can only air what ASO providesThe current state of rider salaries across the WorldTour, ProTeams, and Continental tiers, and how far minimum wage has come since 2020Whether more non-endemic sponsors (Nike, Red Bull, On, Adidas) could reshape the sport's financial futureThe episode closes with an unsung heroes segment honoring Zoe Bäckstedt's grit on the final time trial, Uno-X Mobility's breakout season, and Saint Michel-Auber 93's improved finish, along with a candid conversation about the online harassment Celia Géry faced after a controversial racing incident, and why growing fandom has to come with better behavior.Massive thanks to presenting sponsors Bike Tires Direct and SRAM for making this daily coverage possible all season. Save ten percent on your post-tour upgrades at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Rate, review, and share the show if you loved this year's coverage, and stay subscribed for off-season episodes. See you at the next race.

Betsy, Molly, and Rosael break down the final stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, a thrilling 99-kilometer mountain circuit from Nice to Nice featuring four ascents of the Col d'Eze.Stage 9 RecapThe 99-kilometer stage started explosively with early attacks from Franzi Koch and Maeva Squiban, who attacked despite a heavy crash the day prior.Lorena Wiebes secured the intermediate sprint early in the race, effectively locking up the green jersey.Zoe Backstedt put in a massive "tractor style" effort on the climb to isolate race leader Demi Vollering for her Canyon SRAM teammate Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney.Marlen Reusser crashed on a left-hand turn with 56 kilometers to go, forcing her teammates to drop back and pace her into the group.On the final, steeper ascent of Col d'Eze, Niewiadoma-Phinney launched an attack, but a comfortable-looking Vollering easily went with her.Vollering counter-attacked to reach the summit with an 18-second advantage over Niewiadoma-Phinney.Showcasing masterful descending skills, Vollering extended her lead to win the stage and become the first two-time overall winner of the race.Paula Blasi crossed the line in second place on the stage, 1 minute and 4 seconds behind, with Niewiadoma-Phinney taking third.Final General Classification: Demi Vollering secures the overall win, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney finishes second, and Elisa Longo Borghini claims third.Jersey Winners: Lorena Wiebes retains green, Puck Pieterse keeps the polka dots, and Antonia Niedermaier holds white.Deep Dive: Zoe BackstedtA profile on the 21-year-old Canyon SRAM rider from Wales who ripped the race apart on the Col d'Eze.She holds nine world championship titles across junior and under-23 categories in road, cyclocross, and track disciplines.Cycling is in her blood: her father is 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner (and Canyon SRAM sports director) Magnus Backstedt, her mother is 1998 British National Road Race Champion Megan Hughes, and her sister is World Tour pro Elynor Backstedt.Off the BikeThe hosts discuss the aftermath of the Stage 8 cornering incident between Celia Géry and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, agreeing that the drama is ultimately good for the sport as it highlights racing tactics rather than relying on gendered narratives.The hosts answer listener questions, noting the 2027 Tour is officially set for nine days, starting in Yorkshire on Friday, July 30th with a Team Time Trial on stage three.Approximately 46% of the Tour de France Femmes starting peloton (68 of 147 riders) do not have publicly confirmed contracts for the 2027 season, compared to just 25% of the men's peloton.Tips on how fans can support women's cycling, including hosting watch parties, buying team merchandise, supporting sponsors, donating to the Cyclist Alliance, and paying for sports journalism.Sponsors & InfoPresented by: Bike Tires Direct and SRAM, presenting sponsors of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift coverage.Giveaway: Win the final daily Queen Stage musette (featuring an e-pump, watch the femmes cap, and a ride wallet). Head to Instagram (@queenstage.cc), find the Stage 9 highlight post, follow Bike Tires Direct, and tag two friends in the comments to enter.Save 10% at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Contact: [email protected]

Anne-Marije, Molly, and Rosael break down stage eight of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the longest stage in the race's history at 171.9 kilometers from Sisteron to Nice.Stage 8 Recap Maeva Squiban and Loes Adegeest formed a two-rider breakaway 140 kilometers out, building a gap of over six minutes. Adegeest took top points at the intermediate sprint before the peloton began reeling them in. Squiban suffered a painful crash on a descent, leaving her in severe distress, though she managed to finish the stage. FDJ United Suez set a fierce pace on the Côte de la Ginestière, catching Adegeest with under 8 kilometers remaining and dropping point leader Lorena Wiebes. On the final ramp toward Nice, Demi Vollering launched a stinging attack to go solo, holding off a chase by Elisa Longo Borghini and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney to win the stage. With bonus seconds and a 17-second gap, Vollering reclaims the yellow jersey by just 8 seconds over Niewiadoma-Phinney. Marlen Reusser sits third at 1:12, with Longo Borghini in fourth at 3:05. Wiebes retains green, Puck Pieterse seals polka dots, and Antonia Niedermaier holds white.Deep Dive: Loes Adegeest A profile on the 30-year-old Lidl-Trek rider from the Netherlands. A former speed skater who transitioned to cycling, she won back-to-back Esports World Championships (2022, 2023) and victories at the Cadell Evans Great Ocean Road Race and a stage of Volta Catalunya. Fun fact: Her partner is the brother of Lucinda Brand's partner, making them sisters-in-law and teammates.Off the BikePost-stage drama after Niewiadoma-Phinney expressed frustration in interviews over defensive team tactics by FDJ United Suez during Vollering's winning attack.Discussion on Vollering skipping top-of-mountain post-stage interviews after Mont Ventoux.A look at Paula Blasi's off-bike classical piano talents.Tire talk: What tire won today? Vollering took the victory on Specialized Cotton Tubeless Ready tires.Stage 9 Preview The final, action-packed stage: a 99-kilometer circuit starting and finishing in Nice. Riders face four ascents of the Col d'Eze, with the fourth and final trip featuring a modified, steeper route (6 kilometers at 7.6% average, with ramps up to 12%). Packed with over 2,100 meters of elevation gain, the stage concludes with a fast 15-kilometer descent to the Promenade des Anglais. With only 8 seconds separating yellow, expect an all-out tactical battle to the finish line.Presented by Bike Tires Direct and SRAM, presenting sponsors of Queen Stage's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift coverage.Giveaway: Daily musette giveaway. Follow Bike Tires Direct and tag two friends on today's Stage 8 highlight reel on Instagram (@queenstage.cc) to enter.Discount code: Save 10% at biketiresdirect.com with code queenstage.Join the conversation: Head to the link in our bio to join the Queen Stage WhatsApp Community.Contact: [email protected]