Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, who has never failed to make the Tour de France Femmes overall podium, is heading back to the Grand Tour in 2026 with a fresh perspective and a group of support riders equally split between experienced players and debuting riders.
Soraya Paladin and Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, who were both there when Niewiadoma-Phinney claimed the yellow jersey for Canyon-SRAM in 2024, are part of the squad, as is Chiara Consonni, who is returning after her debut in 2023.
Then there are a strong trio of debuting riders from powerful gravel force Rosa Klöser – who won Unbound 200 in 2024 – Giro d’Italia runner-up Antonia Niedermaier, as well as dual British champion and Baloise Ladies Tour winner Zoe Bäckstedt.
There is no question as to the squad's main target, given they have the GC force and proven experience of Niewiadoma on their team.
"Honestly, each season I just close the book and disconnect myself from the past because I always used to compare myself to previous years, and that would add extra, self-created pressure, and I'd feel like I needed to do better and better. So, the way I've been operating over the last few years is that each season is a new opportunity, a fresh page," said Niewiadoma in a team statement.
"So, coming into this year's Tour, I would definitely say that I'm richer in experience and have more knowledge of the Tour in general, which definitely gives me a little advantage. Because of that, I feel a bit calmer, and I also know what it takes to prepare perfectly for the race.
"This year is just a new opportunity. You're only as good as your last race. It's great to have a Tour victory on my palmarès, but I definitely come in with a fresh mind and body ready to go after new experiences and, of course, the victory."
Once again grasping yellow, in a year where Niewiadoma lines up against two other former winners in Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ), is clearly the key focus for all the riders of the squad, though Canyon-SRAM have a group that is capable of shooting for stage wins too.
The team said Skalniak-Sójka, who is racing her fourth edition, has always harboured an ambition to win a stage at the race, while a potential opportunity for the debuting Bäckstedt comes in the race against the clock on stage 4.
"It’s exciting, it’s really cool. I’ve dreamt a little bit about being selected for the Tour in the last years, and I think that with the course this year – it’s going to be brutal for sure – but time trialling is the one thing that suits me the most, so it’s really exciting. I think it’s going to be my favourite stage of the whole race, and it’s where I want to shine," said Bäckstedt of the 21km effort.
"I would obviously love to go for a result in the time trial, but I can’t put too big an expectation on it because it’s my first Tour and my first time against actually all of the big riders."
Niedermaier, on the other hand, has proven her strength on the climbs and is also a potential threat on the GC, but the weight of expectation is not weighing on the 23-year-old.
"I'm not feeling too much pressure. I'm there for Kasia, but to also achieve a good GC result and maybe on a stage," Niedermaier said.
"For sure, I hope to be strong in the climbs, also in the TT, and to just give my best and prove that I belong in the TDFFAZ and with the best climbers. But, I also want to show that I can support my team and Kasia.
"For sure, she will also be super strong at the Tour, so let's see what we can achieve as a team. I hope that we can celebrate a podium with Kasia in the end – I think that's the main goal."
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