Issue 145

Enchantée Issue 145

It is time to turn our attention to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift – finally.

Our summer issue celebrates the ever-growing women's Tour, inspired to the peloton's first-ever ascent of the iconic Mont Ventoux. Uncover the mythical mountain through the eyes of the race's leading stars. 

The Giant of Provence looms large.

Mythical Mountain: The women of Ventoux

In a milestone moment for the women’s peloton, Le Tour Femmes tackles Mont Ventoux for the first time in its history. But the mountain has loomed large in the lives and races of women before – current stars and past winners alike. Jeremy Whittle, author of Ventoux: sacrifice and suffering on the Giant of Provence, talks to Nicole Cooke, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma and Tour organiser Marion Rousse. 

No Picnic

How does a team composed of young talents such as Picnic PostNL retain its up-and-coming prospects and turn placings into race wins? Lorena Wiebes, Charlotte Kool, Liane Lippert and Paris-Roubaix winner Franziska Koch all learnt their trade with the Dutch squad before realising their potential elsewhere. Can Picnic compete against wealthier opponents and haul themselves back into contention in the Women’s WorldTour? Chris Marshall-Bell asks the tricky questions.

As seen on screen

Broadcasting Le Tour live involves thinking on the fly, high drama and fun and games. Alice Jackson talks to those bringing the Femmes to our screens, including former Rouleur columnist Orla Chennaoui, before settling down on the sofa for the full nine stages.

 Coffeehouse to café

If you enjoyed Tristan’s deep dive into languages of the 2026 men’s Tour in issue 144, then his mission to find a half-decent cup of coffee while travelling around France may well be to your taste too. He’s not bitter, but (spoiler alert) his struggle is all too real.

Life during wartime: Kyiv’s cycling community

Riding a bike in Ukraine is no simple matter as the ongoing Russian invasion continues into its fourth year. Finbarr Toesland spent the winter in Kyiv meeting locals on two wheels raising spirits – and funds – for their fellow countrymen and women. As Rideout founder Den Seleznov says in the feature: “You’re going very hard, and you become very tired, that's the pleasure of cycling. It’s good to experience that with your friends and other people. You realise everyone has something in common.” Amen, Den.