Jansen wins tactical two-up sprint on final stage

Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels Cycling Team) won a tactical two-up sprint against Léa Curinier (FDJ United-SUEZ) to claim victory on the hilly final day of the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées 2026. The Dutch rider launched her sprint with 200 metres to go, easily coming around her breakaway companion after a cagey finale.

Jansen used a roundabout to her advantage in the final two kilometres before forcing Curinier to lead out, a move that proved decisive. The win marks Jansen's fourth professional victory.

Curinier held on for second place, three seconds behind. Nadia Quagliotto (Cofidis Women Team) won the sprint from the chasing group for third place, 12 seconds in arrears, as Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) finished safely to secure the overall title.

The hilly final stage came down to a two-rider battle on the run-in to Jurançon. On the final categorised climb, with 3.6 km to go, Eline Jansen and Léa Curinier were locked together, testing each other on the steep gradients before cresting the summit and plunging into a technical descent.

Behind them, Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) marshalled the peloton, but the leading duo held an advantage of around a minute. They hit the flat with 2.5 km remaining, setting up a tactical showdown. The endgame began at a roundabout with 1.8 km to go, where Jansen took a smarter line, opening a small gap and forcing Curinier to close it.

Once the junction was made, Jansen sat on Curinier's wheel, forcing the FDJ United-SUEZ rider to lead into the headwind inside the final kilometre. The tactic proved decisive. As Curinier opened her sprint, Jansen launched a powerful acceleration with 200 metres to go to take a convincing victory, while Nadia Quagliotto won the sprint from the chase group for third, 12 seconds later.

• Eline Jansen's victory was a masterclass in race craft. From her superior line in the roundabout to her refusal to work in the final kilometre, she played the finale perfectly, winning with her brain as much as her legs.
• Léa Curinier was strong enough to stay with Jansen on the climb and descent but was outmanoeuvred in the finale. Being forced to close the gap and then lead out left her with little chance in the sprint.
• FDJ United-SUEZ played their cards well, getting Curinier in the winning move while Franziska Koch policed the bunch. They will be disappointed not to convert that strong position into a stage win.
• The stage was one for the breakaway specialists, as the GC contenders marked each other in the peloton. This allowed Paula Blasi and UAE Team ADQ to comfortably defend the overall lead.