The fifth Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift finished in Nice on 9 August, with Demi Vollering taking the overall win and Lorena Wiebes the points classification. Wiebes collected a green crystal trophy designed by Skoda Design, the carmaker that has backed the race as Official Main Partner since it began in 2022. Skoda also fielded 75 electrified support cars and gave its two newest electric models, the Peaq and the Epiq, prominent roles on the route.
Skoda Auto closed out another Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift as the race’s Official Main Partner, a role it has held since the event’s first edition in 2022. Stage 9 finished in Nice, France, with Dutch rider Demi Vollering winning the general classification and her compatriot Lorena Wiebes taking the points classification.
A crystal trophy from Skoda Design
Wiebes received a green crystal trophy created by Skoda Design, handed over by Johannes Neft, Skoda Auto Chief Development Officer. The cup carries elements of the brand’s Modern Solid design language, and the carmaker again sponsored the green jersey worn by the points classification leader.
By the organisers’ account this was the toughest edition so far: 154 riders from 22 teams covered a record 1,175 km (730 miles) with 18,795 metres (61,663 ft) of climbing, more than in any previous year.
“Over the past week, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has once again showcased the amazing individual performances of all the participating athletes. Congratulations to all the riders, and thank you to all the organisers and fans for creating such a fantastic atmosphere along the route. We are proud that Skoda Auto has been the Official Main Partner of this world-class event from the very beginning. While our new flagship, the Peaq, served as the Race Director’s vehicle and the new Epiq was a highlight of the publicity caravan, a fleet of 75 electrified Superb iV and Enyaq models kept the race running. This demonstrates that Skoda remains true to its roots in cycling – the sport continues to be a central pillar of our company’s sponsorship activities.” — Johannes Neft, Skoda Auto Chief Development Officer
Two new electric models on the route
The race convoy doubled as a showcase for Skoda’s newest metal. Race Director Marion Rousse followed the racing from the all-electric Peaq, which the company describes as its new flagship; in Red Car duty it was fitted out as a mobile command centre. The Epiq, an all-electric urban SUV crossover and Skoda’s second all-new EV, travelled in the publicity caravan as part of the brand’s ‘Ooooh, that’s Epiq’ campaign.
Behind them ran a fleet of 75 electrified vehicles — a mix of Superb iV plug-in hybrids and battery-electric Enyaqs — carrying teams, officials and equipment.
Cycling as a long-term platform
Race support of this kind is one of the few settings where a manufacturer’s cars are on screen for hours at a time, and Skoda has leaned on it more than most. The company started out building bicycles in 1895 and has kept the link visible ever since. Its agreement to support cycling events organised by A.S.O. runs to 2028, and since last year it has also been an official partner of two Union Cycliste Internationale events, the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and the UCI Gravel World Championships. Amateur racing is covered too, including the L’Étape by Tour de France series held in countries around the world.
Skoda also ran race coverage, behind-the-scenes material and competitions through its WeLoveCycling platform, tied this year to the Epiq Moments campaign and including reports from inside the peloton by rider Katarzyna ‘Kasia’ Niewiadoma-Phinney.
What it means
For buyers, the interesting part is less the trophy than the hardware. Putting the Peaq in the Red Car role and the Epiq in the caravan gives both models their first sustained public outing in front of an international television audience, ahead of the point where either reaches showrooms in volume. Skoda has not published technical specifications for the two EVs in this release.
The 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift ended on 9 August in Nice.
Source: www.skoda-storyboard.com