Bummer news for Guelph, Ont.’s Kiara Lylyk at the Tour de France Femmes. The Mayenne Monbana My Pie pro cyclist did not start Friday’s Stage 7 to Mont Ventoux because of lingering back pain.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a solid start to the race, featuring prominently on Stage 1 when she and fellow Canuck Alison Jackson of St Michel–Preference Home–Auber93 roder together in an attempt to bridge across to the day’s breakaway.
Lingering back pain
However, some back problems have made it impossible for her to contine.
“I am feeling pretty disappointed after going well during my altitude training block,” she said. “When I got to the race I didn’t feel right on the bike. It wasn’t until I was trying to bridge to the break on Day 1 that I noticed my back was really starting to flare up. Since then it hurt each time I tried to put out any power.”
Kiara Lylyk in white jersey in Volta a Portugal Feminina
There’s still plenty of season left for the talented Canadian–who has had a great 2026, with several impressive results this year.
“I’m resting up now and will get some help before trying to get back to prepare for the rest of the season,” she said.
Stage 7 recap
Friday’s queen stage on Mont Ventoux shook up the general classification as former Tour winner Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney rode away from her rivals to claim both the stage dub and the yellow jersey. The Canyon-SRAM rider attacked with just under 10 km remaining on the climb and steadily increased her advantage while Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser were unable to work together effectively in the chase.
Vollering eventually dropped Reusser in the closing kilometres to move into second overall, with Elisa Longo Borghini also passing the fading Swiss rider before the finish. Isabella Holmgren was the top Canadian in 10th on the stage and sits in ninth overall.
Saturday is the penultimate stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, and it’s a long one. Stage 8 goes from Sisteron to Nice for a total of 171.9km.