Lorena Wiebes of the Netherlands claimed the first stage of the Tour de France Femmes, taking control in the final sprint to secure victory and the yellow jersey. The 27-year-old Team SD Worx-Protime rider faced pressure during a challenging climb shortly before the finish on the 85.5-mile route departing from Lausanne, Switzerland, but managed to stay with the leading group of approximately 20 riders and accelerated with 200 metres remaining.
Wiebes crossed the line ahead of Mauritius-based Kim le Court-Pienaar and Dutch competitor Demi Vollering, who both finished within a bike length. France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, the defending champion, rounded out the same finishing group. The victory marks Wiebes’ sixth stage win at the Tour de France Femmes, extending her standing as the rider with the most stage victories since the race rejoined the World Tour in 2022. She will don the yellow jersey for only the second occasion, having previously worn it four years ago.
Earlier in the stage, France’s Oceane Mahe secured both category-three climb victories from a breakaway group and will wear the Queen of the Mountains jersey. British champion Pfeiffer Georgi finished 25th, 22 seconds behind the winner. The 2026 edition features 147 riders competing across nine stages, with a historic first ascent of Mont Ventoux scheduled for stage seven.
The race remains in Switzerland for stage two, scheduled for Tuesday, which presents a flat 91.9-mile route from Aigle to Geneva expected to suit sprinters seeking additional stage opportunities.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI