The 2026 Tour de France Femmes began with an exciting opening stage in Lausanne, Switzerland. The 138-kilometer route featured rolling roads, several categorized climbs, and a challenging uphill finish that tested both the sprinters and the overall contenders. Riders battled for position throughout the day before the decisive final climb to the finish.
Lorena Wiebes Wins Opening Stage in Lausanne
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx–Protime) delivered a powerful sprint on the uphill run to the line to capture the Stage 1 victory and earn the first yellow jersey of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes. The demanding finale also provided an early indication of which general classification favorites are in strong form as the race heads into the remaining stages.
Lorena Wiebes has added a magnificent victory to her impressive palmarès in spectacular fashion. On the challenging final climb, the leading group was unable to drop her, and the 27-year-old Dutch sprint star finished it off superbly. As a result, she takes the yellow jersey in the opening stage of the Tour de France Femmes for the second time in her career. “This is what I’ve dreamed of. I was really determined to achieve this. I felt the support of my team, Team SD Worx-Protime, and they kept believing in me, even when I myself doubted whether it would be possible.”
Lorena Wiebes said:
I can hardly believe it. My team, SD Worx-Protime, worked incredibly hard today. With one kilometre to go, Anna van der Breggen moved to the front. When Celia Géry accelerated, I was able to follow quite easily. At that moment, I thought: in the final kilometre, I just have to stay there. At one point, I even briefly saw black before my eyes. After the finish, I had the same feeling as on the Champs-Élysées in 2022, when it was also extremely hot.
In the sprint, I found my way behind EF. Then I thought: now I have to go. It was a long sprint, but I’m incredibly happy that I was able to finish it off.
The support from the team gave me extra energy. The riders worked incredibly hard, the sports director kept motivating me through the radio, and the staff continued to believe in me at all times, even during moments when I doubted myself. I’m extremely grateful for that.
Maybe it also gave me some extra motivation that some people thought I had no place in this type of finish. That makes this victory feel even more special.
Watch the Stage 1 Extended Highlights
Photo – (c) Getty Images
