Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes held on to a select group over a punchy climb before bolting in the final metres to take the Tour de France Femmes opening stage and first yellow jersey.
Last year’s green jersey winner was favourite to win the 85.5-mile out-and-back route from Swiss city Lausanne but was put under serious pressure on a 1.5-mile 4.1% climb just before the finish line.
The 27-year-old Team SD Worx-Protime rider held on to a group of about 20 riders and sprinted away with 200 metres left to win by a bike’s length from Mauritius’ Kim le Court-Pienaar and Dutch 2023 champion Demi Vollering.
Last year’s champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, of France, finished in the same group as Wiebes and general classification rival Vollering.
Wiebes’ victory was her sixth at the Tour, extending her lead as the rider with the most Tour de France Femmes stage wins since the race’s return to the World Tour in 2022.
The two-time European champion is set to wear yellow for only the second time having spent a day in the jersey four years ago.
“I cannot believe it,” Wiebes said after her win. “Ferrand-Prevot [Pauline] went to the front and then Demi [Vollering] attacked so I knew I had to follow. It was a long sprint but I’m super-happy with it.
“I’m really happy with the support. The team fully believed in me. Even I had some doubts.”
There were two category-three climbs halfway through the stage and both were won from a small breakaway by France’s Oceane Mahe who will wear the Queen of the Mountains jersey tomorrow.
Three-time British champion Pfeiffer Georgi, 25, finished 22 seconds off Wiebes in 25th.
The 2026 Tour de France Femmes has 147 riders battling across nine stages – with the event including a first-ever ascent of the famous Mont Ventoux climb on stage seven.
The race stays in Switzerland for Tuesday’s stage two which is a 91.9-mile flat route from Aigle to Geneva giving sprinters like Wiebes another chance at a stage win.