Lausanne hosts Tour de France Feminin with larger crowds than men's start, sprinter Wiebes takes yellow jersey

Lausanne, Switzerland, buzzed with energy on August 1, 2026, as it hosted the opening stage of the Tour de France Feminin. The event, coinciding with Swiss National Day, drew a massive crowd, reportedly larger than the one that gathered for the men's Grand Départ in Barcelona earlier in July. The festive atmosphere stretched from the lakeside at Ouchy to the city's heights.

The challenging first stage, which began by Lake Geneva and climbed into the surrounding hills, proved more difficult than anticipated. Despite the parcours being listed as flat in the race book, it featured significant climbs, including sections with 12% gradients. This unexpected difficulty did not deter Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), who secured victory and donned the first yellow jersey of the race.

Wiebes, considered the best sprinter of her generation, expressed surprise at the stage's difficulty, noting, "In the race book, this stage was announced as a flat stage. But I can tell you it wasn't really flat!" Her win adds to her impressive record, which includes six victories in the Tour de France Femmes since 2022 and an undefeated streak of twenty-one races between February 2025 and March 2026.

The race route itself was a spectacle, lined with enthusiastic fans. The roar of the crowd created a palpable energy, with spectators banging on barriers to the rhythm of the race. The peloton, reduced to ten riders by the end, included two Swiss cyclists, Noemi Rüegg and Marlen Reusser, who finished fifth and tenth respectively. The event highlighted the growing popularity and excitement surrounding women's cycling.

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In the race book, this stage was announced as a flat stage. But I can tell you it wasn't really flat!