Lorena Wiebes Becomes First Leader of the Tour de France Femmes

Dutch cyclist Lorena Wiebes, riding for SD Worx - Protime, has claimed the first stage victory of the Tour de France Femmes, making her the initial overall leader of the race. The prestigious event runs until August 9.

Wiebes triumphed in a reduced bunch sprint at the finish line in Lausanne, Switzerland. Kim Le Court of AG Insurance - Soudal secured second place, while Demi Vollering of FDJ - Suez finished third after attempting to break away on the final climb. Other notable contenders in the lead group included Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Elisa Longo Borghini, and Kasia Niewiadoma.

The inaugural stage covered 138 kilometers, starting and finishing in Lausanne. The route featured three third-category climbs and a final fourth-category ascent to the finish line. Early in the stage, a breakaway group formed, including Maud Rijnbeek and Idoia Eraso, who were later joined by Nikola Noskova and Océane Mahé. Their advantage grew to over six minutes before the peloton intensified its chase.

As the race progressed, the peloton significantly reduced the gap. Riders like Demi Vollering contributed to the pace-setting. Despite a solo effort by Noskova and attempts by other riders to bridge the gap, the breakaway was caught with just 6 kilometers remaining. The final climb saw increased pace and nervousness, leading to a few crashes before Wiebes launched her decisive sprint.