Lorena Wiebes wins Tour de France Femmes opening stage, takes yellow jersey

Dutch cyclist Lorena Wiebes claimed victory in the opening stage of the Tour de France Femmes, held in Lausanne, Switzerland, marking a significant comeback after a disqualification.

Wiebes, riding in the first stage of the 138-kilometer race, outpaced her competitors in a sprint finish on the fourth-category climb of Côte Saint-François. This win not only secured her the stage victory but also awarded her the coveted yellow jersey as the overall leader for the second stage.

The race featured three third-category climbs and a fourth-category finish, testing the riders' endurance. Wiebes managed to stay with the leading group on the final ascent before launching her decisive sprint. Mauritian rider Kim Le Court finished second, with another Dutchwoman, Demi Vollering, taking third place.

Wiebes expressed extra determination to succeed, seeking to avenge her disqualification from the Giro d'Italia in May. She was disqualified from that race, despite winning the first stage, because her bike was found to be 20 grams under the minimum weight limit of 6.8 kilograms. "They always believed in me, even when I had my doubts," Wiebes said, thanking her teammates for their support.

The Tour de France Femmes continues through Switzerland with a flat stage from Aigle to Geneva, followed by seven more stages, concluding in Nice the following Sunday.

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They always believed in me, even when I had my doubts.