The 2026 Tour de France Femmes kicked off with an exhilarating stage one, featuring a 138km loop around Lausanne. Riders faced a series of challenges, including four categorized climbs and an intermediate sprint at Villeneuve.

Key moments included:

• 100km to go: The race saw a breakaway group on an uncategorized climb, with the gap extending to 4min 11sec. Alison Jackson and Kiara Lylyk pursued but struggled to close in.

• 111km to go: Zoe Backstedt of Canyon/SRAM, a contender for the General Classification (GC), expressed confidence in her team's form, eyeing both stage wins and the overall title.

• 126km to go: The breakaway solidified with Océane Mahé, Maud Rijnbeek, Idoia Eraso Lasa, and Nikola Noskova, gaining momentum against the peloton.

Leading into the final climb, pundits noted the potential for strategic plays as the race unfolded. Demi Vollering, the favorite and first €1m athlete in women's cycling, was highlighted as a key contender after a stellar season, including victories across all three Grand Tours.

The stage concluded with anticipation as fans eagerly awaited the outcome of the climactic finish in Lausanne, setting the tone for a thrilling nine days of racing ahead.