Wiebes Takes First Stage
Lorena Wiebes Claims Victory in Opening Stage of Women's Tour de France
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Dutch cyclist Lorena Wiebes won the opening stage of the Women's Tour de France on Saturday, claiming victory in a flat 137-kilometer (85-mile) ride that started and finished in Lausanne, Switzerland, according to AP. The route took competitors past two lakes in the Swiss Alps before ending in a sprint finish in the city center.
Kim Le Court finished second, with defending champion Demi Vollering crossing the line in third, according to Yahoo Sports.
Wiebes Dominates a Flat Swiss Sprint Finish
The opening stage was designed for sprinters. The 137-kilometer course was largely flat, giving pure speed riders the edge over climbers. Wiebes, who rides for Team SD Worx, is one of the best sprinters in women's cycling. She used that speed to take the stage win in Lausanne, Stamford Advocate reported.
Le Court pushed hard in the final stretch but could not match Wiebes. Vollering, last year's overall winner, finished just behind in third. The result sets up what could be a tense battle between sprinters and climbers as the race moves into harder terrain in coming stages.
Race Begins in Switzerland, Not France
The Women's Tour de France did not start in France this year. The opening stage was held entirely in Switzerland, beginning and ending in Lausanne. The route passed two lakes tucked in the Swiss Alps, according to The Messenger.
Lausanne is a major hub for international sports governance — it is home to the International Olympic Committee. Holding the grand depart, or race start, in Switzerland gives the event an international profile beyond French borders. The race is expected to cross into France in later stages.
Wiebes Adds Tour Stage Win to Growing Trophy Case
Wiebes is one of the most dominant sprinters in women's cycling. The Dutch rider has won multiple stages at major races across Europe in recent seasons. A stage win at the Women's Tour de France adds to her list of top results at the sport's biggest events, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
Vollering, who won the overall Tour title last year, will look to make up ground once the race hits the mountains. Stage one rarely decides the overall winner, but the standings after Saturday's finish give Wiebes the first yellow jersey of the 2025 edition.
What Comes Next as the Race Heads Into the Alps
The Women's Tour de France runs over multiple stages across several days. After the flat Lausanne opener, the course is expected to get significantly harder. Mountain stages will favor climbers like Vollering over sprinters like Wiebes, according to Post Register.
The overall race battle is likely to heat up fast. Vollering is the rider to beat for the general classification — the competition decided by total time across all stages. Wiebes may aim to defend the stage win lead while Vollering targets gaps on the climbs.
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