Tour de France Femmes 2026: opening 138km around Lausanne a stern first test
Updates will cover the 138km opening stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, which starts in Lausanne on Saturday. Demi Vollering arrives as the pragmatic favourite for the event while live coverage follows the early-day action.
French interest was intensified by Pauline-Ferrand Prévot’s victory in the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, but attention ahead of this year’s race has focused on Demi Vollering. The 29-year old Dutch rider leads FDJ United-Suez and carries significant expectations as the race gets under way. She is notable off the bike as well as on it, having become the first €1m athlete in women’s racing. This season she completed a grand slam of all three of Europe’s Grand Tours, adding to her recent form.
The opening day takes competitors on a 138km route around Lausanne, with the start scheduled for Saturday. Organisers and media will provide updates throughout the stage as teams and riders negotiate the parcours. The compact nature of the stage promises an immediate measure of form for contenders.
Vollering’s role as leader of FDJ United-Suez frames much of the pre-race narrative, and her results this year have reinforced her status among rivals. The combination of high-profile victories and a conspicuous contract milestone has increased scrutiny of her programme in advance of the Tour. Observers are noting the contrast between her results and the season’s other headline performers.
Pauline-Ferrand Prévot’s 2025 triumph remains a recent landmark for French racing, and that achievement continues to resonate as the race restarts in Switzerland. Her win last year heightened domestic interest and set a precedent that this edition’s competitors will reference. The presence of multiple high-profile names ensures the opening stage will be watched closely.
Coverage will follow developments on the road through the Lausanne round, recording any shifts in the hierarchy as the peloton tackles the first test. Race officials, teams and riders will all be assessing how the opening day shapes the early classification. The initial exchanges are expected to establish early storylines for the remainder of the event.
The Lausanne opener will thus serve as an immediate indicator of form, with Demi Vollering carrying the mantle of favourite into the condensed 138km stage. Early results from Saturday’s run will shape expectations for the days that follow.