Stage 1 Lausanne - Lausanne (137.0km)
The Tour de France Femmes will start in 2026 in Switzerland, the home country of FDJ United-Suez rider Elise Chabbey and Movistar rider Marlen Reusser. This year, the Tour peloton will remain in western Switzerland for three days, after which the riders will cross the border into Burgundy on stage three.
On the first day of the Tour de France Femmes, the riders will cover a 131-kilometer stage north of Lausanne. After the start at Lake Geneva, the peloton heads toward Lake Neuchâtel. First, there is about twenty kilometers along the lake, after which the route passes through the towns of Payerne and Lucerne.
Midway through the stage comes the first of three climbs of the day. The climb to Villars-le-Comte (5.4 km at 5.8%) is crested with 54 kilometers to go, followed shortly afterward by the Côte de Vulliens (3 km at 5.3%).
The riders then head back toward Lausanne, first over rolling terrain and then along the lake. As they enter Lausanne, a final short climb awaits along with the battle for the first yellow jersey. On a climb of 2.6 kilometers at 4.5%, the first time gaps in the general classification are expected to appear.
This stage once again seems well suited to Marianne Vos, who claimed the yellow jersey last year on a similar stage to Plumelec.
Stage 1 Lausanne - Lausanne (137.0km)
The Tour de France Femmes will start in 2026 in Switzerland, the home country of FDJ United-Suez rider Elise Chabbey and Movistar rider Marlen Reusser. This year, the Tour peloton will remain in western Switzerland for three days, after which the riders will cross the border into Burgundy on stage three.
On the first day of the Tour de France Femmes, the riders will cover a 131-kilometer stage north of Lausanne. After the start at Lake Geneva, the peloton heads toward Lake Neuchâtel. First, there is about twenty kilometers along the lake, after which the route passes through the towns of Payerne and Lucerne.
Midway through the stage comes the first of three climbs of the day. The climb to Villars-le-Comte (5.4 km at 5.8%) is crested with 54 kilometers to go, followed shortly afterward by the Côte de Vulliens (3 km at 5.3%).
The riders then head back toward Lausanne, first over rolling terrain and then along the lake. As they enter Lausanne, a final short climb awaits along with the battle for the first yellow jersey. On a climb of 2.6 kilometers at 4.5%, the first time gaps in the general classification are expected to appear.
This stage once again seems well suited to Marianne Vos, who claimed the yellow jersey last year on a similar stage to Plumelec.