As it happened: SD Worx strike again with a perfect chase and unbeatable sprint

“The girls were chasing full, full gas in the final to bring back Riejanne Markus, so it’s even more beautiful to finish it off in the yellow.

“She stayed out a long time, and at one point, we decided also to put Lotte in the chase because we needed everyone.”

2026-08-02T16:29:58.203Z

Watching the TV replays of the sprint show how Wiebes cuts across the road and through her rivals like a hot knife through butter.

This was her 133rd career win, her seventh Tour stage win and her 15th win of the 2026 season.

2026-08-02T16:28:05.443Z

Eurosport have an incredible statistic for Wiebes. She has contested 43 sprints and won 42 of them.

2026-08-02T16:19:36.300Z

Wiebes emerged from the shadows to win by several bike lengths.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-08-02T16:17:22.555Z

Wiebes wins in yellow.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-08-02T16:15:57.829Z

Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) was second and Marianne Vos (Visma) was third.

Thanks to winning the stage and taking a 10-second time bonus, Wiebes has extended her GC lead.

2026-08-02T16:13:54.701Z

The other sprinters were ahead of Wiebes but she accelerated and passed them all with a burst of speed.

2026-08-02T16:13:04.203Z

She had to move up from behind but wet alnog the barriers on the left and then accelerated away and ahead of her rivals.

She had time to celebrate with his arms in the air, taking a historic win in the leader’s yellow jersey.

2026-08-02T16:11:56.627Z

Boom! Wiebes wins it!

2026-08-02T16:10:49.417Z

Sprint!

2026-08-02T16:10:37.130Z

Wiebes is on the Liv train.

2026-08-02T16:10:18.507Z

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) keeps fighting all the way to the line.

It’s sprint time but can Lorena Wiebes win?

2026-08-02T16:09:20.060Z

Lotte Kopecky is leading rhe chase so Wiebes is solo in the sprint.

2026-08-02T16:08:52.562Z

Liv move up to the front and SD Worx only have 1 rider on the front.

2026-08-02T16:08:24.219Z

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) leads by just 15 seconds with 3km to go.

It’s a brave attack but she will surely be caught!

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) stil leads by 30 seconds.

Do SD Worx have the riders to complete the chase?

2026-08-02T16:05:09.555Z

The final 5kms, where GC times are taken in case of a crash, are straight and fast but there is a a pinch point before it.

Stay safe everyone!

2026-08-02T16:00:55.018Z

The peloton can now see Riejanne Markus but she is still 30 second ahead.

Riejanne Markus’ lead is dowe to 30 seconds but she is not fading. Her pedalling style is still fluid and strong.

If SD Worx suffer, she could still have a chance.

2026-08-02T15:58:00.235Z

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) still leads by 30 seconds.

SD Worx are doing all the chasing but seem to be back in control.

Lidl-Trek are sat behind them, protecting Elisa Balsamo. Other teams are there too, waiting for the sprint and trying to work out how to beat Wiebes.

An attack in the last kilometre anyone?

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) is still 50 seconds clear.

The question is: Is she strong and holding off the SD Worx chase? Or are they pacing their chase and will accelerate nearer the finish?

We can now see Anna van der Bregen working on the front, so SD Worx are using every rider they can.

That’s making this finish so fascinating to watch.

2026-08-02T15:49:40.811Z

Allez Riejanne Markus!

2026-08-02T15:43:45.017Z

SD Worx have more riders at the head of the peloton now.

I can count at least 5 riders leading the chase.

Indeed, the gap to Riejanne Markus is falling constantly. The question is if SD Worx catch Riejanne Markus, who will have any strength to lead out Wiebes in the sprint?

Maybe she Wiebes is so strong that she does not need a lead out.

We’ll find out very soon.

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) is a talented rider and proven rouleur. She is a two time Netherlands TT national champion and os perfect for this kind of attack.

She is time trialing to the finish and holding her lead. It’s 1:05 with a flat 25km to ride.

2026-08-02T15:40:17.694Z

Paula Blasi is wearing the best young rider white jersey today. She is no longer an Under 23 rider but the TDFF have changed the rules slightly so include more riders in the special jersey competition.

Matilda Price has the full story after some investigation from Lukas Knöfler.

The descent to the lake is fast.

SD Worx have one rider leading, while Visma have 4.

Many of the riders on the front almost mess up a corner, going long after miss-reading how tight the corner was.

The tension is rising in the race.

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) has pushed out her lead to 55 seconds after attacking the attack but the peloton is riding in s controlled way.

SD Worx have moved off the front. They are trying to tempt other teams to lead the chase but they are hesitating.

Just like yesterday, Lidl are trying to avoid any chasing in the peloton by sacrificing one rider for the attack.

It’s tactical ABC but works. It’s up to SD Worx to chase, but in their absence, Visma are on the front.

It’s gruppo compatto, or almost. The break has been caught but more attacks are being launched.

Teams are trying to test and hurt SD Wrox and Lorena Wiebes.

2026-08-02T15:18:30.280Z

Who will win today?

Wiebes is there, with two SD Worx teammates ahead of her doing the work.

The attack is just 10 seconds ahead.

2026-08-02T15:12:48.516Z

The race is twisting through the vines on the hillside. If a rider is a great descender, they could try to get away.

At the same time, the GC riders will have to be careful here.

Ahead of them, Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) is first to the top of the climb, ahead of Ema Comte (Cofidis).

However the peloton is only 30 seconds behind them now and Wiebes is in the group.

2026-08-02T15:09:00.314Z

We have attacks!

Célia Gery (FDJ) is on the attack. The French national champion goes away with Nina Berton. (EF).

2026-08-02T15:07:32.120Z

The climb rises from the lake, offering great views but lots of pain.

The peloton is only 1:00 down on the five attackers. They could cut the gap massively before the top.

2026-08-02T15:00:17.975Z

SD Worx try to control the peloton on the climb, setting a fast but not too fast pace for Wiebes.

Some riders are dropped but the peloton stays together.

Now it’s time for the next climb, the 23km, 6.5% Côte de Mont-sur-Rolle. It should create more pain and more splits.

2026-08-02T14:57:44.976Z

The peloton hits the climb at high speed but Wiebes was fourth into the climb and so perfectly placed to slip back gradually but stay in the peloton.

Meanwhile the attackers are fighting for the QOM and Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) wins ahead of Ema Comte (Cofidis).

The gap to the peloton a down to just 1:00. That fell quickly!

2026-08-02T14:55:33.520Z

The first climb is the Côte de Bougy-Villars. It is only 900 metres long but the speed in the peloton is very high!

The riders can see Lake Geneva now but face a fast run-in to the finish.

This is going to a high-speed final hour or so of racing.

The five attackers still have a lead of 2:00 but we can expect riders to come across to them from the peloton with attacks.

2026-08-02T14:52:37.960Z

The next 20km will be interesting. There are several short climbs and it could ideal to launch attacks.

Some teams might not wait for a sprint and give Wiebes an easy ride to the finish. They might attack.

Lets hope so.

2026-08-02T14:50:46.560Z

The peloton does not really content the intermediate sprint for the minor points.

Wiebes rode it smart. She stayed on the wheels and then edged clear to score points.

2026-08-02T14:48:30.702Z

Yuliia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) won the sprint.

It’s great to see her flying the flag for the Ukraine at the Tour de France Femmes as national champion.

She is doing her country proud like so many other people of Ukraine.

It’s time for the intermediate sprint.

Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels), Yuliia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi), Carlotta Cipressi (Human Powered Health), Ema Comte (Cofidis) and Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) will take most of the points but who will sprint in the peloton for the lesser points?

If Wiebes sprints, it could be a sign she is going for the green jersey.

2026-08-02T14:43:51.200Z

Dani spoke to Kim Le Court-Pienaar after she finished second to Lorena Wiebes in the Luasanne sprint.

The Mauritian champion called the outcome in Lausanne “a little personal win” as she finished second behind Lorena Wiebes.

Give it a read as we countdown to the sprint finish.

We get a view of the peloton and it offers a chance to see who is leading the chase.

The response is that SD Worx are leading the pace but also trying to entice other tams to do some work on the front.

We can see Movistar up front, Visma on the other side of the road, Fenix down the middle and EF there with four riders.

They are all riding to hold a good position up front to stay safe, while also pushing the pace.

The five attackers are working hard together but their lead is gradually falling.

We seem on track for sprint finish.

2026-08-02T14:25:01.417Z

At the summit of the Côte de Cossonay climb, Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) kicked to try to win the QOM sprint but but Ema Comte (Cofidis) managed to beat her on the line.

2026-08-02T14:22:54.459Z

Sadly Marieke Meert and Elisabeth Ebras of the Lotto Intermarché Ladies have abandoned the TDFF.

It’s hard, intense racing out there, with little chance of survival if a riders is ill or injured.

2026-08-02T14:21:00.212Z

After the flat plateau roads, it’s time for the Côte de Cossonay climb. The Cat 4 climb is 2 kilometres long at an average gradient of 6%.

It’ll be interesting to see if it has any impact on the race.

The break has extended their lead beyond 2:20.

The peloton is rolling along at speed but is in control.

2026-08-02T14:11:18.969Z

The drop in pace in the peloton has allowed Océane Mahé (Ma Petite Entreprise) to get back in the peloton after taking a musette with bidons.

The race is on the exposed open fields on the plateau and the gap continues to rise above 1:30 as teams send back riders to their team cars to take on bidons and ice.

The sprint teams seemed to want to control the race on the climb up from the lake.

They will be happy to let the five riders go out front, to create a steady race.

2026-08-02T14:03:45.559Z

Ema Comte (Cofidis) Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) have crossed to the trio to create a five-rider attack.

Their leads is up to 1:00.

We can see two riders trying to cross to the trio.

Meanwhile, the peloton has eased-up and so the gap will grow quickly.

We finally seem to have the break of the stage, after a fast opening 60km.

2026-08-02T13:58:59.400Z

The attackers are:

Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels), Yuliia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) and Carlotta Cipressi (Human Powered Health)

2026-08-02T13:56:07.443Z

We have an attack and it could be going clear!

2026-08-02T13:50:10.871Z

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The early climbing is done and now the riders face a long, gradual descent on the plateau roads above the lake.

It must be a great place to ride.

2026-08-02T13:43:42.061Z

So far, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) has been able to stay in the peloton.

She looks great in yellow.

2026-08-02T13:42:44.108Z

We perhaps have other contenders for the QOM competition

Marion Bunel (Visma-Lease a Bike) was the first to the top of the Côte de Savigny.

Maëva Squiban (UAE Team L’Imad) was second and so scored 1 point.

2026-08-02T13:40:18.572Z

Océane Mahé (Ma Petite Entreprise) made the headlines by going on the attack and winning the QOM jersey.

Unfortunately she is suffering on the early climbs.

2026-08-02T13:38:39.526Z

This is as great shot of the racing in the hills overlooking Lake Geneva.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-08-02T13:35:37.760Z

We like this POV but it must be hard to race on a climb like this.

The riders have covered close to 45km but the peloton is still together, apart from riders who were dropped on the first climb.

Next up is the Côte de Savigny. It is a Cat 4 climb and laats 2.5 kilometres at an average gradient of 5%.

2026-08-02T13:29:40.009Z

It’s interesting to see that Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-EasyPost) was the first to the summit of the climb.

She scored 3 points for the QOM competition, with Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) scoring 2 points and her teammate Sara Casasola taking 1 point.

That’s an indication that both Kerbaol and Pieterse could be targetting the QOM jersey.

2026-08-02T13:22:38.903Z

It’s interesting to see that Uno-X is doing a lot of the chasing to keep the race together.

It’s working so far, with all the attacks brought under control, even on the lower part of the climb above Lake Geneva.

2026-08-02T13:16:32.449Z

As the road climbs, we have two riders on the attack. Allez!

2026-08-02T13:11:41.037Z

The next 80km are in the hills, with the five QOM categorised climbs.

This will change the racing. The GC riders will be careful, the attackers who can climb will try to get away, while the sprinters and their teams will try to pace their effort, hoping to have the strength to chase down any attacks and then win in Geneva.

The work of the best sprint domestiques will be vital for the next two hours as the stage tactics play out.

The riders have raced along the lake shore so far soon they turn right into the hills and climb the 3.2km long Côte de Chexbres.

We expect that to change the race and see different kind of riders attack.

2026-08-02T13:07:34.654Z

Green jersey wearer Idoia Eraso (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) has been on the attack several times but rival teams keep chasing the moves.

More attacks and more chasing, so again it’s gruppo compatto – all together.

2026-08-02T12:58:14.997Z

It’s great to see Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) again on the attack. The Canadian Paris-Roubaix winner tried to go across to the four-rider attack on stage 1 but was unable to make it on one of the climbs.

True to character, she is trying again.

2026-08-02T12:56:25.030Z

Wise words from Soraya Paladin.

Other riders want a shot at a stage victory but SDWorx and other sprinter teams will work to control any attacks and then keep them under control.

For SD Worx, it’s better to have a reduced-number attack from riders from the smaller teams.

For the GC riders, they have to stay safe, avoid any crashes and time losses. That’s easier said than done.

2026-08-02T12:49:55.836Z

This is a great shot of the peloton.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-08-02T12:49:17.353Z

This photo shows the aggressive start to stage 2.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

This is what Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) said at the start.

This morning Brodie Chapman (UAE Team L’Imad) had to abandon due to illness.

Alpecin-Premier Tech’s Christina Schweinberger is also a DNS after breaking her wrist in a crash yesterday.

They’re off! The flag has dropped the stage has officially started.

2026-08-02T12:26:12.521Z

In truth, the riders pass the UCI HQ in the neutralised sector.

Km 0 is on the Route de Savolar, some 4.5km from the assembly point.

2026-08-02T12:24:45.473Z

C’est Parti! The race announces does the countdown and they’re off! Stage 2 is underway.

2026-08-02T12:24:09.855Z

The 147.9km stage heads north and then follows around the north shore of Lake Geneva via th hills.

2026-08-02T12:22:51.392Z

There’s time for a last selfie and then the stage will start.

2026-08-02T12:21:23.911Z

AS the clock tics down to the stage start, the riders are lining up with Wiebes on the front of the grid in the leader’s yellow jersey.

She is joined by Idoia Eraso (Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi) who wears green for Wiebes, QOM Océane Mahé (Ma Petite Entreprise) wears the polka-dot jersey and Paula Blasi (UAE Team L’IMAD) wears the best young rider white jersey.

2026-08-02T12:15:54.125Z

And this is the stage profile. It includes 1800m of altitude and five categorised climbs but the final 40km are flat and so favour the sprint teams.

(Image credit: ASO)

2026-08-02T12:13:37.267Z

This is the stage 2 map.

(Image credit: ©GEOATLAS)

2026-08-02T12:13:01.074Z

10 minutes to the start of the stage!

2026-08-02T12:12:39.811Z

The SD Worx team is the last on the sign-on stage after Wiebes’ win on Saturday.

She is the huge favourite for today too but her teammates will surely have to do a lot of work to chase any attacks.

2026-08-02T12:09:55.259Z

The Liv AlUla Jayco stands out but so does the Mackenzie Coupland Australian national champion’s jersey.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-08-02T12:02:43.545Z

Demi Vollering and her teammates signed-on wearing ice-vests to try to stay cool.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-08-02T12:01:40.966Z

This is the first view of Lorena Wiebes in the yellow jersey.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-08-02T11:57:05.784Z

We’re 25 minutes from the start of the stage.

2026-08-02T11:56:35.918Z

Which sprinter is your pick for stage 2?

Have your say via our poll at the top of our Live coverage.

I voted for Elisa Balsamo because she’s probably the only rider who can somehow beat Lorena Wiebes.

2026-08-02T11:54:33.205Z

Demi Vollering and her FDJ United-Suez teammates are at the sign-on. They’re wearing the new Red Bull helmets after the new sponsorship.

Cyclingnews has the full story.

2026-08-02T11:48:52.806Z

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2026-08-02T11:47:59.532Z

Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) could be a threat to Wiebes in a sprint finish.

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) is the big favourite to win a second stage in a row and while wearing the yellow jersey.

The stage starts in the centre of Aigle and ends after 147.9km in Geneva, on the edge of the lake.

2026-08-02T11:11:54.513Z

Hello and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of the Tour de France Femmes.