The 2026 WorldTour got underway Saturday in South Australia with the first stage of the 10th Women’s Tour Down Under. Kiwi Ally Wollaston took the sprint victory and the first leader’s jersey after her FDJ United-Suez team worked tirelessly in the peloton. In her first day racing with Visma-Lease a Bike, Canadian Sarah van Dam placed fifth in the sprint. After winning the day’s intermediate sprint, Olivia Baril was third in the GC.

Preamble

It would be a bit deceptive to claim the riders would be climbing Willunga Hill thrice in 137 km including a summit finish. Willunga would be the 500 metres of 3.8 percent instead of the usual 3.2 km of 7.2 percent. Thankfully, it wasn’t too hot.

The abridged version of Willunga dominated Stage 1. Image by La FlammeRouge

Last season, world champion Magdeleine Vallieres’ EF Education-Oatley teammate Noemi Rüegg claimed the title. Canada’s Sarah van Dam was third in the sprint competition.

The world champion behind the director’s car in the neutral zone.

The other Canadians were Olivia Baril of Movistar and Human Powered Health’s Maggie Coles-Lyster.

At the first intermediate sprint at Aldinga Beach, Baril took maximum points and bonus seconds.

Baril takes the day’s intermediate sprint.

Italy’s Alessia Vigilia celebrated her debut with Uno-X by staging the first WorldTour breakaway of 2026. She was free to ramble over Willunga Jr. twice. Vigilia’s gap finally dropped below a minute with 15 kilometers to go. Then the lead stabilized at 50 seconds.

With 5 km to go, Vallieres moved up on the right side, bringing van Dam with her.

The rainbow jersey with yellow-clad van Dam behind her.

A crash with 2 km remaining delayed the peloton further. Vigilia turned herself inside out on Willunga. Finally she was overwhelmed with 200 meters to go. The Kiwi hit the gas and claimed a big win.
2026 Tour Down Under, Stage 1
1) Ally Wollaston (New Zealand/FDJ United-Suez) 3:28:31
2) Josie Nelson (Great Britain/Picnic-PostNL) s.t.
3) Femke Gerritse (The Netherlands/SD Worx-Protime) s.t.
5) Sarah van Dam (Canada/Visma-Lease a Bike) s.t.
20) Olivia Baril (Canada/Movistar) s.t.