Tour de France Femmes stage 2 LIVE: Lorena Wiebes the favourite to win in yellow

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.

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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)

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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.

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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.