Key events<\/p>\n
Wiebes strikes again to deny Markus<\/p>\n
Lorena Wiebes sprinted to victory on the second stage of the Tour de France Femmes<\/a> on Sunday after a lakeside run from Aigle to Geneva in Switzerland.<\/p>\n The Dutch rider backed up her stage-one win on Saturday, bursting clear in the yellow jersey from 250m to win by a distance.<\/p>\n The time-trial specialist Riejanne Markus led the race alone over the final 39km and suffered the agony of being overtaken by the chasing pack less than 500m from the finish line.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were chasing all day,\u201d Wiebes said of the 3hrs 42min slog. \u201cAnd then Reijanne added to that. In the end I managed to get a clear run and gave it all over the last 250m,\u201d said the SD Worx-Protime star, who now has a record seven Tour de France Femmes stage wins.<\/p>\n Wiebes holds a 14sec lead over Kim Le Court and 16sec on Demi Vollering thanks to taking bonus seconds for her two wins. Italian Elisa Balsamo was second on the day and Dutch veteran Marianne Vos was third. AFP<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s the GC standings after stage two.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t get to mention Kim Le Court or Demi Vollering much today as it was just so tight in the pack. But both riders hoping\/aiming to finish this Tour in yellow had good days \u2013 they came through it unscathed with, you suspect, the big tests for both still to come.<\/p>\n 1. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lorena Wiebes speaks: \u201cThe girls were chasing full, full gas in the final 2km to chase back Riejanne Markus \u2013 and it makes it all the more special to finish it in the yellow.\u201d<\/p>\n She praises the hard work of her SD-Worx team, putting her in the position to secure victory. \u201cEvery sprint is quite exciting. If you make a small mistake the sprint is over \u2013 so I\u2019m still nervous when it comes to the sprint.\u201d<\/p>\n She\u2019s making her rivals pretty nervous too; a sublime display so far in this year\u2019s Tour.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Stage two result<\/p>\n 1) Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) Wiebes will wear the yellow jersey again tomorrow, naturally. That\u2019s what happens when you win two stages out of two.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Well, a dramatic finish there \u2013 Riejanne Markus made such a bold solo break, but once the pack caught here there was only one likely winner. Lorena Wiebes veered off to the right, finding the space as the best do, and just accelerated for the finish.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Lorena Wiebes wins stage two!<\/p>\n Lorena Wiebes wins her second stage of the Tour! Markus is eaten up in the final kilometre \u2013 and in the bunch sprint it was the yellow jersey, the world\u2019s fastest sprinter, who proves it again by rocketing for the line.<\/p>\n Team SD Worx – Protime’s Lorena Wiebes celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win stage 2. Photograph: Denis Balibouse\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.17 EDT<\/p>\n 1km to go: Markus leads but the gap is six seconds and coming down! What does she have left?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2km to go: The gap to Markus is down to 12 seconds. It\u2019s a truly packed pack \u2013 SD Worx have used a lot riders to bring this gap down.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3km to go: Marianne Vos edges towards the front of the peloton, but there\u2019s no many contenders scrapping for position, including Britain\u2019s Zoe Backstedt. The gap to Markus is down to 17sec! She\u2019s getting reeled in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5km to go: We are looking at a grandstand shootout finish, unless Markus can cling on. It is sooo condensed in the pack with no one rider pulling clear! Markus still has that 30sec edge. For now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7km to go: Riejanne Markus powers onwards, what a battling display this is, no matter the end result. She\u2019s still 30sec ahead as she glugs some delicious water and pushes again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 9km to go: The peloton really is tightly packed, so we\u2019ll be set for a real sprint finish \u2013 if Markus is caught. She gets whoops of support from the Tour fans as she takes a right turn down towards the lake.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11km to go: Markus is a time trial specialist, so perhaps the solo break won\u2019t faze her. The gap is steady for now at just over 30 seconds! When will the peloton start to kick on as we wind our way down towards the lake?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14km to go: Riejanne Markus has a 30sec lead out in front now. The chasing pack are probably timing this right to reel her in, you suspect, as much as she\u2019s digging deep. The Dutch rider has a quick glance back, then gets back to powering forward.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16km to go: Anna van der Breggen takes the lead of the peloton, she\u2019s giving it a bit of welly \u2013 with Markus\u2019s lead down to 43sec. Intriguingly poised.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19km to go: Plenty of roadside support for the riders near Lake Geneva, which looks wonderfully verdant beside the blue water. Clear skies. I wonder if we\u2019ll see any bigger gaps emerge in the peloton? It\u2019s still largely just one pack with Markus out in front.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.49 EDT<\/p>\n 22km to go: Riejanne Markus\u2019s lead comes down to 55sec. The peloton, which is up to around 80 riders, is closing gradually but surely.<\/p>\n Riejanne Markus of Netherlands and Team Lidl – Trek. Photograph: Tim de Waele\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.49 EDT<\/p>\n It\u2019s hot \u2013 well above 30C. No parasols or umbrellas for the riders, of course.<\/p>\n The peloton passes through the village of Bougy-Villars. Photograph: Jean-Christophe Bott\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n 26km to go: Lorena Wiebes is placed close to the front of the peloton, which will be unwanted news from anyone not associated with her SD Worx-Protime team. Markus has a lead of 1min 13sec; head down she\u2019s pushing hard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29km to go: We\u2019re getting to the business end now. It\u2019s all flat or downhill to the finish at Quai du Mont-Blanc. Riejanne Markus is just over a minute out in front in a solo lead but can the Lidl-Trek rider stay in front of the pack?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 32km to go: Oc\u00e9ane Mah\u00e9 will wear the polka dots again tomorrow \u2013 her eight points overall put her ahead of the big points-gatherers of today: Anouska Koster (seven) and Ema Comte (six) in the QoM stakes. Great news for Mah\u00e9\u2019s Ma Petite Entreprise team.<\/p>\n One fan\/chump almost gets in the way of peloton as he leans into the road and mugs for the TV cameras, almost getting in the way of the riders. Thankfully they just about steer clear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.32 EDT<\/p>\n 35km to go: Riejanne Markus has a 50-second lead on the peloton, which is lead by Paula Blasi. Comte has dropped back after a great effort today. The pack aren\u2019t really trying to chase down Markus (yet).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 37km to go: Now it\u2019s Riejanne Markus who makes an attempt a solo break! The Dutch rider overtakes Comte and jumps into the lead. Can she pull away?<\/p>\n Jez Smith emails: \u201cI\u2019m appreciating your updates as I wait with my parents, wife and son for the race to pass. We are at Bellevue, a pretty lakeside village about 5km from the finish.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s 34C here and feels really hot just standing still by the roadside. The riders are doing tremendously well, given the heat. The publicity caravan was a lot of fun. I got my son a laughing cow and king of the mountains T-shirts. Though I suspect I was an embarrassing father to my too cool for skool son Rufus!\u201d<\/p>\n That is certainly pretty toasty, Jez. Now I want a laughing cow T-shirt.<\/p>\n Laughing Cow T-shirt. Photograph: Jez SmithShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.37 EDT<\/p>\n 39km to go: Ema Comte takes a turn at going on the offensive. The French rider pulls away for an attempted solo break! There\u2019s no more official climbs but it\u2019s hardly flat, a couple of hills still to come.<\/p>\n Ema Comte of France and Team Cofidis Women cools down in the breakaway. Photograph: Tim de Waele\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.55 EDT<\/p>\n 41km to go: So Gery, Berton and Amanda Spratt have joined the breakaway group \u2013 but they\u2019re unable to pull away from the peloton who are looming ominously behind them! Nina Berton makes another push to build a real gap.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 47km to go: C\u00e9lia Gery goes on the attack! She\u2019s pulled away from the peloton and Nina Berton is going with her.<\/p>\n At the summit of the fifth and final climb, Koster takes the three points again, Comte in second and then Jansen. The exact same order as the fourth.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 48km to go: The gap to the breakaway group is under 40 seconds \u2013 but they are on the fifth climb. Biriukova has fallen back and been caught by the pack.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of Mauritius watching Kim and rooting for her,\u201d emails Marc Hein, Le Court of course starting this stage second.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 50km to go: The peloton, about 30 riders in number, is tackling the climb. A brutal one in 30C+ temperatures!<\/p>\n The gap to the breakaway five is 1min 20sec, who are approaching the fifth and final classified climb: C\u00f4te de Monts-sur-Rolles, 2.3km at a 6.5% gradient.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.04 EDT<\/p>\n 52km to go: The breakaway sprint for the summit \u2013 and it\u2019s Anouska Koster who times it right this time to pick up three points, Ema Comte is next followed by Eline Jansen in third. The peloton are eating into the lead of the breakaway but let\u2019s see how it plays out after this climb. We have a fast descent to come next.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 53km to go: On to the fourth classified climb, C\u00f4te de Bougy-Villars. It\u2019s only 900m but it\u2019s a narrow road and steep (with a 10.4% gradient) \u2013 the peloton will have to spread out a bit.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.56 EDT<\/p>\n 55km to go: Wiebes leads the peloton across the line \u2013 she\u2019s said she\u2019s not aiming for the green jersey. But you never know. The gap is 2min 50sec to the breakaway but is coming down a bit now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.53 EDT<\/p>\n 57km to go: Yuliia Biriukova takes the 25 points (no bonus seconds on offer) for the intermediate sprint. Jansen, Cipressi, Comte and Koster follow her. The Ukrainian Biriukova wasn\u2019t really challenged; the five riders in the breakaway obviously not wanting to disrupt the pace of their group as they look to increase their gap on the chasing pack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.50 EDT<\/p>\n 60km to go: The intermediate sprint in Lavigny is imminent \u2013 500 metres to go \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 63km to go: We\u2019ve had some race abandonments, alas \u2013 three from Lotto Intermarch\u00e9 Ladies. Elisabeth Ebras, Marieke Meert and Sterre Vervloet are all gone, which is a real shame. You have to hope that\u2019s not the sign of an illness going through the team. Laura Molenaar of Volkerwessels has also withdrawn.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.43 EDT<\/p>\n 66km to go: The gap to the breakaway five at the front is just under two minutes. The average speed for the second hour of stage two is 38.8km\/h, which is brisk enough.<\/p>\n Plenty of bumps to come \u2013 we\u2019ve got some undulating road before the next official climb: C\u00f4te de Bougy-Villars, which is short but very steep.<\/p>\n Anouska Koster of team Uno-X Mobility in the front of a breakaway group. Photograph: Jean-Christophe Bott\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.37 EDT<\/p>\n 71km to go: This \u201cflat\u201d stage certainly does look pretty hilly to my non-expert eyes. Merciless, the Tour, even in these early stages.<\/p>\n Confirmation that Ema Comte picked up two points for being first across the line on today\u2019s third climb, pipping Anouska Koster who picks up a point for second.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.31 EDT<\/p>\n 73km to go: A reminder that the five-rider breakaway (now up to 2min 20sec) is Eline Jansen, Yuliia Biriukova, Carlotta Cipressi, Anouska Koster and Ema Comte.<\/p>\n The last two contest the sprint at the at the summit of the C\u00f4te de Cossonay. Did Comte just nick it ahead of Koster? TBC, it was very close. We await confirmation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 77km to go: The gap from those breakaway riders to the pack is up to two minutes. We\u2019re past halfway through the stage and the C\u00f4te de Cossonay is about to begin \u2013 the third of today\u2019s climbs with a 5.66% gradient.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIf she sees a finish line, she explodes,\u201d warns Danny Stam, team manager of SD Worx\u2011Protime, of his star sprinter Lorena Wiebes. But he\u2019s realistic about the aim of a second successive stage win. \u201cIt\u2019s really hard to control the race. I don\u2019t want to build the team too early \u2026 we hope we can create a bunch sprint but it will not be easy.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 84km to go: We\u2019re going through Assens \u2013 downhill with a way to go before the next climb: the category four C\u00f4te de Cossonay midway through the stage. Oc\u00e9ane Mah\u00e9 is back up with the peloton. Good to see.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 89km to go: Eline Jansen, Yuliia Biriukova and Carlotta Cipressi are the trio of riders leading a breakaway \u2013 Ema Comte and Anouska Koster are aiming to stay with them. One minute and seven seconds is the gap to the peloton.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A spectacular view for these two Tour fans in Chexbres \u2013 known as the \u201cBalcony of Lake Geneva\u201d. You can see why.<\/p>\n The peloton passes by on stage two. Photograph: Jean-Christophe Bott\/Keystone\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n 95km to go: The pack still very much together, although Mah\u00e9 is now around 40 second back in the polka dots \u2026 As I type that Eline Jansen goes on the attack! The young Dutch rider is attempting to make the day\u2019s first decisive break. Who will go with her?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jeremy Boyce emails, in praise of Ma Petite Entreprise \u2013 well said. It was a great story from stage one.<\/p>\n \u201cHad a lovely ride myself this morning (need to get out early, I live in the south of France, it\u2019s 36C now), now following the women on Eurosport and your pages. How great a concept is Team Ma Petite Entreprise?<\/p>\n \u201cIt takes vision to come up with that kind of idea, then the energy to make it work. As you say, their Tour is already made after yesterday, they can enjoy themselves now. They\u2019ve just interviewed the MPE Race manager and he comes across as a very switched on guy, he was very complimentary about Oc\u00e9ane Mah\u00e9, she\u2019s still studying alongside her MPE rides.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish them luck, I wish the Tour Femmes luck too, if the dosh was there MPE might not exist, but they\u2019ve done a great job creating LTF in its new\/current format. A lot of this is down to Marion Rousse, and the willingness of Le Tour management to get behind her and the rest of the women.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 100km to go: The second climb of the day is won by Marion Bunel, ahead of Ma\u00ebva Squiban. A few more contenders for the QoM. In other news, Lorena Wiebes in the yellow jersey has managed to stay with the peloton in the hills, which could be bad news for her rival sprinters. We shall see! This race is rarely predictable.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.50 EDT<\/p>\n 105km to go: We\u2019re on to the second climb, the category four C\u00f4te de Savigny \u2013 the pace remains pretty high, any attempted breakaways still being swallowed up. Oc\u00e9ane Mah\u00e9 in polka-dot jersey has dropped back, however. Possibly paying for yesterday\u2019s immense effort.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 108km to go: The average speed is 38.6kph for the first hour. Not too slouchy, all things considered, on a hot day. So Kerbaol picks up three points for that first climb, the EF Education-Oatly rider might be targeting the Queen of the Mountains jersey.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 111km to go: I told you what a tightly packed peloton it was in the early going \u2013 as you can see for yourself.<\/p>\n That said, it\u2019s starting to spread out a bit now, with C\u00e9drine Kerbaol first to the top of the opening climb on C\u00f4te de Chexbres, followed by Puck Pieterse in second and Sara Casasola in third.<\/p>\n The peloton passes through the village of Chexbres. Photograph: Jean-Christophe Bott\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n A reminder that while scenic Switzerland is home for the entirety of this stage, next year the Grand D\u00e9part for both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s race is the UK.<\/p>\n The Tour de France Femmes<\/a> races from Leeds to Manchester, then to Sheffield and also includes a central London stage. Allez! Or as we say in Blighty: go!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 115km to go: We\u2019re into the hills now, the first of the five climbs well under way as the riders head up to the summit of the C\u00f4te de Chexbres (3.2km at a 5.6% gradient). We\u2019re in the hills for the next 70km or so.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 117km to go: Several more attacks, Alison Jackson pushing again and Idoia Eraso (wearing the green jersey) also involved in a few moves. But once again; nothing decisive. It\u2019s all still very tight in Vevey.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n France\u2019s Oc\u00e9ane Mah\u00e9 is wearing the polka dot Queen of the Mountains jersey today. An incredible result for the Ma Petite Entreprise team, who will be delighted \u2013 their Tour made on stage one, in fact!<\/p>\n Ma Petite Entreprise’s Oc\u00e9ane Mah\u00e9 celebrates on the podium wearing the polka-dot jersey. Photograph: Denis Balibouse\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n 125km to go: Still very few gaps in the peloton. Alison Jackson is part of a group that eke out a small opening, but the Canadian and her compadres are soon caught up. No major moves as yet!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lorena Wiebes on her win yesterday: \u201cThe sprint was hectic and it was mostly about staying upright. The last kilometres were a real fight for position and quite technical along the canal. In a sprint you can never be sure, you have to find the right gap \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI got in a good position and from there I could ride my own sprint. It\u2019s nice to already have a stage in my pocket. I hope to be able to strike again.\u201d<\/p>\n Ominous words! Let\u2019s see if Wiebes can indeed strike a second time \u2013 you wouldn\u2019t bet against her if she\u2019s lurking at the finish.<\/p>\n Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) at the start of the second stage of the Women’s Tour de France. Photograph: Jean-Christophe Bott\/Keystone\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n 135km to go: The pack largely together in the early going \u2013 despite a few moves \u2013 nothing decisive so far. We\u2019re still around 15km from the first climb.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A quick reminder of what happened on stage one as today\u2019s action gets properly under way. Jeremy Whittle was on the scene for us in Lausanne.<\/p>\n double quotation markLorena Wiebes took the first yellow jersey of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes after climbing the C\u00f4te Saint-Fran\u00e7ois and outsprinting race favourites Kim Le Court and 2023 champion, Demi Vollering.<\/p>\n \u201cThe team worked super hard today,\u201d Wiebes said. \u201cWhen Demi attacked, I knew I had to follow. It was a long sprint, but I\u2019m super happy.\u201d<\/p>\n It was the Dutch rider\u2019s sixth stage win in the Tour de France Femmes. The 27-year-old also won the opening stage of the 2026 women\u2019s Giro d\u2019Italia in May but was disqualified because her bike had an illegal weight, an outcome which left her team considering legal action against cycling\u2019s governing body, the UCI.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So at a tick before 1.30pm (BST) the racing begins! The 143 riders are officially in competitive action in Switzerland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Top 10 GC after stage one<\/p>\n 1) Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) 3hrs 29min 01sec How the riders shape up after stage one. You might not think it matters too much in GC terms, but a reminder that Vollering lost the 2024 Tour de France Femmes<\/a> by just four seconds. So every small advantage counts.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.12 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n Welcome to stage two of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes<\/a> \u2013 Aigle to Geneva \u2013 and officially categorised as flat but containing five categorised climbs on the route. Just cruel if you ask me. That said, the final climb is more than 40km from the finish, so we\u2019re likely in for a bunch sprint.<\/p>\n That, of course, could play into the hands of one Lorena Wiebes \u2013 your race leader after her victory on stage one<\/a>. The Dutch sprinting ace finished ahead of Kim Le Court and the pre-race GC favourite Demi Vollering, who are second and third respectively after a dramatic day.<\/p>\n Stage two is 147.9km and the route passes close by the UCI headquarters and the World Cycling<\/a> Centre, then heads along Lake Geneva, before the finish on Quai du Mont-Blanc. It should look wonderfully picturesque. For us, if not for all of the riders toiling away in the heat. The first climb comes about 30km in with the C\u00f4te de Chexbres.<\/p>\n The neutralised start is at 1.20pm (2.20pm CET) before they reach kilometre zero and the racing begins. Stay with us for updates!<\/p>\n
2. Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) +14sec
3. Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) +16sec
4. Noemi R\u00fcegg (EF Education-Oatly) +20sec
5. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L\u2019Imad) +20sec<\/p>\n
2) Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
3) Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
4) Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal)
5) Letizia Paternoster (Liv-AlUla-Jayco)<\/p>\n
2) Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) +0:04sec
3) Demi Vollering (FDJ United\u2013Suez) +0:06sec
4) Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) +0:10sec
5) Noemi R\u00fcegg (EF Education-Oatly) +0:10sec
6) Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L\u2019Imad) +0:10sec
7) Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) +0:10sec
8) Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot (Visma-Lease a Bike) +0:10sec
9) C\u00e9drine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) +0:10sec
10) Marlen Reusser (Movistar) +0:10sec<\/p>\n