The 2026 Tour de France Femmes kicks off with its Swiss Grand Départ — a 138 km loop around Lausanne that looks tame on paper but hides a real fight for the first yellow jersey. This route animation covers every kilometre, from the Lake Geneva shoreline to an uphill finish in the heart of the city.
📍 Stage 1 Overview
– Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026
– Distance: 138 km — Lausanne → Lausanne (loop)
– Classification: Flat (with a sting in the finish)
– Elevation gain: 1,545m
– Neutralised start: 14:15 CEST | Expected finish: ~17:44 CEST
🗺 Route Breakdown
– Starts on the Lake Geneva shoreline at Avenue de Rhodanie, heading north past Yverdon-les-Bains toward Lake Neuchâtel
– Route swings east through Vaud and Fribourg before turning back via Moudon, Chexbres, Saint-Saphorin, Cully and Lutry, skirting the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards
– Three categorised climbs along the way, cresting at km 49.1, 83.5, and 97.1
– Final climb: Côte Saint-François — 2.5 km at 4.6%, finishing on Place Saint-François after a 400m final straight
🏆 Officially labelled “flat,” but with a punchy uphill finish, this stage suits a rider who can sprint after climbing — similar to the stage where Marianne Vos claimed the first yellow jersey of the 2025 race. Expect the opening GC gaps of the race to open right here.
🔗 Full coverage, live standings & stage-by-stage updates: franceletour.com
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