Stage 1 starts and finishes in Lausanne over 137 km and is officially classified as flat, which makes the opening yellow jersey a realistic target for the faster finishers.
Route and profile
A flat classification at the Grand Départ does not mean a stress-free opener, but it does shift the emphasis toward control, positioning, and protecting sprinters rather than toward an early mountain verdict.
How the stage could race
Expect the teams with sprint ambitions to take responsibility quickly. The first stage of a Grand Tour still comes with nerves, but the route type points toward a fast finish.
Who it suits
A high-speed finisher with good opening-day support should have the edge.
Prospective winners
The current preliminary startlist is still incomplete, but the riders already listed who best fit this stage are Marianne Vos, Elisa Balsamo, Rachele Barbieri.
This Local startlist is an initial partial import from the current ProCyclingStats startlist page on March 10, 2026, not a complete official roster.
Go back to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 edition page, open the Stage 1 stage page, or check the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2026 startlist for the broader race context.