La Vuelta Femenina stage 1 LIVE: Race kicks off on hilly route in Galicia

The peloton is now beginning the second categorised climb of the day - it's a tougher challenge, with an average gradient of 5.8% and one short section at over 10% - we can expect to see Squiban on the offensive again, to consolidate her early lead in the QOM competiton. But can anyone make a breakaway stick?

Squiban wins first QOM battle

With the second of two climbs approaching, two-time Tour de France stage winner in 2025 Maëva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ) has set out her stall, attacking at the summit of the Ato do Cruceiro to take the maximum available points in the QOM competition. Here are the complete standings atop the climb.

1. Maëva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ) 6pts
2. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (IG Insurance-Soudal) 4pts
3. Yuliia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) 2pts
4. Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Oatly) 1pt

Biriukova is caught. The top teams in the bunch are controlling the attacks at this point in the race. On a relatively short stage, and the first of the race, there is bound to be tension in the group.

75km to go

The first hour of racing, and the first climb of the 2026 Vuelta Femenina, is complete.

A new attacker tries her luck on the descent from the climb - Yuliia Biriukova of Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi.

The complete peloton taking on stage 1 of La Vuelta Femenina.

80km to go

The peloton is complete as the race begins the first climb of the day, the Alto do Cruceiro. As yet, no breakaway attempt has been successful.

Who will make it to the top first and claim the first available QOM points?

There's no time trial in this year's race - the organisers opted to leave out the opening stage team time trial that has kicked off proceedings since the race began in its new extended format in 2022.

There is plenty of variation during the seven days, however, with arguably the toughest final mountain test in the race's history, as the women will battle up the mighty Angliru.

Read our in-depth route analysis to find out what lies in wait for the participants at the 2026 edition of the race.

Despite the wet conditions, riders begin to shed layers as they prepare for action.

The first attacker of the race is Andrea Casagranda from the Italian continental team, Vini Fantini-BePink, but she is caught by the pursuing peloton.

No breakaway as yet, with just over 10 kilometres of racing having elapsed.

While there is plenty to do for the fast women at the conclusion of today's stage, there's also an opportunity for attacking riders to fight for the first polka dot Queen of the Mountains jersey, with two categorised climbs appearing on today's route.

Both category 3, the climbs come in quick succession - the first, the Alto do Cruceiro, appears after 38 kilometres. It's a 7.8 kilometre challenge at an average gradient of 4.6%. After that, the Alto da Portela features, around 50 kilometres into the day's action. It's a shorter test at 3.6 kilometres, but with a steeper average pitch of 5.8%, it could offer a launchpad to any riders looking to pick up QOM points, or even making a late breakaway attempt.

In addition to the honour of wearing the first red leader's jersey of the race, today's first stage will also see the fight for the green points jersey kick off in earnest, with the favourites for the stage's punchy uphill finish last year's green jersey winner Marianne Vos (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) and winner of Milano-Sanremo in March, Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx-ProTime).

An intermediate sprint with just 12 kilometres remaining on the stage will bring all the contenders to the fore, ahead of what's guaranteed to be an explosive finale in Salvaterra de Miño.

The action kicks off in Spain

The flag drops and the action is underway at the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina, with the first attacks flying off from the peloton.

Winner of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, much attention will be directed towards Visma-Lease a Bike's Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. She cannot be counted out as a GC threat, despite the fact she is building towards a defence of her title in France in July.

Breakout star of the spring Classics, winning Amstel Gold Race and finishing in the top five of all three Ardennes Classics, home talent Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) will hope to make an impression on her debut at La Vuelta Femenina.

One of the favourites for this year's overall victory, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM-zondacrypto, greets the crowd ahead of today's first stage.

Bad weather, but good vibes, on the start line at La Vuelta Femenina.

It's a wet day in Marín as the race rolls out for the neutralised start. Stage 1 will be underway shortly.

The race gets underway

Demi Vollering (FDJ SUEZ) reigned supreme at last year's Vuelta Femenina, but the Dutchwoman does not return to defend her title this year, shifting focus instead to the Giro d'Italia Women after a strong Classics campaign.

There are no shortage of contenders for the overall victory, however - check out our guide to the key contenders for an insight into who to look out for on the Spanish roads over the next seven days.

Beginning in Marín, and heading south to Salvaterra de Miño, the race gets underway with the neutralised start at 11:20 CET.

Today's stage features two categorised climbs, along with an uphill finish which will decide who will be the first owner of the red leader's jersey.

Welcome to live coverage of stage 1 of La Vuelta Femenina. Grand Tour season begins with a punchy 113km in the north-west of Spain, in the region of Galicia.

Stay with us all day for updates from the race.