Tour de France Femmes stage 1 LIVE: All the action from the opening stage in Switzerland

The attacks begin, with a number of the smaller teams trying to place riders in the break of the day.

We expect the early moves to be chased down before the peloton eventually lets a small group go before SDWorx and other sprint teams control the gap.

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OFFICIAL START

Here we go! It's time to race.

It's always interesting to hear what Lidl-Trek sports director Ina-Yoko Teutenberg has to say about the stage.

Cyclingnews can reveal some big breaking news about the involvement of Red Bull in women's cycling.

Demi Vollering and her FDJ United-Suez teammates are wearing new Red Bull helmets for the stage, marking the start of a new sponsorship.

Red Bull set to partner with FDJ United-SUEZ as riders wear branded helmets at Tour de France Femmes Grand Départ

This was the moment of the roll out. due ot the slow pace through Lausanne, the official stage start is still 5km away.

The TDFF continues to grow and this year has a stacked GC battle on the tough course could take it to even higher heights.

Matilda Price wrote this personal prediction piece as she travelled to Lausanne. It provides perfect context on what we can expect from what is the fifth edition of the modern Tour de France Femmes.

Five years in, this Tour de France Femmes looks like it will be the best edition yet

This is the full race route map and stages of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes.

We'll have live coverage and the best updates, news, interviews and analysis every day.

The riders face a 9.2km neutralised sector through the streets of Lausanne before the 138km stage officially begins.

C'est Parti! The race announcer shouts out across Lausanne and the riders roll out. The 2026 Tour de France Femmes is underway.

We're close to the stage start. The Swiss and French national anthems have been played.

It's time to race!

The testing race route means this year's race is widen open. For example it will be fascinating to see what happens at UAE Team L'IMAD.

Who is the protected team leader and what will role will La Vuelta Feminina winner Paula Blasi have?

Is there Tour de France Femmes tension brewing at UAE Team L'IMAD?

The riders are lining up for the start as the minutes count down.

There are just five minutes to the start of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes.

This is the map of stage 1. The 138km loop heads north and then south back to Lausanne

It's hot in Lausanne today, 25C and will be 27C during the stage, so riders are wearing ice vests to stay cool. They are also warming up for a fast, aggressive start to the stage.

Vollering spoke on Friday afternoon and Cyclingnews was there.

"I think now what has changed mostly is that I come quite calm into this Tour de France," she said.

"I don't have the feeling that I need to save my season, for example, on this Tour because I've won already so many beautiful races, and I've really enjoyed this whole season with the whole team. We did such a great beginning of the season already."

This is our full story on Vollering's hopes and ambitions for the Tour.

'Pressure is a privilege' – Calm, mature Demi Vollering taking Tour de France Femmes favourite status in her stride as search to reclaim yellow continues

Demi Vollering and her FDJ United-Suez are on stage.

Vollering admits she is emotional to be back at the Tour, indeed, she isa almost in tears due to the emotions.

Interestingly, Vollering and the FDJ riders are wearing Red Bull sponsored helmets. Is this the start of something new for the French team?

We are about to find out.

This is our stage 2 preview.

The stage has been classified as a flat stage by ASO, but a true mass sprint is unlikely as many riders will not be able to follow the strongest on that final ramp.

Tour de France Femmes 2026: Lorena Wiebes to launch green jersey title defence in tricky uphill opener - Preview

There's a real party atmosphere at the start in Lausanne. Today is Swiss National Day, the national holiday of Switzerland. A bike race is as great way to celebrate.

SD Worx are on stage at the sign-on and it will be interesting to see how they race the Tour and stage 1. It could be a great chance for Lorena Wiebes but if the racing explodes then Lotte Kopecky could have a chance.

We're counting down to the start of the opening stage, with the riders signing on at the start in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The sun is out and with the yellow jersey up for grabs at the fdinish, it should be a intense, highly-fought stage.

Cyclingnews in on the ground in Lausanne, with Matilda Price and Dani Ostanek speaking to riders and teams for all the latests news.

We will have updates on all the action of today's first stage and every stage of the Tour de France Femmes.

Hello and welcome to stage 1 of the Tour de France Femmes.