As it happened: SD Worx strike again on Tour de France Femmes stage 2 with a perfect chase and unbeatable sprint

Hello and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of the Tour de France Femmes.

As we fire up the Cyclingnews blimp, the riders are about to start to sign-on in Aigle.

Aigle is the home to the UCI and President David Lappartient is again on stage.

The stage starts in the centre of Aigle and ends after 147.9km in Geneva, on the edge of the lake.

It's another hot day in Europe and in Switzerland with temperatures of 27C now and a high of 29C when the stage finishes.

To understand what might happen during the stage, check out special stage 2 preview.

Despite five classified climbs along the 147.9km route, so more points in the QOM battle, stage 2 is one for the sprinters.

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) is the big favourite to win a second stage in a row and while wearing the yellow jersey.

Tour de France Femmes 2026 stage 2 preview - A day for the sprinters

The crowds at the start are huge yet again.

On Saturday, the crowds were huge for the loop north of Lausanne. The uphill finish made a selection but Lorena Wiebes was there and won the sprint.

Check out our stage report for all the details, great photographs and full results.

Tour de France Femmes: Lorena Wiebes claims stage 1 victory and first yellow jersey with commanding uphill sprint

Sadly Australia's Brodie Chapman won't start stage 2 due to illness.

Uno-X Mobility is one of the first teams to sign-on in Aigle.

Dani Ostanek and Matilda Price are on the ground doing interviews and gathering news for Cyclingnews.

Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) could be a threat to Wiebes in a sprint finish.

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Demi Vollering and her FDJ United-Suez teammates are at the sign-on. They're wearing the new Red Bull helmets after the new sponsorship.

Cyclingnews has the full story.

FDJ United-Suez welcome Red Bull as new major partner in milestone move for team and brand

Which sprinter is your pick for stage 2?

Have your say via our poll at the top of our Live coverage.

I voted for Elisa Balsamo because she's probably the only rider who can somehow beat Lorena Wiebes.

We're 25 minutes from the start of the stage.

This is the first view of Lorena Wiebes in the yellow jersey.

Demi Vollering and her teammates signed-on wearing ice-vests to try to stay cool.

The Liv AlUla Jayco stands out but so does the Mackenzie Coupland Australian national champion's jersey.

The SD Worx team is the last on the sign-on stage after Wiebes' win on Saturday.

She is the huge favourite for today too but her teammates will surely have to do a lot of work to chase any attacks.

10 minutes to the start of the stage!

This is the stage 2 map.

And this is the stage profile. It includes 1800m of altitude and five categorised climbs but the final 40km are flat and so favour the sprint teams.

AS the clock tics down to the stage start, the riders are lining up with Wiebes on the front of the grid in the leader's yellow jersey.

She is joined by Idoia Eraso (Laboral Kutxa - Fundación Euskadi) who wears green for Wiebes, QOM Océane Mahé (Ma Petite Entreprise) wears the polka-dot jersey and Paula Blasi (UAE Team L'IMAD) wears the best young rider white jersey.

There's time for a last selfie and then the stage will start.

The 147.9km stage heads north and then follows around the north shore of Lake Geneva via th hills.

C'est Parti! The race announces does the countdown and they're off! Stage 2 is underway.

In truth, the riders pass the UCI HQ in the neutralised sector.

Km 0 is on the Route de Savolar, some 4.5km from the assembly point.

OFFICIAL START

They're off! The flag has dropped the stage has officially started.

143 riders started the second stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes.

On Saturday Laura Tomasi (Uno-X Mobility) was unable to continue after being involved in a crash and Alison Avoine (Ma Petite Entreprise) finished outside the time limit.

This morning Brodie Chapman (UAE Team L’Imad) had to abandon due to illness.

Alpecin-Premier Tech's Christina Schweinberger is also a DNS after breaking her wrist in a crash yesterday.

The peloton is all together so far but we're expecting attacks very soon.

135km to go

This is what Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) said at the start.

This photo shows the aggressive start to stage 2.

This is a great shot of the peloton.

The attacks keep coming as the riders reach the edge of Lake Geneva. But nothing is getting away just yet. Teams are chasing to control the action.

The minor teams want to place riders in the attack but they havre to be riders who can handle the climbs in the middle of the stage and who are perhaps looking to take the QOM jersey.

Other riders want a shot at a stage victory but SDWorx and other sprinter teams will work to control any attacks and then keep them under control.

For SD Worx, it's better to have a reduced-number attack from riders from the smaller teams.

For the GC riders, they have to stay safe, avoid any crashes and time losses. That's easier said than done.

Wise words from Soraya Paladin.

It's great to see Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) again on the attack. The Canadian Paris-Roubaix winner tried to go across to the four-rider attack on stage 1 but was unable to make it on one of the climbs.

True to character, she is trying again.

125km to go

More attacks and more chasing, so again it's gruppo compatto - all together.

Green jersey wearer Idoia Eraso (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) has been on the attack several times but rival teams keep chasing the moves.

120km to go

The riders have raced along the lake shore so far soon they turn right into the hills and climb the 3.2km long Côte de Chexbres.

We expect that to change the race and see different kind of riders attack.

The next 80km are in the hills, with the five QOM categorised climbs.

This will change the racing. The GC riders will be careful, the attackers who can climb will try to get away, while the sprinters and their teams will try to pace their effort, hoping to have the strength to chase down any attacks and then win in Geneva.

The work of the best sprint domestiques will be vital for the next two hours as the stage tactics play out.

As the road climbs, we have two riders on the attack. Allez!

It's interesting to see that Uno-X is doing a lot of the chasing to keep the race together.

It's working so far, with all the attacks brought under control, even on the lower part of the climb above Lake Geneva.

It's interesting to see that Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-EasyPost) was the first to the summit of the climb.

She scored 3 points for the QOM competition, with Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) scoring 2 points and her teammate Sara Casasola taking 1 point.

That's an indication that both Kerbaol and Pieterse could be targetting the QOM jersey.

105km to go

The riders have covered close to 45km but the peloton is still together, apart from riders who were dropped on the first climb.

Next up is the Côte de Savigny. It is a Cat 4 climb and laats 2.5 kilometres at an average gradient of 5%.

We like this POV but it must be hard to race on a climb like this.

This is as great shot of the racing in the hills overlooking Lake Geneva.

Océane Mahé (Ma Petite Entreprise) made the headlines by going on the attack and winning the QOM jersey.

Unfortunately she is suffering on the early climbs.

We perhaps have other contenders for the QOM competition

Marion Bunel (Visma-Lease a Bike) was the first to the top of the Côte de Savigny.

Maëva Squiban (UAE Team L’Imad) was second and so scored 1 point.

So far, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) has been able to stay in the peloton.

She looks great in yellow.

100km to go

The early climbing is done and now the riders face a long, gradual descent on the plateau roads above the lake.

It must be a great place to ride.

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We have an attack and it could be going clear!

The attackers are:

Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels), Yuliia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) and Carlotta Cipressi (Human Powered Health)

90km to go

We can see two riders trying to cross to the trio.

Meanwhile, the peloton has eased-up and so the gap will grow quickly.

We finally seem to have the break of the stage, after a fast opening 60km.

Ema Comte (Cofidis) Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) have crossed to the trio to create a five-rider attack.

Their leads is up to 1:00.

85km to go

The race is on the exposed open fields on the plateau and the gap continues to rise above 1:30 as teams send back riders to their team cars to take on bidons and ice.

The sprint teams seemed to want to control the race on the climb up from the lake.

They will be happy to let the five riders go out front, to create a steady race.

The drop in pace in the peloton has allowed Océane Mahé (Ma Petite Entreprise) to get back in the peloton after taking a musette with bidons.

80km to go

The break has extended their lead beyond 2:20.

The peloton is rolling along at speed but is in control.

After the flat plateau roads, it's time for the Côte de Cossonay climb. The Cat 4 climb is 2 kilometres long at an average gradient of 6%.

It'll be interesting to see if it has any impact on the race.

Sadly Marieke Meert and Elisabeth Ebras of the Lotto Intermarché Ladies have abandoned the TDFF.

It's hard, intense racing out there, with little chance of survival if a riders is ill or injured.

At the summit of the Côte de Cossonay climb, Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) kicked to try to win the QOM sprint but but Ema Comte (Cofidis) managed to beat her on the line.

70km to go

We get a view of the peloton and it offers a chance to see who is leading the chase.

The response is that SD Worx are leading the pace but also trying to entice other tams to do some work on the front.

We can see Movistar up front, Visma on the other side of the road, Fenix down the middle and EF there with four riders.

They are all riding to hold a good position up front to stay safe, while also pushing the pace.

The five attackers are working hard together but their lead is gradually falling.

We seem on track for sprint finish.

Matilda Price and Dani Ostanek are on the ground in Switzerland for Cyclingnews. They wrote some fascinating stories on Saturday and have more in the works for today.

Matilda spoke to Kate Courtney after she delivered the Red Bull helmets to the FDJ riders as part of their new partnership. The American is starting a fascinating new chapter of her successful career, this time on the road of Europe.

Give it a read as we countdown to the sprint finish.

'It's less about finding a few more watts, more about understanding the strategy' – Kate Courtney's road discovery continues with Tour de France Femmes special appearance.

Dani spoke to Kim Le Court-Pienaar after she finished second to Lorena Wiebes in the Luasanne sprint.

The Mauritian champion called the outcome in Lausanne "a little personal win" as she finished second behind Lorena Wiebes.

'A little personal win for me' – Kim Le Court-Pienaar's Tour de France Femmes GC quest off to a good start as 'best of the rest' behind unbeatable Wiebes

60km to go

It's time for the intermediate sprint.

Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels), Yuliia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi), Carlotta Cipressi (Human Powered Health), Ema Comte (Cofidis) and Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) will take most of the points but who will sprint in the peloton for the lesser points?

If Wiebes sprints, it could be a sign she is going for the green jersey.

Yuliia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) won the sprint.

It's great to see her flying the flag for the Ukraine at the Tour de France Femmes as national champion.

She is doing her country proud like so many other people of Ukraine.

The peloton does not really content the intermediate sprint for the minor points.

Wiebes rode it smart. She stayed on the wheels and then edged clear to score points.

The next 20km will be interesting. There are several short climbs and it could ideal to launch attacks.

Some teams might not wait for a sprint and give Wiebes an easy ride to the finish. They might attack.

Lets hope so.

55km to go

The riders can see Lake Geneva now but face a fast run-in to the finish.

This is going to a high-speed final hour or so of racing.

The five attackers still have a lead of 2:00 but we can expect riders to come across to them from the peloton with attacks.

The first climb is the Côte de Bougy-Villars. It is only 900 metres long but the speed in the peloton is very high!

The peloton hits the climb at high speed but Wiebes was fourth into the climb and so perfectly placed to slip back gradually but stay in the peloton.

Meanwhile the attackers are fighting for the QOM and Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) wins ahead of Ema Comte (Cofidis).

The gap to the peloton a down to just 1:00. That fell quickly!

SD Worx try to control the peloton on the climb, setting a fast but not too fast pace for Wiebes.

Some riders are dropped but the peloton stays together.

Now it's time for the next climb, the 23km, 6.5% Côte de Mont-sur-Rolle. It should create more pain and more splits.

The climb rises from the lake, offering great views but lots of pain.

The peloton is only 1:00 down on the five attackers. They could cut the gap massively before the top.

We have attacks!

Célia Gery (FDJ) is on the attack. The French national champion goes away with Nina Berton. (EF).

45km to go

Ahead of them, Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) is first to the top of the climb, ahead of Ema Comte (Cofidis).

However the peloton is only 30 seconds behind them now and Wiebes is in the group.

The race is twisting through the vines on the hillside. If a rider is a great descender, they could try to get away.

At the same time, the GC riders will have to be careful here.

Up front, the attackers have joined the remains of the break.

SD Worx are chasing but the peloton is down to 100 or so riders.

Wiebes is there, with two SD Worx teammates ahead of her doing the work.

The attack is just 10 seconds ahead.

Who will win today?

40km to go

It's gruppo compatto, or almost. The break has been caught but more attacks are being launched.

Teams are trying to test and hurt SD Wrox and Lorena Wiebes.

35km to go

The tension is rising in the race.

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) has pushed out her lead to 55 seconds after attacking the attack but the peloton is riding in s controlled way.

SD Worx have moved off the front. They are trying to tempt other teams to lead the chase but they are hesitating.

Just like yesterday, Lidl are trying to avoid any chasing in the peloton by sacrificing one rider for the attack.

It's tactical ABC but works. It's up to SD Worx to chase, but in their absence, Visma are on the front.

30km to go

The descent to the lake is fast.

SD Worx have one rider leading, while Visma have 4.

Many of the riders on the front almost mess up a corner, going long after miss-reading how tight the corner was.

Paula Blasi is wearing the best young rider white jersey today. She is no longer an Under 23 rider but the TDFF have changed the rules slightly so include more riders in the special jersey competition.

Matilda Price has the full story after some investigation from Lukas Knöfler.

Why is Paula Blasi in white? - Tour de France Femmes quietly changes under-23 jersey to under-24

25km to go

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) is a talented rider and proven rouleur. She is a two time Netherlands TT national champion and os perfect for this kind of attack.

She is time trialing to the finish and holding her lead. It's 1:05 with a flat 25km to ride.

SD Worx have more riders at the head of the peloton now.

I can count at least 5 riders leading the chase.

Indeed, the gap to Riejanne Markus is falling constantly. The question is if SD Worx catch Riejanne Markus, who will have any strength to lead out Wiebes in the sprint?

Maybe she Wiebes is so strong that she does not need a lead out.

We'll find out very soon.

A great side on shot from the TV helicopter shows the SD Worx riders grabbing bidons at high speed.

It's still 30C out there, so hydration and cooling is vital. For today but also for the remaining seven stages of the Tour.

Allez Riejanne Markus!

15km to go

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) is still 50 seconds clear.

The question is: Is she strong and holding off the SD Worx chase? Or are they pacing their chase and will accelerate nearer the finish?

We can now see Anna van der Bregen working on the front, so SD Worx are using every rider they can.

That's making this finish so fascinating to watch.

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) still leads by 30 seconds.

SD Worx are doing all the chasing but seem to be back in control.

Lidl-Trek are sat behind them, protecting Elisa Balsamo. Other teams are there too, waiting for the sprint and trying to work out how to beat Wiebes.

An attack in the last kilometre anyone?

10km to go

Riejanne Markus' lead is dowe to 30 seconds but she is not fading. Her pedalling style is still fluid and strong.

If SD Worx suffer, she could still have a chance.

The peloton can now see Riejanne Markus but she is still 30 second ahead.

The final 5kms, where GC times are taken in case of a crash, are straight and fast but there is a a pinch point before it.

Stay safe everyone!

5km to go

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) stil leads by 30 seconds.

Do SD Worx have the riders to complete the chase?

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) leads by just 15 seconds with 3km to go.

It's a brave attack but she will surely be caught!

Liv move up to the front and SD Worx only have 1 rider on the front.

Lotte Kopecky is leading rhe chase so Wiebes is solo in the sprint.

LAST KILOMETRE

It's sprint time but can Lorena Wiebes win?

Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) keeps fighting all the way to the line.

Wiebes is on the Liv train.

Sprint!

Boom! Wiebes wins it!

She had to move up from behind but wet alnog the barriers on the left and then accelerated away and ahead of her rivals.

She had time to celebrate with his arms in the air, taking a historic win in the leader's yellow jersey.

The other sprinters were ahead of Wiebes but she accelerated and passed them all with a burst of speed.

Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) was second and Marianne Vos (Visma) was third.

Thanks to winning the stage and taking a 10-second time bonus, Wiebes has extended her GC lead.

Wiebes wins in yellow.

Wiebes emerged from the shadows to win by several bike lengths.

Eurosport have an incredible statistic for Wiebes. She has contested 43 sprints and won 42 of them.

Watching the TV replays of the sprint show how Wiebes cuts across the road and through her rivals like a hot knife through butter.

This was her 133rd career win, her seventh Tour stage win and her 15th win of the 2026 season.

Lorena Wiebes celebrates her win on the Tour de France Femmes podium.

"Winning in yellow makes it for sure special but also because again, our team SD Worx-Protime worked really hard for it," she said.

"The girls were chasing full, full gas in the final to bring back Riejanne Markus, so it's even more beautiful to finish it off in the yellow.

"She stayed out a long time, and at one point, we decided also to put Lotte in the chase because we needed everyone."

Wiebes knew she had to ride her own sprint and did it so well. She is fast but also incredibly talented at understanding sprints and exwcuting them so well.

"I knew that it was up to me to find my own way. I found some good wheels, and I could come out I think around 200 metres to go and then I just could launch my sprint," she explained, refuting that she is almost making sprinting boring.

"Every sprint is quite exciting, because if you make a small mistake, the sprint is over and you cannot finish it off for the team. So for me, every time it's exciting and a bit nervous to sprint."

We love this set of sprint shots. They show how Lorena Wiebes accelerated away from her rivals and won by several bike lengths.

To read our full stage report and see more photographs and full results, click below. It was another day of fascinating racing and another Lorena Wiebes sprint master class.

Tour de France Femmes: Lorena Wiebes powers to stage 2 sprint victory as late-race soloist Riejanne Markus is caught close to the line

On Monday the TDFF leaves Switzerland for France, via a hilly stage north in the Jura Mountains.

The 156.5km stage from Geneva to Poligny starts with the 11km Col de la Faucille but afterwards, there is a chance that Wiebes could have a shot at victory if the break fails to stay away.

Check out or special preview page.

Tour de France Femmes 2026 stage 3 preview

Matilda Price and Dani Ostanek are on the ground in Geneva and will soon have interviews, news and analysis from the great weekend of TDFF racing.

Our full live coverage of every stage returns on Monday.

We love this. It's inspirational.