Lausanne – 02.08.2026: The first showdown on Lake Geneva made FDJ United-Suez’s ambitions clear. Demi Vollering finished third on the 138-kilometre opening stage around Lausanne, six seconds behind winner Lorena Wiebes. The Dutch rider is therefore third overall after a nervous, selective finale, within reach of the yellow jersey.
On the final climb to the Cote Saint-Francois, the French team was immediately visible. Celia Gery accelerated 1.5 kilometres before the summit, while Vollering kept the pace high. Wiebes, however, withstood the pressure and won ahead of Kim Le Court-Pienaar and Vollering. Ten riders crossed the finish line at the same time, including defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.
The opening stage meant more for FDJ United-Suez than simply a placing in the day’s results. The team embraced the role it has set for itself in this race: to shape the racing, put rivals under pressure and position Vollering as far forward as possible before the later mountain stages. The squad was already contributing to the pace-making on the climb to Villars-le-Comte, which split the peloton.
Vollering brings a season with an exceptional record into the Tour. The European champion won the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women as well as several major one-day races, including the Tour of Flanders, the Flèche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. She knows both sides of the Tour’s fine margins in the general classification: she won in 2023, lost the overall victory by four seconds in 2024, and finished second behind Ferrand-Prevot in 2025.
FDJ United-Suez is relying on a squad with clearly defined roles. Juliette Berthet and Evita Muzic are expected to support Vollering in the mountains. Franziska Koch, winner of Paris-Roubaix 2026, gives the line-up resilience on demanding stages. Marie Le Net and Amber Kraak complete the selection, while 20-year-old French champion Gery may be given room for her own attacks alongside her support duties.
The second stage from Aigle to Geneva covers 147.9 kilometres on 2 August and is classified as a flat stage. For Vollering, the priority will be to get through the day without losing time. The decisive climbing of this Tour comes later; the seventh stage finishes on Mont Ventoux on 7 August, followed by the finale in Nice on 9 August.
The first day therefore provides no verdict on the overall victory, but it does offer a precise snapshot: Vollering is immediately among the best, and FDJ United-Suez has laid its cards openly on the table. Lorena Wiebes wears yellow, Vollering is six seconds behind – and the French team already has the depth to turn this small deficit into a tactical starting position.
Sources
- Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift – official race report and general classification
- Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift – Aigle-Geneva stage profile
- L’Equipe – FDJ United-Suez line-up
- Cyclingnews – FDJ United-Suez preparation and ambitions
Dieser Artikel wurde mit Hilfe künstlicher Intelligenz erstellt.