Wiebes claims back-to-back Tour de France Femmes stage wins
Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes won stage two of the Tour de France Femmes, securing her second consecutive victory and extending her overall race lead. The 27-year-old, widely regarded as the fastest sprinter in the women's peloton, powered clear of the pack in the final 250 metres to win by several bike lengths after a hilly 147.9km stage from Aigle to Geneva.
The win took Wiebes' career tally to seven Tour de France Femmes stage victories, the most by any rider since the race rejoined the World Tour calendar in 2022. Italy's Elisa Balsamo finished second and the Netherlands' Marianne Vos, 39, was third, while Britain's Josie Nelson and Zoe Backstedt placed sixth and seventh. The peloton had reeled in a late solo breakaway from Lidl-Trek's Riejanne Markus before the sprint. Stage three, a hillier route to Poligny, is expected to suit other riders better ahead of the race's first-ever ascent of Mont Ventoux on stage seven.
- Lorena Wiebes wins stage two, her second straight victory
- Extends overall race lead and record of seven stage wins
- Stage three's climb near Geneva may not favour her
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The Tour de France Femmes is a multi-stage road cycling race for women, held over several days. Riders compete both to win individual stages and for the overall title, which goes to the cyclist with the lowest combined time across the race.
Lorena Wiebes is a Dutch rider known for her sprinting, where cyclists race for the finish after travelling in a group. Her rivals include Italian sprinter Elisa Balsamo and Dutch rider Marianne Vos, who has won major races across a long career. Teams also work together during stages, helping their riders conserve energy or improve their position.
Routes vary between flat roads, hills and mountain climbs, so different stages favour different strengths. Sprinters can gain stage wins on flatter finishes, while difficult climbs often give stronger climbers a chance to gain time in the overall contest.