Femke De Vries has won stage 1 of the 2026 Tour de Suisse Women. The Dutchwoman of Team Visma | Lease a Bike came out on top in a sprint against Ailish Lauren Dickson (FDJ United Suez) on the demanding circuit in Sondrio, claiming her first professional victory. Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education Oatly) took third on the day.
The opening stage initially ran across flat terrain before several selective sections awaited in the second half of the race. The first decisive point of this all-Italian stage came on the climb to Buglio in Monte. Over three kilometres averaging 10.1% with a maximum gradient of 17.4%, the bunch thinned out considerably. From a Swiss perspective, Steffi Häberlin (Team SD Worx Protime) laid down an early marker there and took the day’s first mountains classification points.
The race also remained open ahead of the second categorised climb. A breakaway including Jasmin Liechti of the Swiss national team tackled the next climb before Urška Žigart (AG Insurance Soudal Team) attacked. Over the top, a trio of Žigart, Dickson and De Vries broke clear. Shortly afterwards, De Vries attacked on the descent and dropped Žigart. Dickson fought her way back and bridged across to the Dutchwoman around 15 kilometres from the finish.
The duo entered the closing phase with a comfortable lead. Although Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon/SRAM Zondacrypto) lifted the pace once more on the final climb and blew the chase group apart, De Vries and Dickson held on to their advantage all the way to the line. In the closing metres, De Vries forced her companion to do the pulling and had the better legs in the sprint.
For De Vries, the win in Sondrio is a special moment: the 23-year-old rewarded an aggressive ride over the decisive climbs and, with her first professional victory, marks a career highlight.
Reusser battles through a difficult opener
From a Swiss perspective, all eyes were on Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) in particular. The defending champion, who lined up short of 100% of her powers after a difficult first half of the season, lost contact with the front of the bunch as early as the first longer climb.
She later found herself in a chase group but could no longer have a decisive say in the fight for the stage win. In addition to Häberlin making some points at the first categorised climb, another Swiss rider, Jasmin Liechti, made her presence felt in the breakaway.
