The short version
- Lorena Wiebes won the second stage of the Tour de France Femmes in Geneva, extending her overall lead by fourteen seconds over Kim Le Court.
- Despite her current success, Wiebes and her team intend to pursue legal action against the UCI regarding a disqualification from the Giro d'Italia caused by a disputed bike weight measurement.
- Team officials cited procedural flaws during the earlier incident, including wind interference and lack of transparency, while UCI leadership acknowledged tensions but defended its decision-making process.
Lorena Wiebes has solidified her position at the top of the Tour de France Femmes after claiming a second consecutive stage victory in Geneva. The Dutch sprinter surged ahead in the final meters of the flat finish along the Quai du Mont-Blanc, extending her overall lead to fourteen seconds over Kim Le Court and sixteen seconds over 2023 champion Demi Vollering. Her performance marked another addition to her record as the rider with the most stage wins since the race returned to the World Tour calendar in 2022.
The stage began with a solo breakaway by Riejanne Markus, who maintained a significant time advantage for much of the 147.9-kilometer route from Aigle. However, the peloton closed the gap in the final kilometers, catching Markus inside the last kilometer before Wiebes executed her decisive sprint. Team SD Worx-Protime riders worked aggressively to neutralize the breakaway, setting up the finish for their leader. Elisa Balsamo finished second, with Marianne Vos taking third place.
While Wiebes dominates the current race, significant controversy surrounds her participation in earlier events this season. She and her team remain committed to suing the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) over her disqualification from the women’s Giro d'Italia in May. That incident occurred after officials ruled her bike underweight following a stage win, stripping her of the race leader’s jersey. Team manager Erwin Janssen described the weighing process as flawed, citing gusting winds and a lack of transparency during the procedure.
Janssen noted that during the Tour de France weigh-ins, the process was conducted in a controlled, wind-free environment with a four-person jury, resulting in a compliant weight of seven kilograms. He emphasized that neither he nor his staff signed off on the Giro results due to these concerns. The team is seeking compensation for lost sponsorship bonuses and reputational damage. UCI President David Lappartient acknowledged the tension but stated that the governing body must make decisions even when they are not universally supported, noting that dialogue continues despite disagreements.
Looking ahead, Wiebes faces a challenging third stage featuring steep climbs in the Jura mountains, which may test her climbing abilities compared to her sprinting prowess. Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot remains in contention, currently sitting ninth overall and preparing for an upcoming individual time trial. The race will continue with varied terrain, including a historic ascent of Mont Ventoux later in the event, keeping the competition open despite Wiebes' current dominance.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗It’s double Dutch as Lorena Wiebes wins second stage of Tour de France Femmes
- BBC Sport↗Wiebes claims back-to-back Tour de France Femmes stage wins
