Lorena Wiebes overhauls Marianne Vos to make history as Tour de France Femmes begins with a bang

Lorena Wiebes (DSM) won a drag race against Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) on the Champs-Elysees to become the first stage winner in Tour de France Femmes history. The victory also means Wiebes will wear the first yellow jersey of the race on Stage 2, when she will be hoping to double up. The women's edition of the Tour de France, revived by the same organisers after a 33 year absence, began on the same Parisien stage on which the men will complete their three week journey later today.

The twelve lap race was far from the procession that we have become used to in the men's edition, however, being raced at a red hot pace, replete with spills and inter-competition battles, in temperatures well into the 30s. Ad/> /> Tour de France Femmes‘Mouths agape!’ – Wiebes wins on Champs-ElyseesAN HOUR AGO Though the almost completely flat city-centre course rendered a sprint finish almost certain, that did not stop several teams from sending riders up the road. After five neutralised kilometres, the attacks began the moment race director Marion Rousse unfurled the flag to signal the official start.

First to find herself riding into clear air was Amandine Fouquenet (Arkea) before being reeled in by EF Education Tibco SVB. On the second lap Nina Buijsman (Human Powered Health) headed out on her own, to enjoy a short solo sweep around the Arc de Triomphe. Two mid-stage intermediate sprints with a maximum of 25 points each on offer meant no breakaway was going to be allowed a long leash, or much alone time.