Results La Vuelta Femenina 2026 stage 1 | Noemi Rüegg outsprints Lotte Kopecky to take first red jersey of the race

La Vuelta Femenina 2026 began this Sunday, with stage 1 finishing in Salvaterra de Miño. The finale delivered high drama, with Noemi Rüegg taking the win and the first red jersey of the race.

In the closing kilometres, with everything still to be decided, the favourites moved to the front of a peloton that stayed intact all day, ready for a bunch sprint that would settle both the stage and the first race lead. On the line, Rüegg sealed the victory.

As for its development, stage 1 of La Vuelta Femenina fired the starting gun on the first Grand Tour of the season with a 114-kilometre day and the opening red leader’s jersey at stake. From the outset, the peloton rode as one, setting a steady pace while the first breakaway attempts came and went.

The first serious move came from Andrea Casagranda, who tried her luck solo with 98 kilometres to go. Her bid, however, was brought back a few kilometres later by an attentive bunch unwilling to allow any leeway on a day tailored to the favourites.

The race stiffened over the Alto do Cruceiro, the first climb of the day. There, despite the terrain inviting attacks, the teams kept control and shut down any move from sticking. Only Yuliia Biriukova managed to edge clear briefly near the top, but her effort was short-lived.

After the descent, the peloton tackled the Alto da Portela to a similar script: controlled tempo, constant marking, and no breakaway able to establish itself. All signs pointed ever more clearly to a mass finish in Salvaterra de Miño.

With the climbs behind, the tension built steadily. Mischa Bredewold tried to disrupt the calm with an attack at 59 kilometres to go, but the peloton quickly reasserted itself, neutralizing any surprises. This section also saw a crash for Karolina Perekitko, one of the few notable incidents on an otherwise controlled day.

In the final hour, several teams — notably FDJ United - SUEZ, Team SD Worx - Protime and EF Education-Oatly — took up the pace-making to harden the run-in, laying the groundwork for the inevitable sprint. With 30 kilometres remaining, the peloton was compact and well-drilled, all eyes on the battle for the stage and the first lead.

In the final kilometres, with everything still open, the favourites massed at the head of the group, ready to contest a sprint that would decide both the stage winner and the first race leader.

Five riders tried to foil the bunch sprint with an attack at 7km to go: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Francisca Koch, Eva Van Agt, Alessia Vigilia and Juliette Berthet. However, the peloton brought them back at 4 kilometers to go, setting up the sprint that Noemi Rüegg won, beating Lotte Kopecky.