Results Tour de France Femmes 2026 Stage 3 | Sigrid Haugset completes historic 88km solo to take yellow in one of greatest Tour rides ever

Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset produced one of the greatest rides in history and the longest solo of all time at the Tour de France Femmes regardless of different name over the years, completing a record-breaking 88-kilometre solo attack to win Stage 3 in Poligny and take the yellow jersey.

The Norwegian champion refused to surrender after an earlier 11-rider move was caught, pressing on alone before building an advantage of almost five minutes over the peloton. What initially appeared an ambitious attempt to preserve the breakaway became an extraordinary march towards both stage victory and the race lead.

Lotte Kopecky launched a lengthy pursuit and came within ten seconds of making the catch inside the final 12 kilometres. Haugset appeared to be fighting cramps as the Belgian closed, but found another surge on the flat approach to Poligny and broke Kopecky’s resistance decisively.

The 88-kilometre solo was the longest successful lone attack in the history of the women’s Tour de France across its different editions over the years. Haugset crossed the line alone after more than two hours at the head of the race, completing one of the most remarkable stage-winning performances the event has witnessed.

Haugset had originally attacked as part of a strong group containing Kopecky, Liane Lippert, Lucinda Brand, Justine Ghekiere, Celia Gery, Yara Kastelijn and Nienke Vinke.

EF Education-Oatly helped limit the move before the breakaway was brought back, but Haugset continued alone. The Uno-X Mobility rider quickly began extending her advantage as hesitation and depleted numbers prevented an organised chase from forming behind.

Kopecky attacked from the peloton with around 75 kilometres remaining and initially found herself more than 90 seconds behind. She spent much of the stage caught in isolation between Haugset and the main group, unable to make significant progress despite maintaining a relentless pursuit.

The gap finally began to fall across the later climbs and descent. Kopecky moved within 29 seconds on the Cote de Chaux-Champagny, then reduced the deficit to 15 seconds before reaching ten with approximately 11 kilometres remaining.

Haugset was visibly struggling, but Kopecky had also paid heavily for her chase. Once the road flattened, the Norwegian began moving clear again. The gap grew from ten seconds to 20, then towards 50 seconds as Kopecky finally ran out of strength.

Haugset began the stage only one minute behind Lorena Wiebes in the General Classification and collected six bonus seconds during her solo ride. With the principal favourites finishing more than two minutes behind, victory also carried her into the overall race lead.

Wiebes had lost contact on the Col de la Faucille, around three kilometres from the summit, as the steepest slopes shattered the peloton. Her deficit quickly grew beyond a minute and eventually reached double figures, bringing her two-day spell in yellow to an end.

Kim Le Court-Pienaar attempted to strengthen her own claim to the race lead by attacking on the final classified climb and collecting two bonus seconds. Demi Vollering also accelerated repeatedly, briefly putting Pauline Ferrand-Prevot under pressure before the defending champion returned.

The main General Classification riders eventually regrouped, limiting the damage between one another but leaving Haugset far enough ahead to transform the overall standings.

Puck Pieterse secured the mountains classification lead after taking maximum points on the Col de la Faucille and adding further points across the remaining climbs.

The Dutchwoman had been involved in an early crash alongside Vollering, world champion Magdeleine Vallieres and Noemi Ruegg. All four riders were able to continue, with Vollering quickly returning to the peloton before the major climbing began.

Anna van der Breggen, Cedrine Kerbaol and white jersey Paula Blasi were among those briefly distanced when the favourites attacked late in the stage, although several chasing groups subsequently came back together.

Dina Boels abandoned after continuing to struggle with injuries sustained in her Stage 1 crash, reducing Lotto Intermarche Ladies to three remaining riders. Nothing elsewhere on the stage could rival Haugset’s performance. An 88-kilometre solo, victory over one of the strongest riders in the world and the yellow jersey combined to deliver a ride that will stand among the defining moments in the history of the women’s Tour de France.