Veteran Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos secured a triumphant win in the first stage of the Women’s Tour de France on Saturday, emerging victorious from a tightly contested bunch sprint in Plumelec, Brittany.
At 38 years old, Vos celebrated her 258th career victory, further cementing her legendary status in the sport. She outpaced Kimberley Le Court of Mauritius and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of France, who took second and third place, respectively.
Stage 1 – Plumelec Finish: Top 5 Results
| Position | Rider | Country | Time Gap |
| 1st | Marianne Vos | Netherlands | — |
| 2nd | Kimberley Le Court | Mauritius | Same time |
| 3rd | Pauline Ferrand-Prévot | France | Same time |
| 4th | Katarzyna Niewiadoma | Poland | Same time |
| 5th | Demi Vollering | Netherlands | +3 seconds |
Key Highlights:
- Katarzyna Niewiadoma, the reigning champion, finished in fourth place, also with the same time as Vos.
- Pre-race favourite Demi Vollering of the Netherlands crossed the line three seconds later in fifth.
- A major disappointment came from Marlen Reusser, the Swiss rider anticipated to contend for the podium. After battling illness before the race, she crashed within the final 30km and was forced to withdraw.
What’s Next
The race continues on Sunday with a hilly Stage 2, stretching from Brest to Quimper—a course likely to test both climbers and all-rounders early in the race.
Vos’s commanding sprint victory signals strong form and experience, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting edition of the Women’s Tour de France.
