Sigrid Haugset completes a spectacular ride of 88 kilometers and dons the yellow jersey in the Tour de France Femmes

The 2026 Tour de France Femmes experienced its first major twist. The Norwegian Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset (Uno-X Mobility) delivered one of the greatest performances of her career with a breakaway of nearly 90 kilometers to win the third stage between Geneva and Poligny. Her victory not only secured her the stage win but also the yellow jersey, after Lorena Wiebes faltered on the first major climb of the route.

Sigrid Haugset surprises the Tour de France Femmes with a solo display and dons the yellow jersey

The stage, spanning 156.5 kilometers, was marked by the Col de la Faucille, an 11.4-kilometer climb at 6.3% located just a dozen kilometers from the start. There, both the stage and the general classification began to take shape.

Wiebes loses the yellow on the first major climb

The pace set from the first kilometers quickly shattered the peloton. Lorena Wiebes, the leader after her two consecutive victories, could not keep up with the best on the Col de la Faucille and fell behind along with other sprinters like Elisa Balsamo. The Dutchwoman lost several minutes and said goodbye to any chance of maintaining her lead.

On that same climb, Puck Pieterse scored the maximum points and took the lead in the mountain classification, while numerous attacks began to unfold ahead.

Haugset takes advantage of indecision and opens a definitive gap

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After an initial selection, a leading group formed with riders like Lotte Kopecky, Justine Ghekiere, Lucinda Brand, Femke de Vries, Célia Gery, Liane Lippert, and Yara Kastelijn. However, most of those moves were neutralized, and only Sigrid Haugset insisted decisively.

The Norwegian champion launched a solo attack with nearly 90 kilometers to go. While the teams of the favorites hesitated over who should take up the chase, the Uno-X Mobility rider gradually increased her lead to over four minutes.

As the kilometers passed, it became clear that the victory would be contested between the Norwegian and a possible reaction from behind.

Kopecky tried from far out but came up empty

Lotte Kopecky decided to take the risk and attacked solo about 75 kilometers from the finish. The Belgian champion embarked on a long chase without any collaboration from other favorites and slowly reduced Haugset's lead.

The decisive moment came after the Côte de Chaux-Champagny. Kopecky linked a very fast descent and got to within just ten seconds of the leader with about eleven kilometers to go. It seemed likely she would catch up to her.

However, the immense effort took its toll. Kopecky lost pace in the final stretch, and Haugset opened a gap again to head solo towards the most important victory of her sporting career.

Behind, the group of favorites crossed the finish line at 2:48 with hardly any differences between Demi Vollering, who suffered a fall today but recovered quickly, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Kim Le Court, Elisa Longo Borghini, Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney, or Marlen Reusser, leaving the general classification very open before the time trial.

Top 10 of stage 3 Tour de France 2026

1. Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset (Uno-X Mobility) – 4:05:59
2. Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx-Protime) – at 1:24
3. Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – at 2:48
4. Usoa Ostolaza (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) – at 2:48
5. Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal Team) – at 2:48
6. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) – at 2:48
7. Célia Gery (FDJ UNITED-SUEZ) – at 2:48
8. Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) – at 2:48
9. Malwina Mul (Cofidis Women Team) – at 2:48
10. Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv AlUla Jayco) – at 2:48

General classification after stage 3

1. Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset (Uno-X Mobility) – 11:17:56
2. Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal Team) – at 2:02
3. Demi Vollering (FDJ UNITED-SUEZ) – at 2:06
4. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) – at 2:10
5. Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – at 2:10
6. Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) – at 2:10
7. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L’IMAD) – at 2:10
8. Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney (CANYON//SRAM) – at 2:10
9. Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) – at 2:10
10. Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) – at 2:10

The individual time trial this Tuesday between Gevrey-Chambertin and Dijon will be the first major test for Haugset as the race leader. The time trial specialists, with Demi Vollering, Marlen Reusser, or Anna van der Breggen among the main contenders, will seek to cut the gaps before the high mountains arrive.