La Vuelta Femenina GC standings – Who is leading the race after stage 1?

Swiss rider Noemi Rüegg took the red leader’s jersey after a dramatic opening stage at the 2026 La Vuelta España Femenina. The 113.9-kilometre stage was marked by persistent rain, creating hazardous conditions that led to cautious riding and a late crash. Rüegg’s decisive acceleration in the final 200 metres on the uphill finish in Salvaterra de Miño proved unbeatable, securing her the stage win ahead of former world champion Lotte Kopecky and Franziska Koch. Despite Rüegg’s victory and the 10-second time bonus she earned, the general classification (GC) remains tightly contested. Koch, who collected time bonuses earlier in the stage, sits just behind Rüegg on overall time, while Kopecky holds third place, four seconds adrift. The top ten on the GC is closely packed, with 53 riders finishing the stage on the same time, setting the scene for an open and competitive race in the coming days. Several notable riders experienced challenges on the opening day. Marianne Vos was involved in a crash on a downhill section but impressively rejoined the lead group to finish seventh on the stage and eighth overall. Meanwhile, Gaia Realini was caught behind a split in the peloton and now finds herself over two minutes behind the leaders. Maeva Squiban’s strong performance earned her the polka dot climber’s jersey, while Eleonora Ciabocco was recognised as the most combative rider of the day. Looking ahead, stage 2 offers a 109.8-kilometre route featuring rolling terrain and a sharp climb near the finish before a descent into San Cibrao das Viñas. The race’s multiple classifications continue to provide various objectives for the riders, including the red leader’s jersey for the overall GC leader, the green points jersey, the polka dot climber’s jersey, and the white combative jersey. With the GC still unsettled, the coming stages promise intense competition among the sport’s top contenders.