Vuelta Femenina stage 1: Noemi Rüegg storms uphill sprint to beat Kopecky and Koch to first leader's jersey

Noemi Rüegg of EF Education-Oatly claimed victory on the opening stage of the 2026 Vuelta Femenina, securing the first red leader’s jersey of the race. The 113.9km route from Marín to Salvaterra de Miño featured two third-category climbs and concluded with a challenging uphill sprint. Rüegg timed her sprint perfectly on the final 175 metres, edging out Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) to cross the line first on a rain-soaked and technically demanding finish. The stage was marked by tricky conditions, including persistent rain and slippery descents that led to several crashes in the closing kilometres. A tight hairpin turn nine kilometres from the finish caused congestion and splits within the peloton, with a leading group of five riders briefly gaining an advantage before being reeled back in by EF Education-Oatly. Despite the chaos, Rüegg’s team executed a well-timed chase, positioning her perfectly for the final sprint on a steep kicker after the last corner. Rüegg expressed disbelief and joy at her win, highlighting the support and belief of her team as crucial to her success. She described the finish as ideal for her strengths, emphasising her confidence in a long sprint and the importance of the team’s lead-out. Meanwhile, Kopecky’s consistent performance earned her time bonuses at intermediate sprints, placing her level on time with Rüegg in the general classification, though Rüegg leads on countback due to her stage win. The stage also featured competitive action for the mountains classification, with Maëva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ) set to wear the polka-dot jersey on stage two after accumulating points on the two climbs. Notable riders such as Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) lost time following difficulties on the descents, while Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Marianne Vos were among those affected by crashes. The opening day set an intense tone for the race, promising a fiercely contested battle in the stages ahead.