Dutch cycling legend Marianne Vos claimed a spectacular victory in the opening stage of the Tour de France Femmes, securing her 258th career win. The 38-year-old outpaced her competitors in the final metres of the 78.8km route, which started in Vannes and concluded with a challenging climb on the Cote de Cadoudal in Plumelec.

Vos, riding for Visma-Lease a Bike, surged past her teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Mauritian cyclist Kim Le Court-Pienaar to take the stage win. Ferrand-Prevot finished third, while defending champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma Phinney secured fourth place.

In a post-race interview, Vos expressed her elation, stating, "To wear the yellow jersey on the first day of the Tour de France is really special. It's hard to put into words what this means."

The stage was not without drama, as Swiss rider Marlen Reusser, a strong contender, was forced to abandon the race due to stomach issues following a crash at the base of the Cote de Cadoudal. Reusser had previously achieved runner-up finishes at the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta, making her withdrawal a significant loss for the competition.

Looking ahead, the second stage on Sunday will cover a 110.4km route from Brest to Quimper, promising more thrilling action in this prestigious event.

Stage One Results

1. Marianne Vos (Ned/Visma-Lease a Bike) – 1hr 53mins 3secs
2. Kim Le Court-Pienaar (Mau/AG Insurance-Soudal Team) – same time
3. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Fra/Visma-Lease a Bike) – same time
4. Katarzyna Niewiadoma Phinney (Pol/Canyon-Sram Zondacrypto) – same time
5. Demi Vollering (Ned/FDJ-Suez) – +3secs
6. Puck Pieterse (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) – +5secs
7. Anna van der Breggen (Ned/Team SD Worx-Protime) – same time
8. Eline Jansen (Ned/Volkerwessels Cycling Team) – +9secs
9. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned/Fenix-Deceuninck) – same time
10. Pfeiffer Georgi (GB/Team Picnic Postnl) – same time

Stay tuned for more updates as the Tour de France Femmes continues to deliver world-class cycling action.