Sigrid Haugset of Norway won stage three of the Tour de France Femmes on Monday, seizing the overall lead and the yellow jersey from Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes in the Jura region.
Haugset, of the Uno-X Mobility team, launched a gutsy solo attack less than halfway into the hilly 156.6km route between Geneva and Poligny, and held off Belgium's Lotte Kopecky.
Kopecky dropped back in the closing stages after failing to reel in Haugset, crossing the line 1 minute 24 seconds behind as the Norwegian became the first rider from her country to win a Tour stage and wear the yellow jersey.
"I haven't been thinking about it because I never thought it was possible. So standing here, it's unreal," said Haugset, who built her her win by attacking on the third of the day's four climbs, the Côte de la Savine.
To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.
One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site.
Cover image: Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey and Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel cycle on the Butte de Montmartre during the 21st stage of the 113th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, July 26, 2026. © Etienne Garnier, AFP05:06
"When I went, it wasn't many seconds and I thought she (Kopecky) would catch me. Then I thought I should just drop down to her ... Second is good. But I kept on. The team car was amazing, pushing me.
"I was thinking about all my team-mates, everyone cheering from home and so I had to give it my all. I can't believe that Lotte didn't catch me. All done in the Norwegian jersey too, it's fantastic."
The main favourites for overall victory on August 9 in Nice, such as reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Demi Vollering, all finished together, almost three minutes behind Haugset.
Wiebes, who won the opening two stages, was dropped as soon as the road began to rise on the Col de la Faucille early in the race. She ended more than 20 minutes off the pace.
Tuesday's fourth stage should provide a first real shake-up among the overall contenders, with a 21km time trial between Gevrey-Chambertin and Dijon.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
