2026 GRAND DÉPART: SAY "CHEESE" IN SWITZERLAND

© ARC/Sieber

A new chapter begins. Back in the sepia-tinted days of 1913, Geneva became the second foreign city to host the Tour de France, as Metz, which had set the scene for stage finishes in 1907 and 1910, was German territory at the time. The Belgian Marcel Buysse came out on top in the first of ten finishes in the city, including one in 1951 that went to the Swiss champion Hugo Koblet, who stormed to victory in the yellow jersey. Lausanne had to wait until 1948 to host the Grande Boucle, but the Olympic city has featured in the race six times, most recently when Wout van Aert triumphed in 2022. While the green jersey sprinted to glory, another decisive moment was playing out behind the scenes, with Lausanne filing its application to welcome the start of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, which was evolving into its current form. The dream will come true in summer 2026, when the fifth edition gets under way. 

Switzerland will provide the backdrop for three stages. The profile of the loop around Lausanne, which has a puncheuse-friendly sting in its tail, should draw out the main contenders. The terrain is a natural fit for Marlen Reuser and Elise Chabbey, the two most prominent women on the Swiss cycling scene, unless Noémie Rüegg, the current wearer of the red jersey with a white cross, beats them to the punch on home soil. At any rate, they would do well to seize the opportunity, as the following stage, a 150 km trip from Aigle, UCI headquarters, to Geneva, has "sprint finish" written all over it. Last but not least, the pack will roll out from Geneva and set course for the French border and a destination to be announced at a later date.