Swiss cyclist Noemi Ruëgg powered to victory in the opening stage of the women’s Vuelta a España, claiming the first red jersey of the race.
/ LA VUELTA
The 2026 edition of La Vuelta Femenina kicked off in Galicia, following the expected script: rain—typical for the chosen region—a sprint finish, predictable on a flat opening day, and local favorite Paula Blasi staying attentive at the front of the peloton, closely following her teammate and road captain, Mavi García.
Little surprise, therefore, in the Spanish tour’s caravan, which will conclude next Saturday with the tough ascent to the Angliru—the first time women will race to its summit in competition.
**First Red Jersey**
Swiss rider Noemi Rüegg won the stage, becoming the first to wear the red jersey this Monday. She showcased her positioning skills and speed, reaffirming her status in the Vuelta after winning the Tour Down Under in Australia earlier this year, as she also did in 2025—the race that traditionally opens the cycling season.
The UAE team lineup with Mavi Garcia (number 1) leading and Paula Blasi (number 2) on her right.
/ UAE TEAM ADQ
Rüegg took advantage of the only incident that disrupted an otherwise calm day. With seven kilometers to go, a crash split the peloton, leaving some favorites—most notably Dutch star Marianne Vos, with countless victories to her name—scrambling to avoid being cut off. They managed to rejoin just two kilometers before the finish line in Salvaterra de Miño, Pontevedra province, on a stage that toured southern Galicia, passing through towns like Ponteareas, the birthplace of Álvaro Pino.
**Fourth Edition**
The Vuelta, now in its fourth edition, has attracted a strong lineup of stars. In fact, apart from Demi Vollering, nearly all major figures in women’s cycling are present. Vollering, the winner the past two years and inaugural champion, is the main absentee. After a solid classics season, she aims for the Giro-Tour double this year, with a particular focus on the Grande Boucle, which has eluded her the last two years—she finished second overall both times.
General classification after stage one.
/ LA VUELTA
Without Vollering, Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma emerges as the top contender for overall victory. She is no anonymous rider—she has been third three times and first once in the Tour de France. Married to former U.S. professional cyclist Taylor Phinney (she uses his surname as a double-barrel), she makes her debut in the Spanish tour. Her main rivals include Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen, winner of almost everything except the Tour, and France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, a huge idol in French cycling after winning the Tour in 2025. However, she may not yet be at peak form—something that will be confirmed this week.
Paula Blasi is the next big favorite on the list for overall victory. The Catalan rider is excited. She has never raced the Vuelta and arrives after winning the Amstel Gold Race, finishing third in La Flèche Wallonne, and fifth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. To start, she navigated the opening stage well, staying near the front of the peloton and securing 13th place in the general classification after stage one.
