Sprinter Wiebes wins first stage of the Tour de France Femmes

The top favourite from the Netherlands won the bunch sprint on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on Sunday ahead of her compatriot Marianne Vos and Belgian Lotte Kopecky. The best German on the 82 kilometre stage, which started at the Eiffel Tower, was Lisa Brennauer in 19th place.

Serious crash overshadows stage 1 of the women's Tour de France

The stage was overshadowed by a serious crash involving Alana Castrique. The Belgian fell on the cobblestones of the Champs-Élysées 13 kilometres before the finish and had to be taken away by ambulance.

Laura Süßemilch also crashed five kilometres before the finish, but was able to continue the race.

Stage 2 made for sprinters

The second stage on Monday leads over 136.5 kilometres from Meaux to Provins. Another sprint is to be expected on the completely flat section to the east of Paris. The tour ends on 31 July in the Vosges on the Planche des Belles Filles.

• Women's Tour de France: All stages at a glance

The previous version of the women's Tour de France was held from 1984 to 2009. Back then, the Tour organisation ASO helped to get the race off the ground by staging it alongside the Tour. However, the organisation withdrew after five years. Gradually, the tour lost importance under other names. Last year, there was a mini comeback as a one-day race as part of the Tour.

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