Four riders have left the 2026 Tour de France Femmes before Stage 2, with Christina Schweinberger and Brodie Chapman joining Laura Tomasi and Alison Avoine among the early departures.
Schweinberger is a non-starter after medical checks confirmed that she broke her wrist in a Stage 1 crash. Chapman has withdrawn through illness, while Tomasi abandoned following a crash and symptoms consistent with a possible concussion. Avoine was eliminated after finishing outside the opening-stage time limit.
Several other riders, including Puck Pieterse, Zoe Bäckstedt, Marlen Reusser, Lotte Claes, Henrietta Christie and Mackenzie Coupland, were caught in crashes or required treatment but remained in the race.
The departures reduce the field from 147 starters in Lausanne to 143 riders for Stage 2 from Aigle to Geneva.
Tour de France Femmes 2026 abandonments after Stage 1
| Rider | Team | Exit | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christina Schweinberger | Fenix-Premier Tech | DNS Stage 2 | Broken wrist following Stage 1 crash |
| Brodie Chapman | UAE Team L’IMAD | DNS Stage 2 | Illness |
| Laura Tomasi | Uno-X Mobility | DNF Stage 1 | Crash, right elbow injury and suspected concussion |
| Alison Avoine | Ma Petite Entreprise | OTL Stage 1 | Finished outside the time limit |
Christina Schweinberger out with broken wrist
Christina Schweinberger will not start Stage 2 after further examinations confirmed that she broke her left wrist in one of the opening-stage crashes.
The Austrian initially remounted and completed the stage, but the official medical report recorded trauma to her wrist and said an X-ray was required. Fenix-Premier Tech subsequently confirmed the fracture and her withdrawal from the Tour.
Finishing the stage did not mean Schweinberger was capable of continuing. A wrist fracture directly affects braking, steering and the rider’s ability to absorb impacts through the handlebars, making another day of racing unsafe even if she could tolerate the pain long enough to reach Lausanne.
Her withdrawal leaves Fenix-Premier Tech with six riders and removes one of the team’s most experienced road captains.
Schweinberger was expected to play an important role for both Charlotte Kool and Puck Pieterse. Kool needs support and positioning during the faster stages, while Pieterse benefits from teammates capable of controlling moves and guiding her through technical sections. The Austrian’s value was therefore considerably greater than her own chances of winning a stage.
Brodie Chapman abandons through illness
Brodie Chapman was confirmed as a second non-starter on Sunday morning after becoming unwell.
The UAE Team L’IMAD rider completed Stage 1 but had not recovered sufficiently to begin the next stage. No more detailed diagnosis was initially provided, and her departure was attributed to illness rather than a crash.
Chapman’s withdrawal is another setback after an already disrupted season. The Australian suffered serious injuries in a crash at the Tour of Flanders and faced a lengthy recovery before returning to competition and earning selection for the Tour de France Femmes.
Reaching Lausanne had therefore represented an important step in her comeback. Her race has now ended after one stage for an unrelated health problem.
UAE still retain considerable depth through Elisa Longo Borghini, Paula Blasi, Silvia Persico, Maëva Squiban, Mavi GarcÃa and Dominika WÅ‚odarczyk. Chapman’s absence nevertheless removes an experienced rider capable of protecting the team’s multiple GC options and managing the peloton during difficult stages.
The consequences may become more noticeable later in the race. With several leaders to support, UAE can use every available rider for positioning, bottles, breakaway control and pacing before the decisive climbs.
Laura Tomasi abandons after possible concussion
Laura Tomasi was the only rider recorded as abandoning during Stage 1 because of a crash.
The Uno-X Mobility rider sustained trauma to her right elbow and underwent the race concussion protocol. Although the initial assessment did not identify an abnormal result, some concerning signs persisted afterwards.
Medical staff transferred Tomasi to hospital for further examination, and she was officially recorded as a withdrawal. She did not complete the stage and will not continue from Aigle.
The decision reflects the need for caution where concussion is suspected. Symptoms can develop or become clearer after the first roadside assessment, particularly once the immediate effects of exertion and adrenaline begin to subside.
No detailed hospital diagnosis had been announced by the team at the time of the Stage 2 start.
Tomasi had returned to Women’s WorldTour level with Uno-X for 2026 and entered the Tour as a versatile support and breakaway option. Her early exit leaves the Norwegian team with six riders and reduces the collective depth on which much of its race strategy depended.
Alison Avoine eliminated outside the time limit
Alison Avoine’s Tour ended after she completed Stage 1 outside the permitted time limit.
Lorena Wiebes won the stage in 3:29:11, with the 12 per cent allowance setting the maximum permitted finishing time at 3:54:18. Avoine arrived beyond that cut and was eliminated.
She was not reinstated by the commissaires and could not start Stage 2.
The result leaves Ma Petite Entreprise with six riders, although the invited French team still carried a visible reward from the opening stage through Océane Mahé’s polka-dot jersey.
Avoine’s elimination also underlined how demanding the Lausanne stage became. Although officially presented as a flat day, the climbing, heat and fast uphill finish made it difficult for riders dropped earlier to recover enough time.
Puck Pieterse crashes but recovers to finish fourth
Puck Pieterse was involved in an earlier crash alongside Zoe Bäckstedt but remounted and produced one of the strongest recoveries of the day.
The Fenix-Premier Tech rider returned to the front and finished fourth on the Côte Saint-François. She received the same stage time as Wiebes and begins Stage 2 ten seconds behind the yellow jersey.
Pieterse was not listed among the riders requiring treatment in the official post-stage medical report. Her performance in the finale also provided clear evidence that the crash had not caused an immediate injury serious enough to limit her.
She started Stage 2 and remains one of the riders most likely to challenge on the hilly and punchy stages.
Her condition is particularly important to Fenix-Premier Tech after Schweinberger’s withdrawal. Pieterse and Kool remain the team’s two leading stage options, but there is now one fewer rider available to support them.
Zoe Bäckstedt continues after early fall
Zoe Bäckstedt was caught in the same early incident as Pieterse and also remounted.
The Canyon SRAM rider completed the stage in 38th place, 37 seconds behind Wiebes. She was not named in the official medical communiqué and remained in the race for Stage 2.
The time loss does not materially alter her main objectives. Bäckstedt is not Canyon SRAM’s primary GC leader, with Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney and Antonia Niedermaier carrying the team’s overall ambitions.
Her most obvious individual opportunity remains the 21km Stage 4 time trial into Dijon. Avoiding a significant injury was therefore more important than the seconds conceded in Lausanne.
Canyon SRAM will still monitor her recovery, as soreness can become more noticeable the day after a crash even where no formal medical treatment is recorded.
Marlen Reusser chases back without losing time
Marlen Reusser was involved in a late crash after being unable to avoid Movistar teammate Arlenis Sierra on a right-hand bend.
The Swiss rider went over her handlebars with just over 20km remaining, creating an immediate concern for one of the principal GC favourites. Movistar placed teammates around her, managed the chase and returned their leader to the peloton before the final climb.
Reusser eventually finished tenth in the same time as Wiebes, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney and Elisa Longo Borghini.
She was not listed in the official medical report and started Stage 2. Numerically, the crash cost her nothing. Her ten-second deficit to Wiebes comes entirely from the stage winner’s bonus, while she remains only four seconds behind Demi Vollering.
The question is whether any bruising or soreness affects her preparation for the Dijon time trial. There has been no indication of a significant injury, but holding an aerodynamic position can become uncomfortable after even a relatively minor fall.
For now, Reusser remains fully involved in the race for yellow.
Lotte Claes continues with abrasions
Lotte Claes suffered abrasions after being involved in the same crash as Tomasi.
The Fenix-Premier Tech rider completed Stage 1 and started again on Sunday. No fracture or more serious injury was reported.
Her availability matters because the team have already lost Schweinberger. Claes can contribute across rolling terrain, assist the team’s leaders and help control breakaways or collect supplies.
Road rash is not normally enough to prevent a rider continuing, but it can still affect sleep, movement and comfort over the following days. Fenix-Premier Tech must now manage Claes’ recovery while operating with a reduced squad.
Henrietta Christie treated for bruising and abrasions
Henrietta Christie was treated for bruising and abrasions following a Stage 1 incident.
The EF Education-Oatly rider finished the stage and remained in the race. She did not require hospital transfer or further examination according to the initial medical report.
Christie is an important supporting rider in a team with several potential leaders and stage options. She can work for Noemi Rüegg, Cédrine Kerbaol and Kristen Faulkner while also contributing on harder terrain or entering breakaways.
Her injuries appeared superficial, although EF will still need to monitor how much work she can perform while recovering from the crash.
Mackenzie Coupland suffers thigh abrasion
Mackenzie Coupland sustained an abrasion to her left thigh in a separate crash.
The Liv AlUla Jayco rider completed Stage 1 and was cleared to continue. No further medical assessment was recorded.
Coupland entered the Tour primarily in a supporting and developmental role. The abrasion should not necessarily prevent her fulfilling that work, but discomfort around the thigh can affect pedalling and repeated accelerations.
Her status remained stable ahead of Stage 2.
Tour de France Femmes crash status after Stage 1
Christina Schweinberger: Broken wrist confirmed after the finish. Did not start Stage 2.
Laura Tomasi: Abandoned with a right elbow injury and persistent signs of possible concussion. Transferred to hospital.
Puck Pieterse: Remounted and finished fourth. Continued on Stage 2.
Zoe Bäckstedt: Remounted and completed the stage. Continued on Stage 2.
Marlen Reusser: Chased back and finished with the GC favourites. Continued on Stage 2.
Lotte Claes: Treated for abrasions and continued.
Henrietta Christie: Treated for bruising and abrasions and continued.
Mackenzie Coupland: Treated for a left-thigh abrasion and continued.
Four teams begin Stage 2 with six riders
Fenix-Premier Tech, UAE Team L’IMAD, Uno-X Mobility and Ma Petite Entreprise each began Stage 2 one rider short.
The reasons were different. Schweinberger and Tomasi left after crashes, Chapman withdrew through illness and Avoine was eliminated by the time cut.
The tactical impact also differs between the teams. Fenix lose a key road captain from a squad trying to win through Kool and Pieterse. UAE lose an experienced support rider from a team carrying several GC contenders. Uno-X lose one of their breakaway and rolling-stage options, while Ma Petite Entreprise must defend Mahé’s mountains jersey with reduced numbers.
The 2026 Tour de France Femmes started with 147 riders in Lausanne. After one stage, 143 remained.
Further withdrawals and medical updates will be added as the race progresses.
