Rüegg Comes of Age in Salvaterra de Miño

Salvaterra de Miño, Sunday, 3rd May 2026

Noemi Rüegg won the first stage of La Vuelta Femenina 26 by Carrefour.es, decided by an uphill sprint in Salvaterra de Miño. The Swiss rider overpowered Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx-Protime) and Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) in the final two hundred metres to reward the excellent work of her EF Education-Oatly teammates throughout the stage. This is arguably the best victory to date for the 25-year-old sprinter, who came to the Spanish grand tour following an excellent start of the season. Rüegg also became the leader of the overall standings, tied with FDJ’s Koch who scored six bonus seconds in the day’s intermediate sprint to fall just short from claiming La Roja. Despite the many splits throughout the day, no meaningful gaps were set in the GC, which will continue to take shape in Monday’s second stage between Lobios and San Cibrao das Viñas, that also features an uphill finish seemingly well-suited to Rüegg’s qualities.

STAGE RESULT

1. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) 02h53’50”
2. Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx-Protime) +00’00”
3. Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) + 00’00”

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) 02h53’40”
2. Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) + 00’00”
3. Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx-Protime) +00’04”