Road to Lausanne
14 women, 3 days and 260 kilometres on the roads of the Grand Départ
From 10-12 July 2026, fourteen women aged between 21 and 64 rode from Geneva to Lausanne via Yverdon-les-Bains and Aigle. Created in coordination with the Grand Départ Suisse of the Tour de France Femmes with Zwift Road to Lausanne brought together riders with different backgrounds and levels for a shared three-day adventure across French-speaking Switzerland.
The experience:
Day 1: Geneva to Yverdon-les Bains
The participants met for the first time by the lake in Geneva, one of the host cities of the Grand Départ Suisse.
After a briefing at Velosophe bike shop, the group set off on the first day of the adventure. The extreme heat made the ride especially demanding, and at times the road felt like a furnace. Despite the added strain, the group quickly began to come together, regrouping around fountains, supporting one another and sharing the satisfaction of overcoming a difficult first day on the bike.
Day 2: Yverdon-les-Bains to Aigle
Despite the continuing heat, the group became more united as new friendships developed. There was already a strong sense of shared effort and compassion, with the more experienced riders helping those who were finding the day more difficult.
The route followed roads used for Stage 1 of the Tour de France Femmes. At our lunch stop, we were joined by several young riders from Valais Cycling, who shared their racing experiences and rode the final kilometres with us to Aigle. That evening, we stayed in the dormitories of the UCI World Cycling Centre and slept, for one night at least, like a professional race team.
Day 3: Aigle to Lausanne
By Day 3, the positive energy within the group was unmistakable. The participants had fully understood what the project was about: when people work together, when stronger riders support those who are struggling and experienced cyclists help those who are newer to the sport, everyone gains something from the experience.
One of the most memorable moments came when 50-year-old Laurence Morisod helped 29-year-old Erika Souza complete what was possibly the longest climb she had ridden since taking up cycling a year earlier. The tears of joy at the top were shared by the whole group.
Small gestures can have a lasting impact on someone who is new to the sport. Kindness costs nothing, but it can change how a difficult moment is experienced and remembered.
Road to Lausanne: A quick overview
📅 10–12 July 2026
🚴 Day 1: 102 km, 1’070 m+
🚴 Day 2: 101 km, 1’110 m+
🚴 Day 3: 53 km, 450 m+
📏 Total distance: around 260 km
⛰️ Elevation gain: around 2,500 m
The project brought together 14 participants aged from 21 to 64. Some were beginners, some were highly experienced, and many were somewhere in between.
They came from across French-speaking Switzerland, with one participant travelling from German-speaking Switzerland. At the beginning of the project, none of them knew one another.
The two guides, Lillie Rumpf and Nathalie Monnier, worked together to manage the group on the road, share practical riding skills and help the participants develop into a supportive and cohesive peloton.
Road to Lausanne is a project supported by the Canton de Vaud and the Grand Départ Suisse Lausanne. It is led by the association cycliste cantonale vaudoise (ACCV) with the support of Cycling Heidi, Valais Cycling, the Centre Mondial du Cyclisme UCI and cycliste.ch.
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