Why in News?
On August 3, 2026, 19-year-old cyclist Harshita Jakhar became the first Indian woman to feature in the Tour de France Femmes, riding the ceremonial start of Stage Two in Aigle, Switzerland.
What makes this historic?
- Harshita led the ceremonial start of Stage Two, completing a 4.5 km ride ahead of the professional peloton, marking her presence in the world's premier women's cycling stage race.
- She was selected for the UCI World Cycling Talent Programme, which gives elite exposure to athletes from developing cycling nations like Chile, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan.
- Her selection highlights India's growing presence in international cycling, especially for women.
Her journey and achievements
- Harshita trains at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence in Patiala under her father Rakesh Jakhar, a former national cyclist who represented India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
- She won three gold medals at the 2025 Khelo India Youth Games and a silver and two bronze medals at the 2024 Asian Junior Cycling Championships.
- The 2026 Tour de France Femmes runs from August 1 in Lausanne to August 9 in Nice.
Exam Connect
Tour de France Femmes → Premier annual women's road cycling stage race, part of UCI Women's World Tour
UCI → Union Cycliste Internationale, world governing body for cycling, headquartered in Aigle, Switzerland