Harshita Jakhar First Indian Woman at Tour de France Femmes

# Harshita Jakhar First Indian Woman at Tour de France Femmes ### 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**