Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset enters the history books of the Tour de France Femmes. The Norwegian has accomplished a solo feat, and for her comes the yellow jersey and a legendary record.

A breakaway of almost 90 kilometers, extraordinary endurance and a page of history written on the roads of the Tour de France Femmes. Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset has signed off on the achievement of her career, conquering the third stage of the Grande Boucle feminin in solo fashion and wearing, for the first time, the prestigious yellow jersey.

The Uno-X Mobility rider has given the Norwegian team one of the most important victories in its history, managing to resist the return of the peloton and even the attacks of two-time world champion Lotte Kopecky. A masterclass in courage and determination that allows her to become the first Norwegian cyclist to win a stage at the Tour de France Femmes and the first from her country to wear the yellow jersey.

A double milestone made even more prestigious by the fact that Haugset's winning breakaway is the longest in the history of the race.

The decisive attack came when there were still 74 kilometers to the finish. A courageous choice, almost desperate, but one that the Norwegian transformed into an authentic feat. Behind her, Lotte Kopecky also launched an attack, intent on catching the breakaway leader, but the gap never dropped below ten seconds. The SD Worx-Protime champion ultimately had to surrender, finishing 1'24" behind, while the peloton also threw in the towel in the face of the Norwegian's extraordinary performance.

What made the day even more special was the simultaneous collapse of race leader Lorena Wiebes, winner of the first two stages, who fell behind from the early stages of the race and was forced to surrender the yellow jersey.

For Haugset, instead, came a victory that just hours earlier seemed unthinkable. «Is this a dream come true? I believe so - she recounted with eyes still in disbelief after the finish line - In reality I had never thought about it because I didn't believe it was possible. Now I'm here and it all seems unreal to me».

The most delicate moment of the race was the long-distance duel with Kopecky. The Norwegian even thought about slowing down and waiting for the Belgian.

«When I attacked I only had a few seconds of advantage and I thought Lotte would catch me. For a moment I even thought about slowing down, because finishing second behind her would have been a great result too. But the team car kept encouraging me and pushed me to keep going».

The strength to resist also came from thinking of the people who had accompanied her to this achievement.

«I thought of my teammates, of everyone cheering from home and I felt I had to give everything. I still can't believe Lotte didn't manage to catch me. Winning with the Norwegian colors on my shoulders is something fantastic».

The yellow jersey, on the other hand, came almost as a surprise. «No, I hadn't thought about it at all. In the final kilometers I was completely dazed. I had no more energy left and just wanted to reach the finish line. I know my boyfriend will be angry because I didn't celebrate crossing the finish line, but I couldn't even take my hands off the handlebars. It was impossible. I wasn't thinking about either the victory or the yellow jersey».

Only after crossing the finish line did she realize she had written a page in the history of Norwegian cycling. First Norwegian to win a stage at the Tour de France Femmes, first Norwegian to wear the yellow jersey and protagonist of the longest solo breakaway in the history of the race.

A list of milestones that, however, at least for now, doesn't seem to impress her. «Right now I still can't grasp it because I'm truly exhausted. I'm happy, but completely drained. Maybe in a few weeks I'll really be able to understand what happened today».
After showing excellent form already at the Giro d'Italia, Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset found the perfect day at the Tour de France Femmes. A day destined to enter the history of the race and of Norwegian cycling, built with courage, endurance and a determination that none of the favorites managed to break.