Indian cyclist Harshita Jakhar scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to feature in the Tour de France Femmes 2026 after leading a group of cyclists during the ceremonial start of Stage Two in Aigle, Switzerland, on Sunday.
According to Olympics.com, the 19-year-old cyclist from Rajasthan was among eight riders selected for the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Cycling Talent Programme, an initiative aimed at providing riders from developing cycling nations with exposure to elite international competition.
Harshita joined cyclists from Afghanistan, Algeria, Chile, Ethiopia, Namibia and Uganda in completing a neutralised 4.5-kilometre ride ahead of the professional peloton before Stage Two of the prestigious race.
The Tour de France Femmes, one of the premier events on the UCI Women’s World Tour calendar, began on August 1 in Lausanne and will conclude on August 9 in Nice.
UCI president David Lappartient welcomed Harshita’s participation and expressed confidence that the young Indian rider would one day compete in the main event.
“We are excited to have India’s very talented Harshita Jakhar in our prestigious UCI World Cycling Talent Programme,” Lappartient said.
“I am sure she will love being part of the Tour de France Femmes and will soon return to take part in the actual competition,” he added.
Harshita trains at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Patiala under the guidance of her father, former cyclist Rakesh Jakhar, who represented India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
She rose to prominence after winning three gold medals at the 2025 Khelo India Youth Games and has also claimed one silver and two bronze medals at the 2024 Asian Junior Cycling Championships.
