Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) had been chasing that big victory for some time, until stage 1 of the 2026 Vuelta Femenina saw the Swiss rider cross the line first. The stage win and resulting red leader’s jersey marks another step up for the 25-year-old. "It's absolutely insane," Rüegg said. "I honestly can’t really believe it. It’s just a dream, to win a Grand Tour stage." Beating Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) in a hard uphill sprint in Salvaterra de Miño, Rüegg took her first individual WorldTour victory in Europe. Article continues below After two seasons with Jumbo-Visma in 2022 and 2023 (when she was part of the team winning the Vuelta Femenina opening TTT), Rüegg signed for EF Education-Oatly for the 2024 season. She won her very first race for the team, the 1.1 Trofeo Marratxi-Felanitx, and later added the Swiss road race title.…