Harshita Jakhar becomes first Indian woman at Tour de France Femmes
Synopsis
A 19-year-old from Rajasthan just put India on the Tour de France map. Harshita Jakhar became the first Indian woman to feature at the Tour de France Femmes, riding the ceremonial Stage 2 start in Aigle as part of the UCI's talent programme — and the UCI president has already said she will be back to compete for real.
Key Takeaways
Harshita Jakhar , 19 , became the first Indian woman to feature at the Tour de France Femmes on 3 August 2025 .
She participated in a 4.5 km neutralised ride before Stage 2 in Aigle, Switzerland , as part of the UCI World Cycling Talent Programme .
UCI president David Lappartient praised her and expressed confidence she would return to compete in the race.
She trains at the SAI National Centre of Excellence, Patiala , under her father and coach Rakesh Jakhar , who competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games .
Her medal tally includes 3 golds at the 2025 Khelo India Youth Games and a silver plus 2 bronzes at the 2024 Asian Junior Cycling Championships .
Harshita Jakhar scripted history on Sunday, 3 August 2025, becoming the first Indian woman to feature in the Tour de France Femmes — the women's edition of the world's most celebrated cycling race — when she led a group of riders during the ceremonial start of Stage 2 in Aigle, Switzerland. The 19-year-old from Rajasthan was selected as part of the UCI World Cycling Talent Programme, an initiative designed to give elite-level race exposure to promising cyclists from nations still developing their competitive cycling infrastructure.
What Harshita Did at the Race
Harshita participated in a 4.5 km neutralised ride held ahead of Stage 2 of the prestigious event. She was among eight riders handpicked for the UCI programme, representing countries including Afghanistan, Algeria, Chile, Ethiopia, Namibia, and Uganda. Though a ceremonial start rather than a competitive stage, the appearance places her name in the record books as the first Indian woman to be part of the Tour de France Femmes.
The Tour de France Femmes — a marquee fixture on the UCI Women's World Tour calendar — got underway in Lausanne on 1 August and is scheduled to conclude in Nice on 9 August.
UCI President's Praise
David Lappartient, president of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), personally welcomed Harshita's involvement. He said he was 'delighted to have such a talented woman as Harshita Jakhar in the esteemed UCI World Cycling Talent Programme' and expressed confidence that she would 'soon return to take part in the actual competition.' The endorsement from the sport's global governing body signals how seriously Harshita's potential is being taken at the international level.
The Coach Behind the Cyclist
Harshita trains at the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) National Centre of Excellence in Patiala, under the guidance of her father and coach, Rakesh Jakhar — himself a former competitive cyclist who represented India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. The family's cycling lineage adds a compelling layer to her story: a father who competed at the Commonwealth level, now coaching a daughter aiming for the sport's grandest stages.
A Record Built on Gold and Grit
Harshita's ascent has been rapid. She won three gold medals at the 2025 Khelo India Youth Games, cementing her status as one of the country's most exciting young cycling talents. Her international credentials include a silver medal and two bronze medals at the 2024 Asian Junior Cycling Championships — a haul that underscores her competitiveness well beyond domestic circuits.
What This Means for Indian Cycling
India has historically been a marginal presence in elite road cycling, a discipline dominated by European nations. Harshita's appearance at the Tour de France Femmes — even in a non-competitive capacity — marks a tangible step forward. Notably, she rode alongside athletes from countries that, like India, are building their cycling ecosystems from the ground up, suggesting a broader global push to diversify the sport's elite tier. With the UCI's backing and a structured training base in Patiala, her trajectory toward competitive participation at future editions of the race looks credible.
Point of View
Not competitive — and that distinction matters. But it would be a mistake to dismiss its significance. The UCI's talent programme is a deliberate pipeline, not a photo opportunity; athletes selected for it receive structured exposure that accelerates their path to full competition. What is more telling is that the UCI president singled her out by name and predicted a return. For a sport where India has never produced a professional road cyclist of international standing, a 19-year-old from Rajasthan drawing that kind of institutional attention is genuinely novel. The real test will be whether SAI and the national federation can sustain the investment — funding, race calendars, and overseas exposure — needed to convert a historic first into a competitive career.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Harshita Jakhar and why is she making history?
Harshita Jakhar is a 19-year-old cyclist from Rajasthan who on 3 August 2025 became the first Indian woman to feature at the Tour de France Femmes. She participated in the ceremonial neutralised ride before Stage 2 in Aigle, Switzerland, as part of the UCI World Cycling Talent Programme.
What is the UCI World Cycling Talent Programme?
It is a UCI initiative that selects promising cyclists from nations with developing cycling programmes and gives them exposure to elite racing environments. Eight riders from countries including India, Afghanistan, Algeria, Chile, Ethiopia, Namibia, and Uganda took part in the 2025 edition alongside the Tour de France Femmes.
Did Harshita Jakhar actually race in the Tour de France Femmes?
She took part in a 4.5 km neutralised ceremonial ride ahead of Stage 2, not the competitive race itself. However, her participation officially makes her the first Indian woman to feature at the event, and UCI president David Lappartient has expressed confidence she will return to compete.
What are Harshita Jakhar's major achievements so far?
She won three gold medals at the 2025 Khelo India Youth Games and claimed a silver medal and two bronze medals at the 2024 Asian Junior Cycling Championships. She trains at the SAI National Centre of Excellence in Patiala under her father and former Commonwealth Games cyclist Rakesh Jakhar.
When and where is the 2025 Tour de France Femmes being held?
The 2025 Tour de France Femmes began in Lausanne on 1 August and is scheduled to conclude in Nice on 9 August. Stage 2, where Harshita's ceremonial ride took place, was held in Aigle, Switzerland.
