The 2026 Vuelta Femenina continued on Monday with a stage to San Cibrao das Viñas, won by Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal) and continues until Saturday for a showdown on the Angliru to decide the first Grand Tour of the year.
Now, the race is obviously about one thing – the racing – but in stage races, there are also lots of chances for more negative rewards: penalties.
With hours of racing every day and some of the biggest fields of the year, the Grand Tours often see several penalties handed out, which are all listed in the race jury’s communiqué after each stage.
Yellow cards are no longer a new system, but as a reminder, they are handed out alongside penalties, and if you get more than one in the same race, you are disqualified and suspended for seven days. Three in 30 days equals a 14 day suspension, and six in a year means a 30-day suspension – though this hasn’t happened to anyone yet.
La Vuelta Femenina 2026 penalties
Stage 1
Stage 2
- Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-ProTime) – Irregular sprint, -18 in points classification, 200 CHF fine, yellow card and relegation to last place in her group (36th)
Stage 3
Stage 4
- Jeroen Blijlevens (Lidl-Trek DS)- 200CHF failing to follow instructions of the organiser
Stage 5
- Letizia Paternoster and Josie Talbot (Liv AlUla Jayco) – 100CHF fine, 5 UCI point deduction, 15 points classification deduction and 20 second time penalty for drafting behind a vehicle
- Shawn Clarke (Liv AlUla Jayco DS) – 200CHF fine and yellow card for allowing riders to draft behind vehicle
Stage 7
- Sarah van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) – 250 CHF fine, -15 Points at UCI rankings for disposing of waste or other objects outside of litter zones
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