Newsinc24 Team Indian cyclist Harshita Jakhar has created history by becoming the first woman from the country to feature in the prestigious Tour de France Femmes, the women’s edition of cycling’s most celebrated international race. The 19-year-old rider from Rajasthan participated in the ceremonial start of Stage 2 in Aigle, Switzerland, where she led a group of cyclists during a 4.5-km neutralised ride held ahead of the race stage.
Harshita was among eight cyclists selected for the UCI World Cycling Talent Programme, an initiative designed to provide promising riders from developing cycling nations with exposure to elite-level racing environments. The neutralised ride featured cyclists from Afghanistan, Algeria, Chile, Ethiopia, Namibia and Uganda, alongside Harshita, marking a significant milestone for Indian cycling on the global stage.The Tour de France Femmes, part of the UCI Women’s World Tour calendar, began in Lausanne on August 1 and is scheduled to conclude in Nice on August 9.
UCI President David Lappartient welcomed Harshita’s participation and praised her inclusion in the talent development programme. He expressed confidence that the young cyclist would return to compete in the race in the future.Harshita is trained at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Patiala under the guidance of her father and coach Rakesh Jakhar, a former Indian cyclist who represented the country at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
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