Romina Hinojosa Becomes First Mexican To Race In Tour De France Femmes

Geneva, Switzerland — Romina Hinojosa made Mexican cycling history this weekend, becoming the first Mexican rider to compete in the modern Tour de France Femmes.

The 23-year-old from Tampico, Tamaulipas, is representing Lotto-Intermarché Ladies in the nine-stage race, which began Saturday in Lausanne and concludes August 9 in Nice, France.

Hinojosa finished 130th in the opening 138-kilometer stage around Lausanne, crossing the line 15 minutes and four seconds behind winner Lorena Wiebes.

On Sunday, she completed the 147.9-kilometer second stage from Aigle to Geneva in 138th place, 24 minutes and 58 seconds behind Wiebes, who earned her second consecutive stage victory.

After two stages, Hinojosa is 138th among the 139 riders remaining in the race, 40 minutes and 12 seconds behind Wiebes in the general classification.

Her position should be viewed in the context of her role. Hinojosa entered the Tour primarily as a support rider, or domestique, rather than as a contender for the overall title. Her responsibilities may include helping teammates maintain position, setting the pace, collecting food and water, responding to attacks and assisting a team leader who encounters mechanical trouble.

The work can cost a rider time in the general classification, but it is an important part of professional cycling’s team structure.

Hinojosa remains in the race following a difficult second stage that eliminated several competitors, including three Lotto-Intermarché riders. She is scheduled to start Monday’s 156.5-kilometer Stage 3 from Geneva to Poligny, the first stage to finish in France.

Her participation is a first for Mexico in the Tour de France Femmes, the women’s race introduced in its current form in 2022. No Mexican cyclist appeared in the starting field during its first four editions.

Born November 30, 2002, Hinojosa grew up in Tampico before entering Mexico’s competitive cycling system. She later gained European racing experience through the AR Monex development program, which has helped young Mexican riders compete in Italy and elsewhere in Europe.

She joined Lotto’s women’s team in 2025 and remained with the Belgian organization when it moved to UCI ProTeam status for the 2026 season.

The Tour is Hinojosa’s second Grand Tour. She completed the 2025 Vuelta Femenina in 46th place overall during her first season racing at that level. She has also won two silver medals in the Mexican national road championships, in 2023 and 2025.

Her recent results include an 18th-place finish in the general classification at the 2026 Volta a Portugal Feminina and fifth place in a 15-kilometer individual time trial at Italy’s Internazionale Cycling Festival in June.

Hinojosa has also competed in several prominent European one-day events. In 2025, she became the second Mexican cyclist to start the women’s Tour of Flanders, one of the sport’s best-known spring classics.

This year’s Tour de France Femmes route covers 1,175 kilometers and includes 18,795 meters of elevation gain, making it the longest and most mountainous edition since the current race began.

The first major change in the overall standings could come Tuesday during a 21-kilometer individual time trial between Gevrey-Chambertin and Dijon. The race then moves toward its main mountain test on Friday, August 7, when Stage 7 ends atop Mont Ventoux.

The final weekend includes a 171.9-kilometer stage from Sisteron to Nice, followed by a 99.2-kilometer mountain stage beginning and ending in Nice.

For Hinojosa, finishing the entire route would add another first to her Tour debut: becoming the first Mexican woman to appear in the final classification of the modern Tour de France Femmes.