Luxembourg 02 May 2026 Class 1.1 – 1 day – Class 1
Website www.elsy-jacobs.lu
Email info@elsy-jacobs.lu
Festival Elsy Jacobs à Garnich One Day Race
The Festival Elsy Jacobs à Garnich (Category 1.1) is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026. This one-day race precedes the Festival Elsy Jacobs à Luxembourg (Cessange), which takes place the following day.
Below is the provisional startlist for the Garnich edition. Please note that rosters are subject to last-minute changes by team directors.
Festival Elsy Jacobs à Garnich 2026 Startlist
| Team | Riders |
| Team SD Worx – Protime | Femke Gerritse, Elena Cecchini, Barbara Guarischi, Steffi Häberlin, Mikayla Harvey, Marta Lach |
| Cofidis Women Team | Valentine Fortin, Kristýna Burlová, Martina Alzini, Špela Kern, Hannah Ludwig, Nadia Quagliotto |
| VolkerWessels Cycling Team | Scarlett Souren, Florien Bolks, Malou Eisen, Quinty Schoens, Bodine Vollering, Eline Jansen |
| UAE Development Team | Fee Knaven, Eilidh Shaw, Giada Silo, Safia Al Sayegh, Zahra Hussain, Magdalena Leis |
| Liv AlUla Jayco Continental | Alli Anderson, Erin Boothman, Talia Appleton, Sophie Marr, Sidney Swierenga, Anabelle Thomas |
| Aromitalia Vaiano | Rasa Leleivytė, Lucia Brillante Romeo, Virginia Iaccarino, Argiro Milaki, Elisa Tottolo, Petra Zsankó |
| Top Girls Fassa Bortolo | Sharon Spimi, Elisa De Vallier, Sara Luccon, Marta Pavesi, Chiara Reghini, Alessia Zambelli |
| Team Mendelspeck E-Work | Elena Pirrone, Giulia Giuliani, Eleonora Deotto, Katelyn Nicholson, Giorgia Serena, Camilla Bezzone |
| Minimax Cycling Team | Lauren Bates, Éloïse Camiré, Emilie Fortin, Gwen Nothum, Junne Vermeeren, Eleanor Wiseman |
| Handsling Alba Development | Anna Flynn, Madelaine Leech, Grace Lister, Beth Morrow, Holly Ramsey, Kate Richardson |
| WCC Team | Lucie De Marigny-Lagesse, Yulduz Hashimi, Anna Kolyzhuk, Florencia Monsalvez, Jazilla Mwamikazi, Serkalen Taye Watango |
| MIX Luxembourg-Iceland | Maïté Barthels, Lena Lallemang, Nina Berton, Hafdís Sigurðardóttir, Bríet Kristý Gunnarsdóttir, Júlía Oddsdóttir |
Race Details
- Date: May 2, 2026
- Category: WE 1.1
- Location: Garnich, Luxembourg
- Defending Champion: Marta Lach (who is returning this year with SD Worx – Protime)
Marta Lach is definitely the one to watch here, having won the Garnich edition back-to-back in 2024 and 2025.
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
Elsy Jacobs (1933–1998) was a legendary Luxembourgish cyclist and a true pioneer of women’s professional sports. Known as the “Grand Duchess” of cycling, she broke barriers at a time when women were often discouraged—or even barred—from competing professionally.
Early Life and Determination
- Born: March 4, 1933, in Garnich, Luxembourg.
- A Family of Cyclists: She was the youngest of 11 children. Three of her brothers (Roger, Raymond, and Edmond) were also competitive cyclists, which sparked her passion.
- Early Struggles: In the 1950s, women’s cycling lacked official recognition in Luxembourg. To compete, Elsy often traveled to France and Belgium, sometimes racing without a license or using “subterfuge” to get onto the starting line.
Major Career Achievements
Elsy’s career is defined by two monumental achievements in 1958 that secured her place in history:
- First Women’s Road World Champion (1958): On August 30, 1958, in Reims, France, Elsy won the inaugural UCI Women’s Road World Championship. She rode with tactical brilliance, attacking solo to finish ahead of the pack and don the first-ever female rainbow jersey.
- The World Hour Record: On November 9, 1958, at the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milan, she set the world hour record by covering 41.347 km. This record was so formidable that it stood for 14 years until it was finally broken in 1972.
- National Dominance: She won the Luxembourgish National Road Race Championship 15 times (virtually every year between 1959 and 1974).
- Career Stats: Over her professional life, she competed in 1,059 races, securing 301 victories and over 600 podium finishes.
Later Life and Legacy
- Relocation: In 1974, after a dispute with the Luxembourgish federation (who refused to register her for the World Championships), she moved to France, took French nationality, and became a coach for youth teams in Brittany.
- Passing: She died on February 28, 1998, in Guémené-sur-Scorff, France, at the age of 64.
- The Festival Elsy Jacobs: Ten years after her death, the Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs (now the Festival Elsy Jacobs) was established in her hometown of Garnich to honor her contribution to the sport.
- Cultural Impact: Today, she is remembered as a symbol of perseverance. Numerous sports facilities in Luxembourg bear her name, and she remains an inspiration for modern stars like Christine Majerus.
“She didn’t just race; she fought for the right to race. Every female professional cyclist today rides in the tracks she cleared.”
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The 2026 edition of the Festival Elsy Jacobs continues its format as a series of standalone UCI Class 1.1 one-day races. The Garnich leg is the first of two back-to-back races in Luxembourg honoring the legendary Elsy Jacobs, the first women’s road world champion.
Below is the program for the Festival Elsy Jacobs à Garnich 2026:
Race Overview: Garnich 1.1
- Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Category: Women Elite (UCI 1.1)
- Start & Finish: Garnich, Luxembourg
- Total Distance: 112.4 km
- Terrain: Hilly / Rolling circuit typical of the Gutland region.
Event Schedule
| Time (Local) | Event / Milestone | Location |
| 12:00 – 13:15 | Team Presentation & Sign-on | Garnich (Podium area) |
| 13:30 | Official Race Start | Rue de l’École, Garnich |
| 14:45 | Expected first passage of the finish line | Garnich |
| 16:15 – 16:30 | Race Finish (Estimated) | Garnich |
| 16:45 | Award Ceremony | Official Podium |
Technical Details
- Course Profile: The race features several laps of a challenging local circuit. While not mountainous, the constant “up and down” nature of the Luxembourgish countryside often leads to an aggressive race and a reduced bunch sprint or a solo breakaway.
- The “Double Header”: Note that this is the first of two days. The following day, Sunday, May 3, the peloton moves to Cessange for the second Class 1.1 race of the weekend (approx. 121 km).
Participant Teams
Expect a high-caliber field including top-tier UCI Women’s WorldTeams and Continental squads. Teams frequently seen at this event include:
- Team SD Worx – Protime
- Lidl – Trek
- Cofidis Women Team
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- National selections (e.g., Luxembourg, USA)
Pro Tip: If you’re attending in person, the “Place de la Mairie” in Garnich is usually the best spot to catch the atmosphere, the team buses, and the tactical battle at the finish line.
History of the Festival Elsy Jacobs
The Festival Elsy Jacobs is more than just a race; it is a tribute to a pioneer who changed the face of women’s cycling. Based in Luxembourg, the event honors Elsy Jacobs, the first-ever women’s road world champion.
1. The Inspiration: Elsy Jacobs (1933–1998)
To understand the festival, one must understand the “Grand Duchess” of cycling:
- A Pioneer: Born in Garnich, Elsy had to fight to race. In the 1950s, women were often barred from professional licenses, leading her to race in France and Belgium under false pretenses or without official papers.
- World Champion (1958): She made history in Reims, France, by winning the inaugural UCI Women’s Road World Championship.
- The Hour Record: Later in 1958, she set the world hour record at the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milan, covering 41.347 km. This record stood for 14 years.
- Legacy: She won a staggering 15 Luxembourgish national titles and competed in over 1,000 races during her career.
2. Evolution of the Race
The race was established ten years after her death to keep her memory alive and promote women’s elite cycling.
| Era | Format & Classification | Key Details |
| 2008 – 2011 | One-Day Race (UCI 1.1) | Originally titled the Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs, it began as a single-day event in Garnich. |
| 2012 – 2023 | Stage Race (UCI 2.1 / 2.Pro) | The GP Elsy Jacobs merged with the GP Nicolas Frantz to become a multi-day “Festival.” It gained prestige, moving to the UCI ProSeries in 2021. |
| 2024 – Present | Twin One-Day Races (UCI 1.1) | Due to the shift in the global cycling calendar (notably the move of the Vuelta Femenina), the organizers returned to a format of two separate Class 1.1 one-day races: one in Garnich and one in Luxembourg/Cessange. |
3. Notable Winners
The “Festival” has long been a favorite for the world’s best riders due to its technical, rolling terrain. Past winners include some of the greatest names in the sport:
- Marianne Vos: The legendary Dutch rider holds the record for the most overall wins (3).
- Anna van der Breggen: Former Olympic and World Champion.
- Emma Pooley: British climbing specialist.
- Marta Lach: Recent winner who has excelled in the modern one-day format.
4. Why It Matters Today
The Festival Elsy Jacobs remains a cornerstone of the Luxembourgish sporting calendar. It is celebrated for its community atmosphere, particularly in Elsy’s hometown of Garnich, where the local sports center also bears her name. By maintaining its UCI status, the race ensures that professional women’s cycling continues to have a high-profile platform in the heart of Europe.
