DUTCH rider Charlotte Kool won a mass sprint on home soil in the opening stage of the women’s Tour de France today.

Kool will start Tuesday’s second stage in the leader’s yellow jersey after completing the 123 kilometres (76-mile) stage in two hours, 47 minutes and 40 seconds.

“It’s very special that everything fell into place,” she told Dutch broadcaster NOS. “This is the day I was hoping for.”