diff --git a/swh/loader/pypi/client.py b/swh/loader/pypi/client.py
--- a/swh/loader/pypi/client.py
+++ b/swh/loader/pypi/client.py
@@ -421,6 +421,11 @@
 
         return ret
 
+    def default_release(self):
+        """Return the version number of the default release,
+           as would be installed by `pip install`"""
+        return self.data['info']['version']
+
     def download_new_releases(self, known_artifacts):
         """Fetch metadata/data per release (if new release artifact detected)
 
diff --git a/swh/loader/pypi/tests/test_client.py b/swh/loader/pypi/tests/test_client.py
--- a/swh/loader/pypi/tests/test_client.py
+++ b/swh/loader/pypi/tests/test_client.py
@@ -96,3 +96,7 @@
             self.project.all_release_artifacts(),
             expected_release_artifacts,
         )
+
+    @istest
+    def default_release(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.project.default_release(), '1.2.0')