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Jonas Vingegaard blasted to the stage win and stepped into his first yellow jersey since 2023 as Visma-Lease a Bike crushed the stage 1 team time trial of the Tour de France.
The two-time Tour de France champion scored just a slim advantage but big bragging rights over defending champion and arch-rival Tadej Pogačar in front of massed crowds Saturday in Barcelona.
Pogačar finished 12 seconds back on Vingegaard after he was delivered into the final of Saturday’s “alternative format” TTT by his henchman at UAE Emirates-XRG, Isaac del Toro.
Pogačar’s effort put his team third on the stage.
Pre-stage favorites Netcompany Ineos finished second with Filippo Ganna in what proved a thrilling start to the 2026 Tour de France.
Vingegaard back in yellow for first time since 2023 title victory
The stage-win puts early momentum behind Vingegaard as he looks to double his Giro d’Italia victory with a third win at the Tour.
“It’s the perfect start. It’s a long Tour obviously, but it’s a good start,” Vingegaard said at the finish.
“My teammates did amazing today – I didn’t have to do much. They took me all the way to finish,” he continued. “To take the stage win and the yellow jersey after a few hard years without it, it’s nice to experience it again.”
Juan Ayuso and Remco Evenepoel delivered huge final pulls for Lidl-Trek and Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe.
These two GC hopefuls put their new teams into 4th and 5th-place on the stage and positioned themselves within 20 seconds of Vingegaard.
Del Toro and Red Bull co-leader Florian Lipowitz held it together after they played leadout for their teammates.
Del Toro – who’s touted as a strong podium contender – lost only 26 seconds to Vingegaard. Lipowitz lost 35.
Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) stormed into his hugely hyped Tour de France debut at top gear.
The 19-year-old was piloted into the final ramp by U.S. climber Matthew Riccitello before the Frenchman hit out for a solid 10th-place overall finish.
Alternative format TTT gives Tour de France an explosive start
Saturday’s “alternative format” TTT threw the favorites into the spotlight on day 1. The ASO’s unique timing system awards the stage-win to a team but also offers potential GC gains to individuals.
Netcompany Ineos started their effort ahead of the GC teams and looked good to deliver on their status as pre-stage favorite when Filippo Ganna uncorked his huge final effort.
But Vingegaard and Visma-Lease a Bike had other plans.
The “Killer Bees” kept Sepp Kuss, Matteo Jorgenson, and Davide Piganzoli in the rotation through to the final two ramps of the stage.
Piganzoli, hot off his breakout ride for Vingegaard at the Giro d’Italia, delivered the final pulls for Vingegaard before the Dane powered up the 800m final ramp in the TT skis for his first maillot jaune since 2023.
“It’s an amazing victory for us, especially when it’s a team time trial,” Vingegaard said. “I’m the one wearing the yellow jersey, but they all won the stage. Everything went to plan, we had a tactic and it paid off.”
Pogačar came to the line just minutes after Vingegaard after UAE Emirates-XRG started last on the stage.
The four-time champion attacked the final out of the saddle but had been left too much deficit to cut after Visma-Lease a Bike’s huge effort.
More GC action expected Sunday in punchy stage 2 finale
The peloton remains in Barcelona for stage 2 on Sunday.
The steep, explosive final 30km of the Tour’s first road stage is loaded with repeats of the steep ramp to the Olympic velodrome. Pogačar, Van der Poel, and the prime puncheurs will sniff an opportunity for yellow.
Vingegaard clearly has the form to defend it.
A full preview of stage 2 can be found here.
Tour de France stage 1 results:
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