Tadej Pogačar began his quest for a record-equaling fifth Tour de France title as the race kicked off on Saturday in Barcelona, Spain. The Slovenian sensation, who won the race in 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025, is aiming to join Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Jacques Anquetil, and Bernard Hinault as the only riders to win cycling’s most prestigious race on five occasions.
Jonas Vingegaard took an early advantage in his quest for a third title, recording the fastest time in the opening stage. Vingegaard and his Visma-Lease a Bike team completed the 19.6-kilometer team time trial in 21 minutes and 47 seconds, claiming the yellow jersey for the first time since 2023. The victory marks a remarkable comeback for the Dane following a harrowing crash in 2024.
Filippo Ganna of Netcompany-Ineos finished eight seconds slower than Vingegaard, while defending champion Tadej Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG outfit placed third, coming in 12 seconds behind. Vingegaard, who took home the yellow jersey in 2022 and 2023, is also aiming to complete the men’s Giro-Tour double.
The opening stage took riders past Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica and finished with a short climb up a hill. The three-week race will move into the French Pyrenees on Stage 3, with Stages 19 and 20 culminating at the famed Alpe d’Huez climb in the Alps. The competition will conclude with the 21st and final stage ending on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.