Vingegaard Leads After Team Time Trial; Pogačar 12 Seconds Behind at Tour de France Start

Jonas Vingegaard claimed the first yellow jersey of the 2026 Tour de France after his Visma-Lease a Bike team recorded the fastest time in the opening 12.1-mile team time trial in Barcelona on July 4. Vingegaard finished the stage 12 seconds ahead of Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Filippo Ganna of Netcompany INEOS Grenadiers placed second overall, eight seconds behind Vingegaard.

Juan Ayuso finished fourth at 16 seconds back, Remco Evenepoel fifth at 19 seconds, and 19-year-old Paul Seixas tenth at 39 seconds. The route followed the Mediterranean coast past the Sagrada Familia basilica before ending with a short climb overlooking the city. Temperatures reached 30 °C during the stage.

This marked the first team time trial at the Tour since 2019, with each rider timed individually rather than by the team's fourth finisher. "It is still a long Tour obviously but is a perfect start," Vingegaard said. "My team did an amazing job today.

He added that wearing the yellow jersey again after several years was a welcome return. Pogačar, seeking a record-equaling fifth Tour title after wins in 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025, said his team produced a strong effort. "Of course, you always aim for the victory, but I think we did a really good, super team time trial," he said.

Vingegaard won the Tour in 2022 and 2023. Stage 2 covers 168.5 km from Tarragona to Barcelona, finishing at the Olympic stadium. Stage 3 will cross into the French Pyrenees.