Stage 1 of the 2026 Tour de France delivered chaos from the very start in Barcelona, with a fast and technical 19.6km team time trial that opened the race right up.
It was complete carnage for INEOS. A puncture for Kévin Vauquelin, Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman both dropped, and Filippo Ganna left to finish the stage completely alone after riding away from his own teammates. Despite setting a time 30 seconds faster than Mathieu van der Poel, it still wasn’t enough for the win.
The shock came from Visma. After questions over their team time trial strength coming in without Wout Van Aert, Jonas Vingegaard and his team delivered a huge statement ride to take Stage 1 – with Vingegaard beating Ganna by 7 seconds to claim the first yellow jersey. Was anyone expecting that?
Plus: our Muc-Off Moment of the Day, a look ahead to Stage 2 and an inside scoop on EF Education Easy Post’s new aero helmet designed by POC.
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🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music
🏅Presented by Science in Sport: https://www.scienceinsport.com
🚴♂️Head to muc-off.com and use code: FTLOC20 for 20% off
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#cycling #tourdefrance #tadejpogacar #jonasvingegaard #grandtour
40 Comments
Wild wees are the best 😂
Hooray, someone who mentioned the new regulations, there's me waiting for 5th guy over the line! Ned and the team do the explainers for those of us who don't live cycling all year, keep it up. Channel 5/TNT coverage was seriously underwhelming and completely lacked personality.
My issue with the TTT on the first stage is that several riders who could be competing for the podium at least until the final week are a minute or so down due to the team around them and it's very unlikely they can claw that time back.
It’s not properly summer until we hear Ned and co talking cycling.
Thank you for keeping this going ❤
Tadej was 5s faster than Vingegaard on the final climb
We are so back!!!
I do feel we are reading too much into Jonas winning. Pog was actually faster on the climb.
Ned, break out the after sun mate 😂 Love the show ❤️
Channel 5 coverage is rubbish. Just not the same
In 4 days Ned is going to have a cracking suntan. I'm still not sure I'm a fan of the new 'team' time trial format which as explained by the tour itself is formatted to allow for more individual performances and battles…which seems a bit contradictory. it was entertaining but I do miss the requirement to have 4 or 5 finishers as it seems like one giant leadout for the team leader.
Another ITV coverage appreciation post.
Really amusing that little bit of trivia that David Millar refused to use the POC whale helmet 🙂
Also, whilst I agree that the UK is mostly lacking in boulevards we do have a good approximation – MK! Close to Bedford, too 😉
Thank you for the pod. Let's enjoy the festival of summer.
…. and breathe ! such a relief to hear our familiar voices from previous years, but it's not only the voices is it -after last nights Ch5 highlights commentary – the style, humour and substance count so much in our enjoyment! Can't wait for more!
Loving the podcast – SUMMER IS SAVED 🙂 Thanks Ned & Co, from Huw & Lynda
marvellous good to see you all.
Well done Ned and your excellent team, I have a hunch that you are going to enjoy this tour more than ever with your own production and freestyle format. Thank you FTLOC 👍
Thanks guys. Yes I miss the coverage and commentary of earlier years, but it is an interesting alternative. I am sure it will grow. Looking forward to David's analysis when he joins this weekend. I do miss Gary's acerbic comments, which needed listening to carefully. He was a super show opening and closing presenter. Far better than anyone else on any other platform. Looking forward to each podcast.
I spent £30 on TNT sports. It's definitely a poor replacement !
This makes me happy
I’d already listened to the podcast but skipped to YouTube for a wee look at Jacopo 😆
Lovely to have you all in Spain/France at the TdF…. will obvs miss the ITV highlights…. it's good that Channel 5 are showing daily highlights but not really the same! I watched it last night but played the ITV TdF highlights theme tune before it to make me feel a bit better 😆😆
Wonderful, thank you. Is there any way you could do live commentary? The inane, blokey commentary from TNT makes my ears bleed…
Love you being out & about 😊 brilliant to see the locations and travel the tour with you 😊
@18:03 Is that Gary Imlach photo bombing the podcast whilst hiding behind a red bag???
Great podcast (without David Millar). Given his doping history and the fact that he later returned to one of cycling's most notorious teams for doping, I find it difficult to take him seriously. As a brand director, he comes across as condescending and thoroughly unlikeable. His response to Nero Cycling's review was particularly cringeworthy and did nothing to change that impression.
The simple statistics are that, if Vingegaard was not racing, Pogacar would already have won six (in a row) and be going for his 7th. If Pogacar were not around, Vingegaard would already have won the last 5 Tours (in a row) and be hunting his sixth.
It's an absolute privilege to be alive in a time when both of these guys are racing, and against each other too.
Thanks for this. TNTs coverage sucks.
Watching the Tour De France on TNT is piss poor in comparison to the old ITV coverage.The commentary team were far better and would describe the beautiful sites along the tour's route as well as bringing insights into the race and tactics. This is a huge minus for France itself.
Damn. I was hoping you guys would figure out a way to provide live commentary for each stage here on YT and I could continue to listen to you whilst watching TNT with the sound turned down…😀They're not a bad bunch, ( and of course Chat Stephens is good) but the rest rarely say anything that is genuinely insightful. You are missed…
Did Ned lose his suitcase already? Great listening, thank you
this video is very good
This doesnt quite feel nostalgic, but it has that kind of vibe. is there any chance you could get Gary on for an episode?
I would pay good money to have your itv production back covering tdf. Channel 5 is a poor failure in comparison. Thanks guys. Loved watching you evolve out of the ashes of the channel 4 coverage from the mid 80s as a young teenager. Keep on pushing.
Good to have you back Ned 🙂
Thank you so much for making this podcast and YouTube series! You have saved my summer, thanks to all the team ❤
Absolutely Fab to see you and hear Ned and Lizzies voices. The podcast is great and will be our true guide for the next three weeks. X
SO great you're doing this 👏…just isn't the Tour without you guys. Saved the summer 👌👌
Can you apply to use the old theme tune 😢 I think I miss that more than anything
These podcasts are brilliant! Great discussion and analysis, great superstars (…including Yorkshire world champion), great settings! 💥
Amazing city ❤
Thank you for your quality content and wise analytics with a fun humble commentators team, each year pass and you are my favourite podcast ever! Cheers
I’m not sure about the new TTT format. I used to like watching these time trials, but now, they are more individual time trials done within the team. That’s the last one I’ll be watching.
On a better note. It’s great to hear you Ned and team 👍