Vingegaard, going for it after flying in the Barcelona time trial: “The jersey gives me more strength to try to take it to Paris”

He Danish Jonas Vingegaard, first yellow jersey of the Tour de France 2026assured that having achieved the lead gives him more strength to try to keep it until Paris, where he aspires to achieve his third victory in the French round.

“The battle is launched,” said the Dane in a clear message to the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, whom he surpassed by 12 seconds at the end of a team time trial through the streets of Barcelona in which each runner finished with the time he set at the finish line.

“It’s great to wear yellow again three years later, this is one of the most coveted jerseys in cycling. It’s true that it’s only the first stage and there’s a long way to go, but I’m going to enjoy every day I can keep it. The goal is still to wear it in Paris,” said the Visma cyclist.

“This is a step to try to win the race. The team has done a tremendous job, we have run very well and all my teammates deserve this victory,” he said.

The winner of the 2022 and 2023 editions, who had not worn the yellow jersey since the podium in Paris that second year, acknowledged that it will not be easy to maintain it after this Sunday’s stage, also ending in the Montjuic mountain after 168.5 kilometers starting in Tarragona.

“It’s a good stage for Pogacar, I’m going to try not to lose his wheel. The Tour has started, the fight has started,” said the Dane.