Jonas Vingegaard Takes Lead as Visma Wins Barcelona Team Time Trial
Visma‑Lease a Bike won the opening 19.6 km team time trial of the 2026 Tour de France on 4 July in Barcelona, the first Grand Départ in the city and the first team time trial in the race since 1971. Team captain Jonas Vingegaard crossed the line first for Visma, securing the yellow jersey. The Danish rider finished eight seconds ahead of Netcompany INEOS (Filippo Ganna), twelve seconds ahead of defending champion Tadej Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates, sixteen seconds ahead of Juan Ayuso (Lidl‑Trek), and nineteen seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull‑BORA‑Hansgrohe). Vingegaard praised his teammates, saying the victory was a “fantastic team effort” and that he was “happy to wear the yellow jersey again”. Pogačar called the performance “very good” and expressed confidence for the days ahead. The stage featured 21 teams navigating the flat streets of Barcelona, passing landmarks such as the Sagrada Família before tackling two short climbs to the Montjuïc finish. The results set the first general‑classification hierarchy for what will be a three‑week, 3 321 km race ending in Paris.