Tadej Pogacar wins opening Tour de Suisse stage with long solo attack

World champion Tadej Pogacar attacked about 70 km from the finish of the first stage of the 2026 Tour de Suisse, a 144‑km circuit that started and ended in Sondrio, Italy. Riding alone after breaking clear, he crossed the line in Sondrio with a lead of 2 minutes 14 seconds over Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, while Italian Andrea Bagioli finished third. Pogacar said the move was not planned but worked well, and he completed the stage without a radio connection. The victory marked his debut in the Tour de Suisse and demonstrated his excellent pre‑Tour de France form after a month‑long training block at altitude. He also noted that the heat, which had troubled him in previous races, was manageable thanks to team support. The stage featured a modest climb profile and a sprint‑bonus at Pedemonte, but Pogacar’s long‑range attack left his rivals, including Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic, with deficits of four minutes or more. The win solidifies Pogacar as the main favorite for the upcoming Tour de France.