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Sunday August 23, 2026

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can make you awfully comfortable while you're being miserable. - Clare Boothe Luce

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Current racing:

• August 19 - 23: Renewi Tour
• August 22 - Sept 13: Vuelta a España

Upcoming racing:

• August 25 - 28: Tour Poitou-Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine
• August 30: Bretagne Classic Ouest-France

Latest completed racing:

• August 18 - 21: Tour du Limousin-Périgord
• August 13 - 18: Arctic Race of Norway
• August 16: Cyclassics Hamburg
• August 16: La Polynormande
• August 3 - 9: Tour of Poland
• August 4 - 8: Vuelta a Burgos
• July 29 - August 2: Tour of Denmark
• August 2: Circuito de Getxo
• August 1: Clasica San Sebastian
• July 28 - 30: Tour de l'Ain
• July 4 - 26: Tour de France
• July 26: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
• July 8 - 12: Tour of Austria
• June 24 - 28: National Championshps
• June 17 - 21: Tour de Suisse
• June 17 - 21: Baloise Belgium Tour

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Vuelta a España stage one reports

We posted the race organizer's report with the results.

Here's the report from stage winner Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates-XRG:

On his adopted home roads of Monaco, Tadej Pogačar began the Vuelta a España in perfect fashion by winning stage 1 by less than a second. Pipping Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) to the day’s victory by just 0.09 seconds, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG man takes the red race leader’s jersey for the first time in his career.

Tadej Pogacar has seized the red jersey at the earliest possible opportunity. Sirotti photo

As the penultimate rider down the start ramp, all eyes were on Pogačar on Saturday evening, with the Slovenian making his first appearance at the Vuelta since 2019. The reigning two-time world champion would not disappoint.

Powering along the 9.4km-long course, Pogačar was two seconds down on Hayter at the intermediate time split, but upped his pace in the second half of the route. By the finish, it was a tense encounter as the seconds ticked by. Hayter, who had recently removed Josh Tarling (Netcompany INEOS) from the hot seat, could be proud of his efforts, but was forced to settle for second place.

As for Pogačar, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider put all of his local knowledge to great use across an incredibly technical course. Ramping up his effort through the back straight, the five-time Tour de France champion narrowly edged out Hayter and claimed his fourth career Vuelta stage win.

For the 27-year-old, it is his 36th Grand Tour stage victory, adding to the six Giro d’Italia and 26 Tour de France stage wins in his illustrious palmarès. Returning to the Vuelta for the first time since his third-place finish as a Grand Tour rookie in 2019, the Slovenian tops the general classification after the first day of racing.

Elsewhere, UAE Team Emirates-XRG made a strong showing across the board in Monaco, with Jay Vine, Ivo Oliveira, and João Almeida all finishing inside the top 20 in the stage 1 ITT.

Pogačar: “It’s a weird feeling to win the opening time trial by such a small margin. I was not expecting it. And this red is a really nice colour. For sure, I think I gained that 0.09 seconds when we passed in front of my apartment, because that was the most technical part of the course. I walk and cycle there every day. Even though it’s completely different in a race, knowing these roads super well helped me a lot today.

“When I was going to the start line, I saw that Josh [Tarling] had the best time. I really wanted him to win today, I was rooting for him. Then I came to the intermediate, and I heard a different name, it was Ethan Hayter in front of me by three seconds. I gave it all, without taking risks. And I would really like to see Josh perform well in this Vuelta.

“[Keeping the Red Jersey for three weeks] is going to be tough. Already tomorrow, some guys can break away or take it with bonus seconds. It’s going to be tight for the Red Jersey, and we can see some shuffling in the GC.”

Here's the Vuelta report from second-place Ethan Hayter's Team Soudal Quick-Step:

Ethan Hayter produced a fantastic display on the streets of Monaco to finish a frustrating runner-up for the smallest of margins on the opening day of La Vuelta, just nine hundredths of a second separating him from what would have been his maiden Grand Tour stage win.

The last Soudal Quick-Step rider to roll down the ramp Saturday evening, Ethan rode one of the best time trials of his career to move into the hot seat, and for a couple of minutes, it looked like he would take the victory. The first rider to go below eleven minutes on this 9.4km course, the reigning British Champion of the discipline stopped the clock in 10:57, after averaging 51.48km/h, but was  dethroned in the last moments of the stage by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).

Ethan Hayter riding to second place. Sirotti photo

“I’m content with being on the podium, but at the same time, disappointed with the outcome. Obviously, it’s been a bit difficult and it was a really hard course - really fast, narrow and technical - so I was quite nervous beforehand. The corners were important, but also keeping a good position and maintaining a good speed. It was a really tough effort, but I feel like I gave everything I had. I’m happy to have started the race with a podium and such good shape”, explained Ethan, who on Sunday will wear the points jersey, after his second career top three in a Grand Tour stage.

Here's the Vuelta report from third-place Joshua Tarling's Team Netcompany INEOS:

Josh Tarling put in a brave and committed ride to place third in the opening time trial of La Vuelta a Espana.

The Welshman clocked a time of 11 minutes and one second across a technical course as the Grand Tour got under way in Monaco.

Tarling's time was initially enough to move into the hot seat and saw him ultimately finish third, four seconds back on the stage win. The result meant Josh pulled on the white Young Rider's jersey on the podium.

Josh Tarling was third. Sirotti photo

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates - XRG) took the win by less than a tenth of a second ahead of Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step).

The 9.4-kilometre course produced close times across the field, with Ben Turner and Axel Laurance the next riders home for the team, clocking top-30 times. Oscar Onley also got his race under way without issue on the streets of the Principality.

Geraint Thomas:
"For a start it's just great to have [Josh] here. He was really keen to ride and just wanted to get back to the day job so to speak, and find comfort in the process and being around the team and everything being as normal as possible.

"We fully backed him with that and it's great to have him here. Obviously it's been unimaginable what he's gone through in the last week or so, but to put in a performance like that, at the end of the week he's had, is just fantastic and it shows the class of him as an athlete and a person. I couldn't be prouder.

"I think the course suited him in the way that technically he's one of the best. I think yesterday was probably the first time he's ridden a bike properly in a while, so to still put that in is in incredible really."

And here’s the Vuelta report from Wout van Aert’s & Christophe Laporte’s Team Visma |  Lease a Bike:

Christophe Laporte and Wout van Aert both finished in the top ten in the opening time trial of the Vuelta a España. On the streets of Monaco, Laporte finished fifth, while teammate Van Aert placed eighth. Tadej Pogačar took the first stage victory.

The 81st edition of the Vuelta a España got underway with a technical time trial through the streets of Monaco. The riders individually covered 9.4 kilometers against the clock in the principality. Bruno Armirail was the first Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider to leave the start ramp at the iconic casino. The three-time French time trial champion was unable to contend for a top finish after a bike change. 

Wout van Aert just after finishing his ride. Sirotti photo

Not long afterward, Matthew Brennan set the fastest time. The 21-year-old Brit, making his grand tour debut, briefly was in the hot seat. It did not take long for his time to be beaten. His compatriot Ethan Hayter looked on course for the stage victory for a long time.

Laporte was also aiming for a strong result in the time trial. The 33-year-old Frenchman was making his Vuelta debut. Laporte clocked the third-fastest time at the finish. “It was a difficult time trial,” the Frenchman said afterward. “You had to go all-out from start to finish, and there were few opportunities to recover. It was tough, but I enjoyed racing here.” 

Shortly after Laporte, it was Van Aert’s turn. The Belgian was one of the last riders to start. At the intermediate point, Van Aert was close to Hayter’s time. The 31-year-old Belgian ultimately set the eighth-fastest time at the finish. In the final stages, Pogačar managed to take the victory. 

“I gave it my all today,” Van Aert said. “Looking back, I may have been a little too cautious in the corners, but that was a deliberate choice. I ultimately finished within ten seconds of the stage winner, so that certainly gives me opportunities for tomorrow’s stage. Thanks to the bonification seconds, there is still a chance to take the red jersey. I came here with the ambition to win, but I can certainly be satisfied with this result and my form.” 

Head of Performance Mathieu Heijboer also reflected on the opening stage: “The main goal was to win, so obviously we’re not completely satisfied. We can say, however, that Christophe, Wout, and Matthew all rode a solid time trial here. Wout confirmed his good form, and we know that he generally takes a little less risk. With tomorrow in mind, he is in a good position. The competition will be strong, but a finish like that should suit him.”