Tour de Suisse 2026: Pogacar delivers early knockout punch

fotobureau Cor VosTadej Pogacar rides away from the field with just over 71 kilometres remaining, reels in breakaway rider Fredrik Dversnes, and solos to the first leader's jersey. Richard Carapaz is the only rider brave enough to give chase, eventually finishing second, 2 minutes down. (Slideshow route/profile)

Stage 1 Results – 2026 Tour de Suisse

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo) 3:28:51
2. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 2:14
3. Andrea Bagioli (ita) + 2:29
4. Ilan Van Wilder (bel) + 4:02
5. Mathias Vacek (cze) s.t.
6. Brandon McNulty (usa) s.t.
7. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
8. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 4:05
9. Andrew August (usa) + 4:30
10. Jhonathan Narváez (ecu) s.t.

GC after stage 1

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 2:22
3. Andrea Bagioli (ita) + 2:39
4. Ilan Van Wilder (bel) + 4:16
5. Mathias Vacek (cze) s.t.
6. Brandon McNulty (usa) s.t.
7. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
8. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 4:18
9. Matthew Riccitello (usa) 4:43
10. Andrew August (usa) 4:44

Race report
Cedric Beullens, Fredrik Dversnes and Pier-André Coté initially go clear, but the latter soon decides to remain in the peloton and sits up. The other two open up a 4-minute gap.

On the climb to Buglio in Monte, the gap has come down to just under 3 minutes. Dversnes drops Beullens, but it leads to nothing, as his lead continues to come down.

The lone attacker takes the maximum bonus seconds at the Tissot Kilometre, while Tadej Pogacar picks up two times 2 seconds. The world champion presses on and catches Dversnes with just over 71 kilometres remaining. Roughly 2 kilometres later, he is clear on his own. and another 5 kilometres further on he has a 1-minute gap over the first chasers: Richard Carapaz, Primoc Roglic, Andrea Bagioli, Matthew Riccitello, Mathias Vacek and Paul Double.

The chasing group swells into a small peloton, but they are not gaining a single second, prompting Carapaz to take matters into his own hands - he attacks. Without making any inroads, athough, as Pogacar stretches his advantage to more than 2 minutes.

Pogacar lands an early hammer blow and takes the first leader's jersey, 2 minutes and 22 seconds ahead of Richard Carapaz with Andrea Bagioli 17 seconds further behind.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2026 Tour de Suisse.