Tour de France 2026: Kooij powers to victory in Pau, Træen stays in yellow

fotobureau Cor VosA crash just over five kilometres from the finish throws the sprint in Pau into disarray, but Olav Kooij keeps his cool to claim the Tour's first bunch sprint. Torstein Træen retains the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Stage 5 Results – 2026 Tour de France

1. Olav Kooij (nld) 3:29:07
2. Max Kanter (ger) s.t.
3. Tim Merlier (bel) s.t.
4. Huub Artz (nld) s.t.
5. Jasper Philipsen (bel) s.t.
6. Biniam Girmay (eri) s.t.
7. Mads Pedersen (den) s.t.
8. Milan Fretin (bel) s.t.
9. Anthony Turgis (fra) s.t.
10. Søren Wærenskjold (nor) s.t.

GC after stage 5

1. Torstein Træen (nor)
2. Sean Quinn (usa) + 0:28
3. Mathias Vacek (cze) + 3:50
4. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + 7:53
5. Jonas Vingegaard (den) s.t.
6. Ramses Debruyne (bel) + 8:06
7. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 8:16
8. Isaac del Toro (Mex) + 8:17
9. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 8:20
10. Paul Seixas (fra) + 8:41

11. Florian Lipowitz (ger) + 8:46
12. Lenny Martinez (fra) + 9:02
13. Tobias Halland Johannessen (nor) + 9:04
14. Ilan Van Wilder (bel) + 9:10
15. Tom Pidcock (gbr) + 9:15
16. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 9:38
18. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 9:43
20. Thymen Arensman (nld) + 10:12

Race report
Baptiste Veistroffer attacks as soon as the flag drops. Even though he is out on his own, he is never allowed more than a 3-minute lead.

Following the King of the Mountains sprint on the Côte de Baleix, Kasper Asgreen, Fred Wright and Valentin Paret-Peintre launch an attack from the peloton, but their move is brought back with 17 kilometres to go. Veistroffer is reeled in 3 kilometres later.

The peloton is gearing up for a bunch sprint when a crash rocks the race just before the riders enter the 5-kilometre safety zone. The bunch splits into several groups, leaving the sprinters without their lead-out trains. Olav Kooij is untroubled by the chaos. He launches his sprint early and produces such a powerful acceleration that no one is able to get onto his wheel.

The Dutchman therefore wins the first sprint opportunity of his very first Tour de France.

The overall standings remain unchanged, as yellow jersey Torstein Træen and second-placed Sean Quinn both finish in the same group, along with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, 14 seconds behind the stage winner.

Another interesting read: route 5th stage 2026 Tour de France.