"From that moment on, the four of us really did a 'dead pull'" - Inside Visma's sensational team time trial that put Vingegaard in yellow jersey
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike enjoyed close to their best possible start to the 2026 Tour de France: putting Jonas Vingegaard into the yellow jersey, taking a first stage win and taking some time on Tadej Pogacar.
When it came to the opening team time trial in Barcelona, new ASO rules for the stage meant that it was all about strategy as the Dutch team carefully crafted a plan to launch Vingegaard to victory.
The 19.9 kilometer test saw the opening section predominantly flat before two climbs to the finish - one topping out with less than 3 kilometers to go and the final 800 meters to the line all uphill.
When comparing Visma and Pogacar's UAE team's finale, Vingegaard enjoyed greater numbers around him and was launched by Davide Piganzoli after Matteo Jorgenson emptied the tank. Meanwhile, Pogacar had only Isaac del Toro in the final three kilometers, with the two balancing work to ensure the Mexican also put in a strong time.
After the stage, Edoardo Affini gave an inside look at how they formulated their strategy as she shared insights into their 'dead pull' for Vingegaard's yellow redemption.
Affini breaks down team time trial win
“The team tried to calculate all possible scenarios to see what the best strategy was to get Jonas across the finish line in the fastest time,” he told WielerFlits after the stage.
“We ultimately chose to take on the flat section with five riders. At a certain point, Matteo [Jorgenson] stopped leading to recover better for the first part of the climb. From that moment on, the four of us really did a 'dead pull': as long as possible, as hard as possible, and full throttle. I think that choice yielded a very good result.”
When it comes to Sunday's stage 2, Affini insisted that his time is now as he attempts to savour the moment with his teammates and leader.
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“I think we need to enjoy this first. Everyone really wants to savour this moment, because winning the team time trial was a very important goal for the team. Sometimes you forget to enjoy it, but this is the Tour,” Affini said.
Celebrations are in order before a sharp re-focus on the challenge ahead: “We have now won the team yellow jersey and the team time trial. So yes, tonight we are going to enjoy it for a bit, and tomorrow (Sunday) we will start thinking about the upcoming stages again.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- LOL...it's a predetermined finish ! N one is 'clashing' at these exhibition crits!frieders307-11-2026
- Surely the UCI and the race organisers have a responsibility to ensure the best medical care is available to riders when incidents like this happen. All very well pushing for global expansion but not so good if riders lives are put at risk because medical support is not up to scratch.Andy12306-11-2026
- Well it clearly helps that this was Pidcock's own car, no?Occam06-11-2026
- The American performance at the World's road race was a masterclass in cycling tactics. If it wasn't McNulty, it might well have been Jorgensen or Simmons to take off and win in a solo break.Occam06-11-2026
- What a gimmick
Rafionain-Glas06-11-2026 - Thats only cause he rides for UAE. In any other team he would be captain in many races atleast. UAE is just to crazymiguel06-11-2026
- He seems to be the rare athlete whose passion and curiosity about life beyond his sport equals his extraordinary achievements in it. It would be great for him to risk less of that life. He seems very grateful and joyful for what he has already attained.
MarkFour06-11-2026 - As much as I admire and even revere Wout, the less I know about his backside the better.MidnightRider06-11-2026
- Ok, Walt 🤣... Vingegaard would be lucky to get on the poduim. He would not beat Seixas or Del Toro, let alone TP. Then there are the Americans...BD06-11-2026
- So, for starters. Cycling is a saturated, static/dying sport in traditional lands, it will not have resurgences like eg running occasionally does because of several obstacular (yes, I know that’s not a word but don’t make me point out the obvious at your expense) factors. Obviously, like almost everything involving money, there is a desire/need/advantage to growth and that can only come from (developing or just testing) new markets. For me, the WC is the obvious and best choice for several reasons, it comes at the end of the season so is less critical season risk wise, it is not a “pro” team race but nation based which makes integration of uncommon participation more natural. It is a vehicle for redistribution (one of a very limited number of available mechanisms to develop new markers fairly) that the fixed calendar doesn’t allow and it helps make budgets fairer over the long run (moving the whole circus to everywhere evens out everyone’s budget as opposed to having everyone always come to the same location.Jumpyjohn06-11-2026
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