“He’s going to put a big statement down” - Bradley Wiggins predicts immediate Tour de France fireworks from Tadej Pogacar and UAE in opening team time trial
CyclingSaturday, 04 July 2026 at 14:20
Bradley Wiggins expects Tadej Pogacar to come out firing from the opening stage of the 2026 Tour de France. The race begins in Barcelona with a 19.6km team time trial, but the former Tour winner does not see UAE Team Emirates – XRG treating it as a controlled first outing before the mountains.
The format gives the opener an unusual edge. Team rankings are decided by the first rider from each squad to cross the line, while general classification times are recorded individually. On a route that finishes towards Montjuic, the first yellow jersey could go to a GC leader rather than simply the fastest collective unit.
Speaking on The Move podcast, Wiggins backed Pogacar to turn that opening test into an immediate show of force.
“So for the team time trial, I think Tadej is going to spring a surprise tomorrow,” said Wiggins. “He’s done that every time this year, to make a statement.”
Wiggins: “He does remarkable things”
Pogacar starts the Tour chasing a fifth yellow jersey and as the clearest favourite in the race. Wiggins does not expect him to wait for the first mountain stage before making himself felt.
“He’s made big statements this year, hasn’t he?” Wiggins continued. “When someone else has done something, like Jonas Vingegaard winning the Giro, Tadej comes out and we saw it at Suisse. He does remarkable things.”
Vingegaard’s Giro d’Italia victory has shaped much of the pre-Tour debate. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader arrives in Barcelona with a Grand Tour already won this season, while Pogacar’s answer came in the form of another dominant display at the Tour de Suisse.
The opening team time trial puts both teams straight into the yellow jersey fight. Visma arrive with Giro-winning momentum; UAE arrive with Pogacar, the favourite’s status, and a squad built to put him in position immediately.
Wiggins famously became the first British Tour winner in 2012
No gentle opening in Barcelona
The opening stage is short, but not neutral. The route starts on faster city roads before the final part rises towards Montjuic, where team structures could begin to stretch and the individual GC timing rule becomes especially important.
With GC times taken individually, UAE can ride the stage around Pogacar rather than simply keep a full train intact to the finish. The opening kilometres can be handled by the team’s engines before the final rise gives Pogacar the chance to finish as the first UAE rider across the line.
“And I think he’s going to lead that squad tomorrow and put a big statement down,” Wiggins said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Tadej won the race tomorrow.”
Barcelona offers the first yellow jersey, the first GC seconds and the first chance for Pogacar to answer Vingegaard’s Giro-winning build-up before the peloton has even reached the road stages.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- Second at the Vuelta, 4th at the Tour, Silver medal at the WC, stage winner at all three GTsantipodeanpedalfan04-07-2026
- Huge huge fan of Remco, and this I would agree with.anonymouscyclist04-07-2026
- Cycling's getting like football punditry..
leedorney04-07-2026 - Just a thought, but with Ben O'Connor leaving Jayco and the team seeking increased investment from the UAE, he may be a standout leader with complete team focus and support. It would see Jayco return to the days of the Yates boys.whit2pet04-07-2026
- I don't think Jayco will be upset. His form over the past two seasons has been below par. The team will probably cease to exist after 2027 anyway.whit2pet04-07-2026
- The same thing as Cian for Movistar, who seems to get a headline a week with zero accomplishmentsmij04-07-2026
- Remind me again what Ben has done lately to warrant all this hype?frieders303-07-2026
- Even with Onley they’d be fortunate to get in the top 5, hate to say it but it saves them embarrassment not to have to try for GCJumpyjohn03-07-2026
- A team that can afford his salaryJumpyjohn03-07-2026
- You always manage to make me laugh. You are such a funny man.MajorPayne03-07-2026
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