“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
Cycling
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.
claps 3visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I hope 2027 is his year.mij03-11-2026
- why does he have to? many GT riders from Froome to Contador to Indurain didn't do them.mij03-11-2026
- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment