Results Tour de l'Ain 2026 Stage 1 - Noah Hobbs sprints to second career win as EF rider holds off Alberto Dainese and Matteo Milan
CyclingTuesday, 28 July 2026 at 15:58
Noah Hobbs has picked up his second win of his career as the 22-year-old continued his growing form. The EF Education - EasyPost sprinter beat the likes of Alberto Dainese and Matteo Milan to follow up his Heistse Pijl victory last month and will now wear the first yellow jersey of his career.
The 2026 Tour de l'Ain sees four WorldTour teams and three ProTeams arrive at the start line for three stages, beginning with Tuesday's opening stage from Parc des Oiseaux to Bourg-en-Bresse, taking in 160.9 kilometers.
A mostly flat parcours, covering 950 meters of climbing, offered an opportunity for the fast men and attackers to get into the leader's jersey from the off before both stages two and three bring in riders more adept at climbing.
The day's breakaway quickly established itself and carved out a gap. Five riders made the front, including Arthur Meyer, Maxime Jarnet, Morné Van Niekerk, Maël Guégan and Patryk Goszczurny.
With 76 kilometers to go, their gap had grown to +1:20 from the peloton as the race settled into its rhythm before the pace turned up - leading the break to be caught with 52 kilometers to go.
Three riders form second breakaway of the day
Attacks soon followed as Kenny Molly, Maximilian Juillard and Victor Jean broke away from the peloton and pulled a gap on the peloton, led by Groupama FDJ - United. Their lead soon grew out to almost a minute with 40 kilometers to go as Total Energies contributed to the chase.
Their gap held well as the chase continued behind, standing at a minute with just 25 kilometers to go. However, the peloton began to turn the screw and seven kilometers later that gap was halved to the front group.
With 14 kilometers to go, Jean and Juillard left Molly behind, but the writing was on the wall as the peloton behind reduced the gap to less than 20 seconds. The peloton would not yet make the catch as the duo fought well in the finale, holding the same gap with five kilometers to go.
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A largely straight run-in to the finish meant that the peloton could see those away as they fought to hold on, but they did make the catch as the lead-outs began with 2 kilometers to go.
And as Decathlon CMA CGM and the French U23 National Team dictated the pace in the finale, Alberto Dainese started the sprint but it was Team EF Education - Easypost's Noah Hobbs who rounded his wheel and took the win.
Results Tour de l'Ain 2026 Stage 1
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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- Are you serious?MajorPayne28-07-2026
- We all knew the story of one guy who cheated death to triumph over an EPO-fueled peloton while riding clean was a big lie. Thank goodness the first guy who cheated death to triumph over an EPO-fueled peloton while riding clean is here to remind us.
MarkFour28-07-2026 - We will have to aggree to disagree on that topic then it seems. Have great day.Cyclingsbestfan28-07-2026
- i would argue that if you know you can’t even make it to the line then you’re in no position to give any GIFT.OCexile28-07-2026
- And Jonas. By then, both Seixas and Del Toro (and maybe someone else) will have grown up...MajorPayne28-07-2026
- What big race does Ayuso have a chance of winning? ;)MajorPayne28-07-2026
- Would love to say that this is Zonneveld's worst take ever, but it's just his latest worst take.mrvco28-07-2026
- Because there was so much hype for him to do good. He pretty much finished where a lot of people expected.Pedalmasher28-07-2026
- This would not stop the dominance. Only a salary cap can do that.Pedalmasher28-07-2026
- Yes, Pogi was cooked and wouldn't have won, but if he wasn't pulling, MVDP would have never won. The peleton would have caught him. So MVDP can only say... "Pogi, thank you for pulling."PogiSloFans28-07-2026
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