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
Cycling
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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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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