Results Vuelta a Espana 2026 Stage 1 | Tadej Pogacar denies Ethan Hayter by 0.09 seconds to seize first red jersey in Monaco as Joshua Tarling completes podium
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Tadej Pogacar won the opening stage of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana by just 0.09 seconds, denying Ethan Hayter victory in a dramatic individual time trial through Monaco. The five-time Tour de France winner stopped the clock in 10:57.14 to take the first red jersey of the race and make a winning start to his pursuit of the only Grand Tour missing from his collection.
Hayter had appeared on course for victory after becoming the first rider to break 11 minutes, but Pogacar produced a decisive late effort on roads close to his Monaco home to edge the Soudal – Quick-Step rider’s 10:57.23.
Josh Tarling completed the podium, four seconds behind Pogacar, little more than a week after the death of his younger brother Finlay. Fellow Briton Callum Thornley finished fourth on his Grand Tour debut, five seconds down, while Christophe Laporte took fifth.
Wout van Aert conceded approximately nine seconds, while four-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic finished 22 seconds behind Pogacar following an uncertain build-up caused by a training crash.
Pogacar spoils British party by the narrowest margin
The 9.4-kilometre stage began outside the Monte Carlo Casino before winding through the principality towards the finish on Boulevard Albert I. Monaco became the first city to host the opening stage of all three Grand Tours.
Jordan Labrosse established the first significant benchmark with 11:20, narrowly holding off Orluis Aular before Sander De Pestel and Matthew Brennan raised the pace. Brennan recorded 11:13 on his Grand Tour debut, but Arthur Kluckers subsequently moved ahead before Oscar Chamberlain and Leo Bisiaux delivered successive improvements for Decathlon CMA CGM Team. Thornley then lowered the leading time to 11:02, only for Tarling to go a second faster with a powerful ride under exceptionally difficult circumstances.
Tarling had opted to start the Vuelta following the death of his brother Finlay, 19, after a collision during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal. His time of 11:01.33 briefly put him in contention for the opening red jersey.
Hayter subsequently went two seconds quicker than Tarling at the intermediate checkpoint and doubled his advantage by the finish, moving into the lead with 10:57.23.
Van Aert was unable to match that pace, finishing approximately nine seconds down, before Pogacar overturned his deficit at the intermediate checkpoint to snatch victory by less than a tenth of a second.
Mads Pedersen finished around 16 seconds behind the winner, leaving both him and Van Aert with ground to recover if they are to challenge for the red jersey on Stage 2.
Bruno Armirail’s hopes of featuring in the battle for victory were interrupted by a mechanical problem that forced the three-time French time-trial champion into a bike change.
Roglic limits losses as Onley and Gall concede ground
Roglic completed the course in 11:19.14, finishing exactly 22 seconds behind Pogacar as he returned to Grand Tour competition following the training crash that disrupted his preparations.
Carlos Rodriguez finished approximately 27 seconds behind Pogacar, gaining one second on Tobias Halland Johannessen and two on Mattias Skjelmose. Richard Carapaz conceded approximately 33 seconds, limiting the damage on terrain less suited to his strengths, while 2023 Vuelta winner Sepp Kuss lost around 45 seconds.
Giro d’Italia runner-up Felix Gall finished approximately 46 seconds behind Pogacar, while Oscar Onley conceded around 50 seconds and more than 20 seconds to Netcompany INEOS teammate Rodriguez.
Carlos Silva is a writer for CyclingUpToDate.com, where he contributes race reports, interviews, analysis pieces, and live coverage of the international cycling calendar. Holding a degree in Sports from the Jean Piaget Institute, he combines academic knowledge of performance, training, and competition with hands-on journalism experience in professional cycling.
Throughout his career, Carlos has conducted interviews with leading figures in the sport, including Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodríguez, Óscar Pereiro, João Almeida, Isaac del Toro, Derek Gee, John Degenkolb and Geraint Thomas. These conversations reflect direct engagement with Grand Tour winners, Classics specialists, and emerging talents.
He has provided on-site coverage at major events ranging from the Vuelta a España to the Tour de France, alongside stage races such as Vuelta a Andalucía, Volta ao Algarve, Volta a Portugal and O Gran Camiño. Covering the mythical climbs of the Giro d'Italia remains one of his professional ambitions.
Carlos is responsible for liveblog coverage of all major WorldTour races and beyond, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. His reporting integrates verified data from ProCyclingStats to ensure statistical accuracy, contextual depth, and analytical precision.
A lifelong cycling enthusiast, he approaches storytelling across written, photographic, and video formats with a focus on credibility, tactical insight, and informed race interpretation.
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- It doesnt take a genius to understand that Pogi is 1 level above and Pogi is younger that Jonas, so Jonas will not win under ordinary circumstances. Pogi has to crack hard for Jonas to win. It doesn't matter whether you defend Jonas or not , facts remain facts. Jonas himself says his numbers are better than 2022/2023, so Jonas is more or less optimized and we are just see the stochastic variation due to other factors. I think he will retire along with Pedersen in WC denmarkabstractengineer13-11-2026
- They only raced each other during the 2026 Tour, but here's a few metrics to look at. Stage 3 (Granollers to Les Angles): Pogačar won the stage, finishing 2 seconds ahead of Vingegaard (2nd). Del Toro finished 24 seconds behind Stage 6 (Pau to Gavarnie-Gedre / Col du Tourmalet): Pogačar won solo, Vingegaard finished 2nd (losing 2:38), and Del Toro finished 3rd (at +2:57, finishing 19 seconds behind Vingegaard). Here, Jonas Vingegaard outclimbed Isaac del Toro by 19 seconds on the mountain stageawp13-11-2026
- your clinging to the past. Jonas was dropped by del toro many times last year and jonas never managed a climbing numers del toro did in dauphine last year -entire year. Trend is also evident theres no discussion your living in the past, its beent he same with jonas for many years now and only developing, meanwhile del toro is rising and developing greatly. This is all obvious stuff and im not even a del toro fan. No point discussing numbers or this i suspect you dont watch much now but rather think its 2022 still cause this aint hard.miguel13-11-2026
- We can go through metrics if you like, Del Toro, who I do admire and support, is not on the same level as Jonas just yet. You will see that in early 2027 if they have any crossover races. I do hope they both race the Giro. You are correct though, Jonas is getting older and will not be able to hand on much longer. I see 2027 as a good year for him. Obviously behind Tadej though.awp13-11-2026
- What wins? Are you LA operating under a pseudonym?mij13-11-2026
- My point is this - Tadej, Remco, Seixas are all the outliers. Many riders don’t hit their peak until 28. It’s way too early to write him off. And the pogi slo guy that hates him - he’s also immature. Ayuso needs time.mij13-11-2026
- Then you need to use ur eyes or head if you have cause del toro already dropped jonas two times and beat him in tdf stages already this year.. Del toro climbed(dauphine) better numbers than jonas did all year too. So ur feelings and wishful thinking doesnt amtter del toro himself has already surpassed jonas infact just facts. Its also very evident for anyone objective that Jonas is declining alot, its just the truth and super obvious.miguel13-11-2026
- None of those victories stand, so there's that,wrsty13-11-2026
- No surprise there; it is British Sycling, yes, with an S
Rafionain-Glas12-11-2026 - I like Del Toro but he's not on the level of Jonas, by a large margin.awp12-11-2026
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