PARIS, France – The Emirates–XRG cycling team finished the first nine days of the current edition of the 2026 Tour de France in the best possible light. After achieving 3 victories in the stages, he snatched the lead in the overall standings through his Slovenian star, Tadej Pugachar. In addition, Isac del Toro topped the ranking of the best young cyclist, as the race entered its first day of rest.
The tour began with a team time trial in Barcelona, which hosted the grand start of the race for the first time. Emirates–XRG finished third, just 12 seconds behind Visma–Not a Pike. Who gave his rider Jonas Vingegaard the yellow jersey.
The Emirati team quickly imposed its presence in the second stage, which extends between Tarragona and Barcelona for a distance of 182 kilometers. After giving a distinguished group performance in the final meters. Led by Brandon McNulty and Adam Yates, Pugachar paved the way for fellow youngster Isaac del Toro. Who snatched victory in his first participation in the Tour de France, while Pugachar came in second, giving the team a distinguished double.
Shine in the third stage
The team continued to shine in the third stage, where Pugachar and Del Toro exchanged roles, with the latter leading the group in the final kilometers. Before Pugachar started with decisive speed, he snatched his first victory in the 2026 edition, giving the Emirates–XRG team its second victory in a row.
The fourth and fifth stages witnessed the victory of the escape groups. After the Emirates–XRG team preferred not to pursue the leaders. Denmark’s Mads Pedersen and Netherlands’ Olaf Kui won the Tour.
The competition for the overall standings returned strongly in the sixth stage, which constituted the first real mountain test in the Pyrenees. The Emirates–XRG team thwarted its rivals’ attempts to impose a tactical advantage. Before Felix Grosshartner, Brandon McNulty, and Adam Yates led the group at a high pace that led to the dismantling of the ranks.
On the decisive slope, Isaac del Toro launched an attack followed only by Pugachar. Before the latter takes the lead, the gap widens on the slopes and ascends towards Gavarnie-Gedder. He achieved his second victory in the Tour and took the yellow jersey, while Del Toro finished third, strengthening his lead in the ranking of the best young cyclist.
The seventh, eighth and ninth stages, which ended on Sunday, witnessed suitable endings for speed riders. Belgian Tim Merler achieved two consecutive victories. Meanwhile, Dutchman Matteo van der Poel snatched the victory of the ninth stage after a successful attack from the escape group.
Continue mountain testing
As competitions resume on Tuesday, after the rest day, competitors await a 166-kilometre stage that includes 3,800 metres of climbing. Before the mountain tests continue in the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth stages. Which will witness the first two mountain finals in the current edition, amid anticipation of the continuation of the struggle for the yellow shirt.
Emirates–XRG enters the second half of the first stage of the Tour in a strong position. After combining three victories in the stages and topping the overall standings through Tadi Pugachar. In addition to topping the ranking of the best young cyclist by Del Toro, confirming his readiness to continue competing for the title of the largest bicycle race in the world.
