Del Toro wins Tour stage 2 in Barcelona as UAE teammate Pogacar gifts victory on Montjuïc
Mexican rider Isaac del Toro claimed the second stage of the 2026 Tour de France after UAE Team Emirates dominated the finale on Montjuïc, with Tadej Pogacar finishing second and Jonas Vingegaard retaining the overall lead.
UAE flexes its strength on Montjuïc
UAE Team Emirates controlled the decisive final circuit in Barcelona, using the three ascents of the Montjuïc climb (ramps up to 13%) to thin the peloton. Isaac del Toro arrived in the select group and, with teammate Tadej Pogacar on his wheel, was allowed to sprint for the win. Pogacar crossed the line second, completing a one-two for the Emirati squad.
Vingegaard holds yellow after chaotic stage
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished third and kept the maillot jaune he took in Saturday's team time trial. The Dane leads Filippo Ganna by eight seconds and Pogacar by twelve seconds. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) sits sixteen seconds back and remains a Spanish contender for the general classification.
Early breakaway and a crash
Three riders (Felix Engelhardt, Frank van den Broek and Alex Molenaar) formed the day's breakaway, building a lead of over three minutes. The peloton, led by Pinarello-Q36.5, kept the gap stable before reeling them in ahead of the final circuit. A crash in the bunch involved Kelland O'Brien, Robbe Dhondt and Aaron Gate, though all were able to continue.
Stage route and atmosphere
The 168.5-kilometre stage started in Tarragona and followed the Costa Dorada coastline, passing through Viladecans for the intermediate sprint before the category-two climb of Begues. In Barcelona, hundreds of fans lined the Montjuïc circuit from mid-afternoon, waving yellow caps and flags as the publicity caravan passed at 15:30 and the riders arrived at 16:56.
- Peloton departs Tarragona at 13:45 after a neutralised section through the city centre.
- Engelhardt, Van den Broek and Molenaar go clear and build a lead of over three minutes.
- The breakaway contests the sprint in Viladecans, with points for the green jersey on offer.
- Kelland O'Brien, Robbe Dhondt and Aaron Gate hit the deck but remount.
- Riders enter the final circuit at 16:56; three ascents of the 1.6 km climb (max 13%) await.
- Isaac del Toro sprints to victory ahead of teammate Pogacar; Vingegaard third.
What comes next
The Tour's Spanish Grand Départ concludes on Monday with a stage from Granollers into France. The race then heads toward the Pyrenees, with five mountain ranges and eight high-mountain stages on the menu before the traditional Paris finish on the Champs-Élysées.
