Tadej Pogacar surged up the closing ascent to help UAE Team Emirates XRG climb into third place in the team time trial.
What happened?
Pogacar's late acceleration made him the fastest rider on the final climb.
He earned the Slovenian the first polka-dot jersey as leader of the mountains classification heading into Stage 2 on July 5.
Why it matters for Tadej Pogacar
The defending champion's explosive individual effort on the final climb showcased his strength.
Jonas Vingegaard and Visma-Lease a Bike claimed the stage victory and the first yellow jersey.
What comes next?
The Tour de France 2026 will continue with Stage 2 on July 5, featuring a 168.5km route from Tarragone to Barcelone.
Tadej Pogacar will look to build on his strong start.
The Slovenian cyclist finished just 12 seconds behind Vingegaard.
And he will aim to close the gap in the upcoming stages.
But for now, Pogacar can be satisfied with his polka-dot jersey.
So the focus shifts to Stage 2.
The stage will feature a challenging route.
It will be a test of endurance for the riders.
Tadej Pogacar is ready for the challenge.
He has shown his strength in the mountains.
And he will look to use this to his advantage.
The Tour de France 2026 is streaming on FloBikes and the FloSports app.
Fans can catch all the action live.
And follow Tadej Pogacar's progress throughout the tournament.