Olav Kooij of Decathlon CMA CGM emerged victorious in stage five of the 2026 Tour de France, winning the first sprint finish of the race in Pau's Place de Verdun. The Dutch sprinter, who previously won three stages in the 2025 Tour of Britain, crossed the line with ease ahead of Max Kanter of XDA Astana.
Stage Five Details
The stage, which covered 210 kilometers from the Pyrenees foothills, saw riders battle through intense heat before the sprint finish. Kooij's victory was his first at this year's Tour, coming after four stages dominated by climbers and breakaways. The win sets up Kooij as a contender for the green jersey, with more flat stages expected in the coming days.
Tourmalet Test Looms
Despite the sprint finish, attention quickly shifted to the upcoming stage six, which features the legendary Col du Tourmalet. The 17.1-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 7.3% is expected to shake up the general classification. According to race officials, the Tourmalet will be the first major mountain test of the 2026 Tour, with several contenders expected to attack.
Impact on General Classification
The stage five result had minimal impact on the overall standings, as the sprinters' teams controlled the pace to ensure a bunch finish. Current yellow jersey holder retained his lead, while Kooij's win moved him up in the points classification. The Tourmalet stage is expected to see significant time gaps among GC contenders.
