On Sunday, the Volta 2026 kicked off on the Costa Brava, in Catalonia, with a 172.7 km loop around Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Promised for sprinters and punchers, this 1st stage was decided in the last meters, as planned.
First stage and first French victory: Dorian Godon winner
Frenchman Dorian Godon (INEOS Grenadiers) raised his arms in front of Belgian sprinter Remco Evenepoel and Briton Tom Pidcock. The latter launched the sprint 500 meters from the finish but the Habs managed to make the difference. At the photo finish, the French champion was a hair ahead of the European time trial champion, the Belgian Evenepoel. The latter can console himself with six seconds of bonuses for the general classification. He was beaten by the man he had announced as the day’s favorite before the race.
Jonas Vingegaard was in the lead before the final sprint, before quickly losing ground. He had confided before the race that he did not want to take any risks. He finished 11th. The Frenchman Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto) will sleep with the Best Climber jersey.
🏆Dorian Godon was able to overcome @EvenepoelRemco in an exciting final! ⏮️ Review the last kilometer!💥Godon @INEOSGrenadiers was able to get an impressive win!⏮️ Watch out the last km of the 1st stage at @Guixols.#VoltaCatalunya105 pic.twitter.com/9Wa19KAVoltaCatalunya (Catalunya@Catalunya) March 23, 2026
The classification of the 1st stage of the Tour of Catalonia 2026
- GODON Dorian INEOS Grenadiers 04:00:59
- EVENEPOEL Remco Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 00:04
- PIDCOCK Thomas Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 00:06
- SILVA Guillermo Thomas XDS Astana Team 00:10
- GUALDI Simone Lotto Intermarché,,
- MARTINEZ Lenny Bahrain – Victorious ,,
- RACCAGNI NOVIERO Andrea Soudal Quick-Step ,,
- UHLIG Henri Alpecin-Premier Tech,,
- ONLEY Oscar INEOS Grenadiers,,
- L’HOTE Antoine Decathlon CMA CGM Team
The complete ranking of the 1st stage
Upon his arrival, Dorian Godon answered the microphone of Eurosport: “It was very hard as the last kilometer with a fairly strong peloton and the wind. I think I passed Remco a little too early. The last 50m I had the impression that it lasted forever. Catalonia is my second home so I’m happy to have been able to win in front of friends (…) It’s always the same finish around here so we know the route well, I always have this stage ticked off. I wanted to win and this time it was my day. I’m going to have the leader’s jersey, and maybe I’ll keep it until Barcelona (laughing).
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