Tour de France 2026: Olav Kuij wins stage five with sprint finish

Dutch rider Olav Kuijs won a bunch sprint finish after a crash in a chaotic conclusion to the fifth stage of the Tour de France.

The 24-year-old, who is competing in the event for the first time, held off Germany’s Max Kanter, with Belgium’s Tim Merleier third.

Norway’s Torstein Train retained the overall race leader’s yellow jersey despite being caught in a pile-up just over five kilometers from the end of the 158.3km race from Lanemejan to Pau.

14 seconds behind the Norwegian quiz with reigning champion Tadez Pogakar and the other main general classification contenders – two-time winners Jonas Vingegaard and Remko Evenpoel.

French teenage star Paul Sextus and British duo Tom Pidcock and Adam Yates were also in the same squad.

Train finished 28 seconds ahead of American Sean Quinn.

Bidding for a fifth tour title. Pogacar sits fourth, seven minutes and 53 seconds down on the same time, with Vingard in fifth.

However, the day was all about one of Dane’s former teammates, Kuij, who was a late addition to the Decathlon CMA CGM’s squad after starting his season due to illness.

“We’ve been waiting for this day to get this first chance to sprint in the Tour after a couple of tough days here – and to win straight away is incredible,” he said.

“I think in general it means coming back to this level after a really tough spring, believing in yourself and just having some people who believe in you is what you need.

“All I can ask for today is to be here with the support of the team. It was an easy day until the final. I just managed to find my way, find the right wheels and I just wanted to have a chance to win. I will enjoy it.”