Tour de France 2026: Debutant Isaac Del Toro wins stage two

Debutant Isaac Del Toro claimed victory on the second stage of the Tour de France as Jonas Wingegaard retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey.

Mexico’s Del Toro, 22, crossed the line just ahead of his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Tadez Pogacar after accelerating up the short, steep climb to the finish in Spain’s Montjuic.

Remco Evenpoel finished third, while Vingegaard was fourth as the leading pair at the end of the 168.5 km hilly route from Tarragona to Barcelona.

Del Toro said, “It really means everything. I’ve said before that I’m very privileged – you wouldn’t believe how much we work as a team to be here”.

“It’s everyone’s job – my family, my friends growing up. I can’t believe I made this effort, it’s just crazy. Also to appreciate being in the same team as Tadez, the best in the world, it’s really (the) complete emotion.

“I couldn’t stay in the top position (on the last climb) but I managed to pass and bring back (Matthias) Skjellmos. We made a plan for Tadez – I did it but then the gap was big and I went with the flow at the finish line.

“Opportunities like this almost never come along and I am extremely proud to have handled this situation.”

The opening team time trial was all about Wingard’s Visma-Lease A bike team successSunday’s stage conclusion allowed four-time champion Pogakkar and his UAE team to underline their strength.

The Slovenian took six bonus seconds to move into second place in the general classification behind his great rival Vinegard, who won the Tour in 2022 and 2023.