“At last!”, the sprinters will be thinking as they tackle stage 5 of the 2026 Tour de France. After four days favouring the all-rounders, climbers and breakaway specialists, the sprinters have their first chance to shine between Lannemezan and Pau. Beware, however, of the 1,600 metres of elevation gain spread along the 158.3-kilometre route, including the Côte de Baleix (1 km at 8.8 per cent) situated 25.6 kilometres from the finish.
Jasper Philipsen, the sprinter in the 2026 peloton with the most victories in the race, is counting on the powerful lead-out train of Alpecin-Premier Tech to secure an 11th win, having triumphed in every edition since 2022 and raised his arms in Pau just two years ago. It would be the fourth victory for his Belgian compatriot and rival Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step). Biniam Girmay (NSN) is seeking redemption after a disappointing 2025 season, and his victory in stage 4’s intermediate sprint at Quillan is an early sign of good form. Less fast but more versatile, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) arrives buoyed by his success at Foix. And Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM) is fuelled by the energy of his first Tour de France.
The battle for the stage win is intertwined with the fight for the green jersey, which Pedersen has claimed for the first time in his career. His rivals will be all the more determined to beat him to the line in Pau, given the ground they have to make up: Girmay trails by 64 points, Philipsen by 73, and Merlier – who has kept a low profile so far – by 95. The roads of the Hautes-Pyrénées, the Gers and the Pyrénées-Atlantique will also see Torstein Træen ride through for the very first time wearing the Maillot Jaune.
