Olav Koy Wins Tour de France Stage Five as Torstein Træen Retains Yellow Jersey

The sprinters made a strong return in the fifth stage of the 2026 Tour de France, with Dutch cyclist Olav Koy claiming his first career Tour stage victory. The 158.3-kilometer route from Lenemzen to Pau concluded with Koy crossing the finish line in 3 hours, 29 minutes, and 7 seconds, ahead of German Max Kanter from Astana and Belgian Tim Merlier, who completed the podium.

Norwegian rider Torstein Træen continues to lead the general classification, maintaining the yellow jersey with a 28-second advantage over American Sean Simmons. Matthias Wacek holds third place, trailing by 3 minutes and 50 seconds. Among the favorites, Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard remain close, both 7 minutes and 53 seconds behind the leader.

The upcoming sixth stage marks the first mountain finish of the race, covering 186.2 kilometers from Pau to Gavarnie-Gèdre. This challenging segment features five climbs, including the iconic Col d'Aspin (Category 1) and the Hors Catégorie Col du Tourmalet. The final ascent stretches 18.7 kilometers with an average gradient of 3.7 percent, presenting a critical test for the race favorites.

Disappointments in stage five included Biniam Girmay, who finished sixth, and Lisper Philipsen, who placed fifth. The race remains tightly contested as the riders prepare for the demanding mountain stage ahead.