Olav Kooij wins stage 5 bunch sprint in Pau at the 2026 Tour de France
Decathlon CMA CGM Team took it's first win as Olav Kooij fastest in a crash-marred sprint finale in Pau.
Olav Kooij powered to a breakthrough victory in Pau, winning Stage 5 of the 2026 Tour de France in a fast, chaotic bunch sprint that saw multiple crashes in the technical finale. The Dutchman delivered Decathlon CMA CGM Team’s first ever Tour de France stage win, validating the squad’s decision to bring a full sprint train in support of him.
The 158 km stage from Lannemezan to Pau was the first true opportunity for the pure sprinters. With a pan-flat profile skirting the Pyrenees, the peloton expected a controlled day — and got exactly that.
A Solo Breakaway and Controlled Chase
For the first time this Tour, Baptiste Veistroffer lit up the opening hour with one of his trademark solo breakaways. No rider dared to join the Lotto-Intermarché attacker, leaving him alone off the front until the peloton calmly reeled him in with 14 km to go.
Inside the final 40 km, small hilltops produced flickers of action. Alex Baudin grabbed a single KOM point, while Kasper Asgreen and British champion Fred Wright briefly pushed clear. But Quick-Step’s Valentin Paret-Peintre marked the move, acting as a buffer, and the trio were quickly absorbed.
Crashes and Chaos in the Final Kilometres
The run-in to Pau was narrow, technical, and tense. With 6 km to go, a fast corner triggered a crash that split the peloton. Gaps opened, and several sprinters were caught behind — but the main sprint trains survived.
Astana delivered the best leadout, launching Max Kanter into prime position. But the sprint opened from behind: Olav Kooij surged past Kanter with perfect timing, unleashing a clean, powerful finishing kick to claim his first Tour stage.
Tim Merlier came from behind for third, while Jasper Philipsen could only manage fifth. Biniam Girmay and Mads Pedersen finished sixth and seventh, meaning the points classification saw no major shake-up.
VIDEO: 2026 Tour de France Stage 5 Highlights
2026 Tour de France Stage 5 Top 10
1 Kooij Olav Decathlon CMA CGM Team 210 03:29:07
2 Kanter Max XDS Astana Team 150 + 00
3 Merlier Tim Soudal Quick-Step 110 + 00
4 Artz Huub Lotto-Intermarché 90 + 00
5 Philipsen Jasper Alpecin-Premier Tech 70 + 00
6 Girmay Biniam NSN Cycling Team 55 + 00
7 Pedersen Mads Lidl-Trek 45 + 00
8 Fretin Milan Cofidis 40 + 00
9 Turgis Anthony Team TotalEnergies 35 + 00
10 Wærenskjold Søren Uno-X Mobility 30 + 00
2026 Tour de France GC after Stage 10
1 Træen Torstein Uno-X Mobility 16:32:07
2 Quinn Sean EF Education-EasyPost + 28
3 Vacek Mathias Lidl-Trek + 03:50
4 Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 07:53
5 Vingegaard Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 07:53
6 Debruyne Ramses Alpecin-Premier Tech + 08:06
7 Evenepoel Remco Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 08:16
8 del Toro Isaac UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 08:17
9 Ayuso Juan Lidl-Trek + 08:20
10 Seixas Paul Decathlon CMA CGM Team + 08:41