Stage 5 of the 2026 Paris–Nice covered 206.3 kilometres from Cormoranche-sur-Saône to Colombier-le-Vieux and delivered one of the most demanding days of the race so far. A long, rolling opening section and a brutal series of climbs in the final hour created the perfect terrain for the general classification contenders to make decisive moves. In the end, Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) produced a devastating long-range attack to win the stage solo and tighten his grip on the race lead.
The stage began at a furious pace, with numerous riders attempting to establish a breakaway. After nearly an hour of aggressive racing, a group of eight riders finally escaped and built a modest advantage. The peloton, however, remained calm behind, with Team Visma | Lease a Bike assuming responsibility for the chase in defense of the yellow jersey worn by Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike).
Throughout the middle part of the stage the breakaway hovered several minutes ahead, but the advantage never looked secure. The rolling terrain gradually reduced the group’s cohesion, and the gap began to shrink as the race approached the decisive climbs in the Ardèche. The tempo in the peloton steadily increased as teams began positioning their leaders for the final sequence of ascents.
The race exploded on the Côte de Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, where the favourites finally showed their intentions. The early breakaway was swept up as the pace surged and the group of contenders was rapidly reduced. Sensing the moment, Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) launched a powerful attack roughly 21 kilometres from the finish.
The acceleration immediately split the field. None of the other contenders were able to respond directly as Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) quickly opened a gap over the summit of the climb. Behind him, hesitation among the chasers allowed the Danish rider to extend his advantage over the following kilometres.
Riding alone through the twisting Ardèche roads, Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) maintained a relentless pace over the remaining climbs and technical descents. The group of favourites behind—containing riders such as Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), Harold Tejada (XDS Astana Team), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), and Ion Izagirre (Cofidis)—struggled to organise a cohesive pursuit as individual attacks disrupted any steady chase.
By the time the race reached the final kilometres in Colombier-le-Vieux, Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) had built an insurmountable lead. He crossed the finish line alone after more than four and a half hours of racing, securing his second consecutive stage victory in dominant fashion.
Behind him, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) launched a late acceleration from the chasing group to claim second place, finishing just over two minutes behind the stage winner. Harold Tejada (XDS Astana Team) won the sprint from the remaining favourites to take third, just ahead of Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) and Ion Izagirre (Cofidis).
The victory further strengthened the overall position of Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), whose aggressive racing and climbing superiority have made him the clear reference point of this year’s Paris–Nice as the race heads toward its decisive final stages.
Results
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