In keeping with tradition (or close to it), this year’s first stage on the plains of the Ain—running from the Parc des Oiseaux/Villars-les-Dombes to Bourg-en-Bresse—ended in a mass sprint won by the Briton Noah Hobbs (EF Education-EasyPost).
After a month of July devoted to training camps and preparation rides, with afternoons spent watching the Tour de France on television, the 38th edition of the Tour de l’Ain marked a real “back-to-school” moment for most of the 105 riders on the start line. Tom Donnenwirth (Groupama-FDJ United) withdrew on the morning of the race due to illness.
Patryk Goszczurny (Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development), Morné Van Niekerk (Saint-Michel Preference Home-Auber 93) and Maël Guégan (CIC Pro Cycling Academy), joined by Arthur Meyer (Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme) and Maxime Jarnet (Van Rysel Roubaix), who were clearly delighted to be racing on home roads, were eager to stretch their legs across the Ain plains. Goszczurny stood out by winning the first intermediate sprint in Chevroux ahead of Jarnet and Van Niekerk. The breakaway, which built up an advantage of up to 1 minute and 20 seconds, was eventually caught after two hours of racing.
Van Rysel Roubaix adopted an aggressive approach during this opening 160.9 km stage from Parc des Oiseaux in Villars-les-Dombes to Bourg-en-Bresse, and the northern French team was rewarded for its efforts. Kenny Molly launched the next attack, with Maximilien Juillard (Vélo Club Villefranche Beaujolais) and Victor Jean (Elite Fondations Cycling Team) joining him around 50 kilometres from the finish. Jean also claimed the second intermediate sprint in Marboz. The trio gradually increased their lead to one minute with 30 kilometres remaining, forcing the sprinters’ teams to organize the chase. Their work paid off, halving the gap within ten kilometres, before the final escapees were reeled in just 2.5 kilometres from the line.
As is often the case on the opening day, the stage ended in a bunch sprint. Noah Hobbs (EF Education-EasyPost) powered to victory on the finishing straight ahead of Alberto Dainese (Soudal Quick-Step), who had launched his sprint first with 300 metres to go. Bohémond Barrillot (France U23) completed the podium.
With his victory, Hobbs claimed the Solimut Mutuelle de France yellow leader’s jersey, the Crédit Mutuel green points jersey and the EGT Environnement white best young rider jersey. The Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes polka-dot mountains jersey went to Baptiste Berger of Vélo Club Villefranche Beaujolais, who took advantage of an opening to crest the Côte de Coligny in first place.
Arthur Meyer was named the day’s most combative rider, a fitting reward for Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme, which shone on roads it knows particularly well during its first appearance at this level of international competition.
“It was stressful because we knew it would come down to a sprint, but everything went well,” said Hobbs, one of the many under-23 riders in this year’s race (he is 22 years old). “We have a strong team, but I know the next two days are going to be very tough.”
On Wednesday, the second stage from Saint-Vulbas to Lagnieu (161.9 km, 2,200 metres of elevation gain), featuring two ascents of the Col de Portes (14.6 km at 5.5%), is expected to establish a much clearer hierarchy among the contenders for overall victory in the 2026 Tour de l’Ain.
