Published on : 08/04/2026
The 2026 Vuelta a Burgos kicked off with a demanding first stage, culminating in an uphill finish with an average gradient of 6% over the final kilometer. The terrain was ideal for puncheurs and provided the first test for the favorites.
True to its aggressive style, the Cofidis team made its mark from the very first kilometers. Valentin Ferron joined the early breakaway with the goal of earning valuable points in the mountains classification. At the front of the race for much of the day, the Frenchman held off the peloton’s chase for a long time before being caught at the start of the final kilometer.
On the final climb, Dylan Teuns took over. Well-positioned as the race broke apart, the Belgian rose to the challenge against the peloton’s best climbers to secure a solid 6th place at the summit.
The reaction
Gorka Gerrikagoitia: “It was a stage with intense heat—over 35 degrees. We set out with the goal of making the breakaway, even though we knew it would be tough to make it all the way to the finish. We ran into a bit of trouble on the final climb. This kind of finish is always tricky: you have to be well-positioned at the bottom and have the legs for it, too. The team did a good job. Dylan Teuns finished 6th—that’s a good result for the team and a confidence boost for the rest of the race. There’s a strong field of riders here; this is a preparatory race for the Vuelta a España. Tomorrow’s finish will be a bit more challenging. We’ll see what we’re capable of.”