Pithie leads dominant Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe 1-2 in Slovenia

Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) claimed a resounding victory in a bunch sprint on Wednesday's stage 1 of the Tour of Slovenia 2026, launching from his teammate's wheel to comfortably secure the win. The New Zealander's triumph was made sweeter as his lead-out man, Arne Marit, held off the charging peloton for second, capping a perfect day for the team.

Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious) came through the chaotic final metres to take third place but was no match for the perfectly executed tactics of the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe squad. The entire peloton was awarded the same time, meaning the result had no initial impact on the general classification contenders.

The 192 km stage from Murska Sobota to Ormož was always destined for a sprint finish. The day marked a hugely successful debut for the team's new Red Bull title sponsorship, with Pithie's victory handing him the first leader's jersey of the five-day race.

The opening stage of the Tour of Slovenia 2026, a flat 192 km run from Murska Sobota to Ormož, offered a clear opportunity for the sprinters. As expected, the peloton kept any early breakaway on a tight leash, ensuring everything would come back together for a high-speed showdown.

As the race entered the final 10 km, sprinters' teams massed at the front, but it was Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe who asserted their authority. With 3 km to go, Jan Tratnik (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) put in a monstrous turn that stretched the peloton into a single line. He handed over to Mattia Cattaneo and then Florian Lipowitz, who marshalled the front through the technical finale.

Inside the final kilometre, after a turn from Giulio Pellizzari, Arne Marit launched a powerful lead-out with Laurence Pithie on his wheel. Marit drove to the final 200 metres before Pithie exploded into the clear air, taking the shortest line through the final bend to open an insurmountable gap. He crossed the line with an arm aloft as Marit held on to seal a dominant one-two.

• Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe could not have wished for a better debut for their new title sponsor. The lead-out was a masterclass in timing and power, and taking the top two places is a massive statement of intent.
• Laurence Pithie confirmed his status as a top-tier sprinter. His positioning was flawless and his acceleration explosive, delivering a win and the first leader's jersey.
• Arne Marit's strength was equally impressive. To execute such a powerful lead-out and still hold on for second place is a remarkable feat that demonstrates the squad's depth.
• While Edoardo Zambanini salvaged a podium for Bahrain Victorious, other sprint teams were anonymous in the finale. They lacked the collective power to challenge the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe train and will need to rethink their strategy for the next flat stages.
• For GC contenders like Florian Lipowitz and Sebastian Berwick (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), today was about survival. Lipowitz also played a key role in his team's lead-out, demonstrating commitment to the day's goal before his own ambitions come into play.
• With the leader's jersey on Pithie's shoulders, the team must now control the peloton. This adds responsibility and could tax resources needed to protect Florian Lipowitz's overall ambitions on harder stages.