Olav Kooij wins stage five of Tour de France amid late crash chaos

Olav Kooij secured victory in the fifth stage of the Tour de France, held on July 8, 2026, finishing a sprint in Pau. He overcame competitors Max Kanter and Tim Merlier as the stage unfolded largely without incident until a late crash affected riders, including defending champion Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. The stage was designed for sprinters, and Kooij expressed disbelief at his win after previously waiting for his opportunity amidst challenging early stages. Torstein Traeen retained the yellow jersey and crossed the line 14 seconds after Kooij, with Pogacar and Vingegaard sitting approximately eight minutes behind in the overall standings.

• 5:09 PMYahoo Sports — Late crash causes chaos at Tour de France as Olav Kooij sprints to stage five victory