Ethan Vernon’s best-ever season start continued on Tuesday as he took his third victory of 2026 in the opening stage of Région Pays de la Loire Tour in Vertou.
Already a winner in the Tour Down Under and Volta a Catalunya, the team’s home race this year, Vernon delivered another controlled and authoritative performance, powering to victory with a dominant 150-metre sprint to take the early GC lead in the French ProSeries race. Behind, teammate Corbin Strong placed sixth.
The stage was raced at a relentless pace from the start, with an average speed of 47.5 km/h underlining the intensity of the day. An early breakaway forced the team to take responsibility in the peloton, committing fully to bringing the gap back under control.
That work paid off in the finale. The breakaway was reeled in at the right moment, setting up a perfect scenario for Vernon. Delivered into position by a strong collective effort, he launched his sprint inside the final 150 metres and powered clear to take a convincing win in Vertou.
Vernon said:
“It was a super tough race. I’ve won a couple of WorldTour races this year, but those stages were much more controlled. I think you can expect an aggressive race when you come to these French races – Cofidis and some other teams were trying to make it an aggressive race.
“They chucked a lot at us, but we responded well. We had to control a lot, and we had to use all our guys, but the guys brought it back for a bunch sprint. Chapeau to them, as we were tested today.”
Vernon added:
“For us, it was important to find a race where the guys who are going to the Giro could come together and race together. It fitted perfectly in our calendar, and we could send a super strong team here. I asked to come here, and the team supported the idea. Corbin, Dion, and I all have different ambitions and race programmes, but this was the one that worked for everyone. The preparation and chemistry for the Giro start here for us.
“I’m really happy with how the season is going. I always know that, when my confidence starts to grow, it produces better results. I think the UAE Tour is the only race I’ve been to this year where I didn’t win a stage. And, as a team, we’ve stepped up across the board this year. I think we’ve got seven wins already, we’re in a good place, and the morale within the team is growing.”
Sports Director Alex Cataford said:
“The team rode very strongly today, taking control of the race and making sure it came back together for a sprint to the line. Ethan showed once again that he is one of the sprinters to beat in 2026, taking his third win of the year in commanding fashion.
“Corbin was also very present throughout the day and remains a key focus for us in the general classification here at the race.”
Vernon’s victory sees him take the first leader’s jersey of the race, while Strong’s sixth place capped off a strong collective performance from the team on stage one.
