Julius Johansen scores his first professional victory at O Gran Camiño

UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider storms to victory in the opening day time trial, with teammate Adam Yates looking good for a GC push

News | Team –14th April 2026

In stage 1 of O Gran Camiño, Julius Johansen rocketed to the first professional victory of his career. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG powerhouse produced an epic ride against the clock to win the individual time trial and move into the race lead.

Fresh from helping his teammates throughout the spring Classics campaign, Johansen got his own chance on Tuesday afternoon and certainly made the most of it. Completing the 15km-long course in 17 minutes and 43 seconds, the 26-year-old was ultimately 15 seconds faster than the second-placed-rider on the day, Rafael Reis (Anicolor/Campicarn).

Johansen is a former teammate of Reis in the Portuguese squad, which made the win all the sweeter.

Johansen: “I am very happy for today, it is my first pro win so I’m extremely proud. It was a very tough day, there was a bit of wind out there and we have a strong peloton here. I knew I was in good shape, but maybe my fiancé was the only person who truly believed in the win. I personally hoped for a top five, but standing here with the victory is just amazing.

“I just saw before I started that Rafael had come in with the best time, and I know Rafael very well from being old teammates with him, and I know how strong he is. But I also knew that there was some strong riders out on the course. So of course this was thrilling, and I am extremely proud. When they told me after the line that I had won, I almost couldn’t believe it.

“It is amazing. It’s very nice to deliver when I have the chance, it is really nice. Of course, I am super proud of this and now there are some days in front of us, and I really think we can win the GC with Adam. So we look forward to the next two days where we have to survive well.

“For the moment, this is something I have looked forward to for the past two weeks so I am very happy with my performance today. It is really nice to deliver.”

As Johansen was storming to a memorable first professional victory, his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Adam Yates was delivering a promising start to the week. Usually a man more at home in the mountains than aboard his time trial bike, Yates quietly got on with his business and rode to sixth place on stage 1.

The result positions the Briton well for a general classification push later in the week.

For the time being, all celebrations and congratulations are owed to the day’s victor, Johansen. One of the most dependable and powerful teammates in the professional peloton, Johansen’s energies are usually spent in the service of others. For this, he always feels the gratitude of his teammates.

But on this special day in mid-April, the Dane also feels the warm congratulations of being the man on the top step of the podium. Not only was he able to celebrate the stage victory, but also the honour of pulling on the O Gran Camiño leader’s jersey.

O Gran Camiño stage 1 (ITT) results:

1. Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 17.43

2. Rafael Reis (Anicolor/Campicarn) +15″

3. Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) +16″

6. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +40″

O Gran Camiño general classification after stage 1:

1. Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 17.43

2. Rafael Reis (Anicolor/Campicarn) +16″

3. Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) +17″

6. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +41″