'A stage win is the biggest goal' - Jegat shifts Tour de France focus after disrupted start to 2026

The Frenchman, who climbed into the GC top 10 at the 2025 Tour de France on the back of a breakaway on the penultimate stage to Pontarlier, did not race until 17 April this year. An illness in December was followed by a knee problem that continued into the spring.

The 26 year old made his comeback at the Tour du Doubs on 17 April and claimed his first professional victory after a difficult winter and spring. Jegat spoke about the win to Dutch outlet In de Leiderstrui.

"It's going really well. The season did indeed start later, but it started with a win. To begin like that, with my first professional victory," Jegat said to In de Leiderstrui.

A Sierra Nevada altitude training block followed the win, but it did not go as well as Jegat had hoped.

"I had a more difficult altitude camp this year than in other years. So I'm currently a bit in search of the good feelings. I'm not worried about the rest, it'll come."

Jegat raced the Tour of Turkey in May and finished fourth overall. He then rode the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in June, where he joined three breakaways and finished seventh on each of those stages.

That included the 10 rider move on stage 4, where Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) took the win in Montrond les Bains. Illness during the Sierra Nevada altitude camp had taken its toll.

"The preparation has gone well enough. We did Sierra Nevada this year, like last year, with an altitude camp there. After that I got ill, so I think that's why my form has dropped a bit. I'm not worried. There are still some good weeks coming to work on it, so it will come back quickly."

Jegat’s 10th place at the 2025 Tour de France came after a late raid on stage 20 to Pontarlier, where he gained six minutes on the GC favourites. His target for the 2026 race has changed.

"In the Tour, a stage win is the biggest goal. A GC result is always in the head, but if I have to sacrifice everything for a stage win, I will do that."

TotalEnergies are one of the wildcard teams at the 2026 Tour de France, alongside Caja Rural Seguros RGA.

The squad’s selection is built around Jegat and Anthony Turgis, with Mattéo Vercher, Mathieu Burgaudeau and Emilien Jeannière among the team’s other breakaway threats.

The race begins in Barcelona with a 19 kilometre team time trial on Saturday, 4 July.