The invention relates to an element for forming a leading end of a web from a running material web, especially a paper or board web, having a certain width (B). The invention comprises an element which has a smaller width (BM) that the width (B) of the material web, and in that the element is embodied in such a way that a new leading end of a web is formed at the latest after said element as been introduced into a nip formed by a winding cylinder and the winding core, and is partially covered by the material web. The invention also relates to a method for forming a leading end of a web from a running web material web, especially a paper or board web, applied to a winding core, whereby at least one element is used according to the invention.