Tadej Pogacar demolishes Tour de France rivals on the Tourmalet to take ominous lead
Tadej Pogacar demonstrated significant dominance on stage six of the Tour de France, soloing to victory on the Col du Tourmalet and extending his overall lead. The Slovenian rider’s performance on the challenging mountain stage to Gavarnie-Gèdre has positioned him strongly in the general classification, with his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard, now trailing by a notable margin.
The sixth stage, featuring the legendary Tourmalet climb, proved to be a pivotal moment in the race. Pogacar, riding for UAE Team Emirates XRG, launched a powerful attack that left many competitors struggling to maintain pace. His team set an intense rhythm at the base of the Tourmalet, which spans 17 kilometres of climbing, effectively reducing the peloton to a small group of riders.
During the climb, Torstein Traeen, who had been wearing the yellow jersey, experienced a difficult day. His lead began to diminish as Pogacar and his teammate Isaac del Toro pushed ahead. By the summit of the Tourmalet, Pogacar had established a lead over Vingegaard, further increasing it on the subsequent 17-kilometre descent.
Pogacar’s solo effort saw him cross the finish line with a substantial advantage over Vingegaard, who finished 2:38 behind. This performance allowed Pogacar to reclaim the yellow jersey from Traeen, who also faced a crash during the descent of the Tourmalet, finishing nearly 30 minutes behind the leader after receiving medical attention.
Dominance in the Pyrenees
The stage was marked by Pogacar’s relentless pace, which began to take its toll on other riders even before the final ascent. The Tourmalet, climbed for the 89th time in the Tour de France, served as the backdrop for Pogacar’s display of strength. His ability to maintain and extend his lead over such a demanding climb highlighted his current form.
The conditions, including the stifling heat and the challenging Pyrenean climbs, contributed to an increasing number of riders abandoning the race. Among those who struggled were Thymen Arensman of the Netcompany Ineos team and Tom Pidcock of Pinarello Q36.5, who were unable to keep up with the leading group.
Remco Evenepoel, the Olympic time trial champion, initially lost contact but managed to rejoin a chasing group. Other riders like Paul Seixas, who had previously competed closely with Pogacar, also found themselves unable to match the Slovenian’s acceleration on the Tourmalet.
Pogacar’s victory on stage six marks his 23rd stage win in the Tour de France, with 11 of those victories occurring in the Pyrenees. This achievement places him among the most prolific stage winners in the history of the race.
Impact on the General Classification
With this performance, Pogacar’s lead in the general classification is now 2:42 over Jonas Vingegaard. Isaac del Toro, also from UAE Team Emirates XRG, sits in third place, 3:27 behind Pogacar. The significant time gaps established on this stage suggest that Pogacar has gained both a physical and psychological advantage over his rivals.
Many competitors are now likely to focus on securing a podium finish or a spot in the top five, rather than directly challenging Pogacar for the overall victory. The intensity of the first week of the 2026 Tour de France, particularly with the demanding Pyrenean stages, has already created considerable separation among the contenders.
The next stage, stage seven, is anticipated to favour sprinters. The current general classification standings after stage six are as follows:
- Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia/UAE-Emirates) 21:11:57
- Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark/Visma-Lease a Bike) +2:42
- Isaac del Toro (Mexico/UAE-Emirates) +3:27
The race continues with stage seven on Saturday.
Source: theguardian.com
