Pogacar secures fourth stage win, extends Tour de France lead

By Emily Turner — 18 July 2026 — 3 min read

Tadej Pogacar claimed his fourth stage victory in this year’s Tour de France on Saturday, further solidifying his overall lead. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider launched a decisive attack on the final climb, the Col de Haag, approximately 7.5km from the finish line at Le Markstein in the Vosges mountains. This win marks Pogacar’s 25th stage victory in the Tour.

Pogacar finished 38 seconds ahead of his teammate Isaac del Toro, with Paul Seixas of Decathlon CMA-CGM taking third place on the 155km stage. His main rival, Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike, finished fourth, 44 seconds behind Pogacar. Vingegaard now trails Pogacar by four minutes and 30 seconds in the general classification.

Pogacar’s Dominance and Rivals’ Challenges

Pogacar’s attack came about 1.6km from the summit of the Col de Haag, leaving Vingegaard, Seixas, and Remco Evenepoel behind. Despite Vingegaard setting the pace earlier in the climb, Pogacar’s sustained power proved superior. The Slovenian rider expressed confidence, noting that while the stage was one of the hardest mountain stages, his team seized the opportunity. He acknowledged the fight from his rivals, stating he couldn’t waste his strong form.

Vingegaard, a two-time Tour winner over Pogacar in 2022 and 2023, faced a challenging day. He remains the only rider within five minutes of Pogacar in the overall standings. However, Vingegaard maintained that the race is far from over, recalling a previous instance in 2023 where significant time was lost in a single day, suggesting that anything can change.

Meanwhile, Tom Pidcock, a double Olympic champion, struggled on the stage. After his efforts on the previous day, his challenge for a podium position faltered on the early slopes of the Col de Haag. Pidcock dropped from second overall to seventh by the finish, as Seixas’s team set a relentless pace that fragmented the main peloton.

Seixas’s Ascent and Future Prospects

The battle for the remaining podium spots is intensifying. Paul Seixas, a 19-year-old French rider, matched Vingegaard on the descent before out-sprinting him to the finish. This performance propelled Seixas into the lead of the young rider classification, three seconds ahead of Juan Ayuso.

Seixas is currently fourth overall, just 15 seconds behind Evenepoel, who holds third place in the general classification. His sports director, Luke Rowe, noted the importance of realism, acknowledging Pogacar’s significant lead over the rest of the general classification contenders. Rowe, a former Team Sky road captain, has been guiding Seixas through the demands of a three-week race, emphasizing patience and conservative riding for a podium finish.

The popularity of road cycling remains high, with thousands of fans lining the roads of Le Markstein. Pogacar himself commented on the unforgettable sight of the crowds, noting the additional boost they provide to the riders. The atmosphere was described as exceptional, with fans displaying flags, flares, and fancy dress along the gradients.

Speculation continues regarding Pogacar’s potential participation in the Vuelta a España in August. The Spanish race is the only Grand Tour he has yet to win, and a victory there would complete a grand slam of Europe’s three Grand Tours. Prince Albert of Monaco stated on Friday that Pogacar indicated he would be at the start of the Vuelta, which stages its Gran Salida in Monaco.

General Classification Standings After Stage 14

• 1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 51hrs 18mins 28secs
• 2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +4mins 30secs
• 3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +5mins 4secs
• 4. Paul Seixas (Fra/Decathlon-CMA CGM) +5mins 19secs
• 5. Juan Ayuso (Spa/Lidl-Trek) +5mins 22secs
• 6. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +5mins 44secs
• 7. Isaac del Toro (Mex/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +5mins 50secs
• 8. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +7mins 35secs
• 9. Tom Pidcock (GB/Pinarello-Q36.5) +7mins 59secs
• 10. Lenny Martinez (Fra/Bahrain-Victorious) +8mins 25secs

Pogacar, at 27 years old, is aiming to become one of the most successful riders in Tour history with five wins, a feat achieved by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain. With a week of racing remaining, the competition continues.

Source: theguardian.com