Tadej Pogačar secured his fourth stage victory of the 2026 Tour de France on Saturday, solidifying his command over the general classification. The UAE Emirates-XRG rider crossed the finish line at Le Markstein solo, expanding his overall lead to 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Pogačar launched his decisive attack 1.6 kilometers from the summit of the final climb, the Col du Haag, and 7.5 kilometers from the finish line. The move left his primary rivals behind, marking his 25th career stage win at the Tour de France.
A Controlled Performance in the Vosges
Stage 14, a 155-kilometer route through the Vosges, served as the race’s first significant mountain test since stage 6. While UAE Emirates-XRG controlled the pace for much of the day, the final climb saw increased aggression from other teams. Decathlon CMA-CGM and Visma-Lease a Bike pushed a high pace on the Col du Haag, which successfully splintered the peloton. Despite the pressure, Pogačar remained patient, later noting that he was waiting for his teammate, Isaac del Toro, before making his move.
I knew that Isaac was maybe not 100 percent, so I was waiting for the last 2km to see if there was going to be any movement,
Pogačar said.
The Battle for the Podium
Behind the Slovenian leader, the race for the remaining podium spots intensified. Isaac del Toro claimed second place, finishing 38 seconds after his teammate, while 19-year-old Paul Seixas of Decathlon CMA-CGM took third. Jonas Vingegaard, Pogačar’s long-time rival, finished the stage in fourth, 44 seconds behind the winner. Vingegaard, who had briefly set the pace on the final climb, has now lost time to Pogačar throughout the race since the day 1 team time trial. Despite the gap, Vingegaard maintained that the race remains undecided. The general classification standings shifted following the grueling stage. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) holds third place overall, trailing the leader by 5 minutes and 4 seconds. Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5), who previously held a high position, struggled on the final climb and dropped to seventh in the standings.
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Rising Stars and Tactical Shifts
Paul Seixas has emerged as a significant figure in his debut Tour de France. Following his podium finish on stage 14, the teenager took the lead in the white jersey classification for best young rider, holding a three-second advantage over Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek).
Looking Ahead
With one week of racing remaining, speculation continues to mount regarding his potential participation in the Vuelta a España in August. Prince Albert of Monaco stated on Friday that Pogačar indicated he would be at the start of the race, which would offer the 27-year-old a chance to complete a “grand slam” of Europe’s three Grand Tours. For now, Pogačar remains focused on the remainder of the Tour. We knew today was one of the hardest mountain stages, but we grabbed the opportunity,
Pogačar said. I couldn’t waste good legs.
General Classification Outlook
| Position | Rider | Team | Time Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tadej Pogačar | UAE Emirates-XRG | Leader |
| 2 | Jonas Vingegaard | Visma-Lease a Bike | +4:30 |
| 3 | Remco Evenepoel | Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe | +5:04 |
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