Pogacar’s Dominance on Col du Tourmalet
Tadej Pogacar delivered a commanding solo performance on Col du Tourmalet during stage six of the Tour de France, culminating in a victory at Gavarnie-Gèdre. This win has established a substantial overall lead for Pogacar in the 2026 race. His ride through the Hautes-Pyrénées saw him extend his advantage significantly, demonstrating his authority early in the competition.
Pogacar’s ascent of the Tourmalet, a challenging 17-kilometre climb, proved to be a decisive moment. The pace set by his UAE Team Emirates XRG team at the base of the climb was intense, effectively reducing the peloton to a smaller group of riders. This strategic effort created the ideal conditions for Pogacar to launch his solo attack.
As the lead group approached La Mongie, approximately five kilometres from the summit, Pogacar and his teammate Isaac del Toro moved ahead. Pogacar then pressed on alone, leaving his rivals to contend with his relentless pace. This move allowed him to reach the summit first and build a lead that continued to grow on the descent.
Impact on Rivals and Overall Standings
Pogacar’s performance on the Tourmalet had a profound impact on his competitors. His main challenger, Jonas Vingegaard, attempted to limit his losses but ultimately ceded 2 minutes, 38 seconds to Pogacar at the finish line. Vingegaard, who was initially able to give chase, found his resistance increasingly futile as Pogacar maintained his powerful solo effort.
The gap between Pogacar and Vingegaard in the overall standings now stands at 2 minutes, 42 seconds, with del Toro in third place. This significant lead, established after only six days of racing, has been described as both a physical and psychological advantage for Pogacar. Many rivals may now focus on securing a podium or top-five position rather than directly challenging his dominance.
Other notable riders, including Remco Evenepoel and French favourite Paul Seixas, were part of a chasing group but could not match Pogacar’s speed. Seixas, who had previously competed closely with Pogacar in April, was unable to respond to the Slovenian’s attack and fell further behind. The intensity of the Pyrenean climbs, combined with stifling heat, has already led to an increase in rider abandonments, further highlighting the demanding nature of the race.
A Record-Setting Pursuit
This victory marks Pogacar’s 23rd stage win in the Tour de France, placing him among the most prolific stage winners in the race’s history. Eleven of these wins have occurred in the Pyrenees. With this latest display of strength, Pogacar is taking a significant step towards potentially securing a record-equalling fifth Tour victory. Only four other cyclists, Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Jacques Anquetil, and Bernard Hinault, have achieved five overall wins.
Pogacar’s control of the race is evident, having already secured two stage wins for himself and gifting one to his teammate del Toro. The early stages of the 2026 Tour have been marked by his consistent performance and strategic racing. His ability to maintain such a high level of performance suggests that he is firmly in contention for the overall title.
The stage also saw challenges for other riders, including the overnight leader, Torstein Traeen, whose second day in the yellow jersey proved difficult. Traeen was dropped before the summit of the Tourmalet and later crashed on the descent, requiring medical attention before completing the stage almost 30 minutes behind Pogacar. Another rider, Cian Uijtdebroeks of the Movistar team, abandoned the race due to gastrointestinal problems and a fever.
Pogacar’s strong start to the Tour de France, including his win on stage six, positions him favourably for the remainder of the competition, which is scheduled to conclude in Paris on 26 July.
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Source: theguardian.com
