Pogacar conquers Alpe d'Huez to tighten Tour de France grip

Tadej Pogacar delivered a dominant performance in the 2026 Tour de France, winning the 19th stage on the iconic Alpe d'Huez to further cement his lead. The Slovenian star staged an impressive comeback, erasing a three-and-a-half-minute deficit on the final climb. He systematically caught and passed breakaway riders, ultimately securing his 26th stage victory in the Grande Boucle and his first on the legendary Alpe d'Huez. "It was a crazy climb, the atmosphere was incredible, and winning here is thanks to my whole team," Pogacar stated after his triumph. He added, "We went full gas all day and then, in the first kilometer of Alpe d’Huez, I knew I was good, that I had good legs and that there weren't many riders left who could perhaps follow me or try to go with me, so I went for it." This marks Pogacar's fifth stage win of this Tour, adding to his victories in the Pyrenees, Massif Central, and Vosges. His success comes despite concerns over his UAE team, which had several riders affected by illness and a circulating virus. Pogacar now holds a commanding 7 minutes and 11 seconds lead over second-placed Remco Evenepoel in the general classification. Evenepoel, while acknowledging the "tremendously beautiful experience" of his first Alpe d'Huez ascent, expressed frustration with the crowds. "It was predictable that something would go wrong with that crowd. It's a shame it happened to me," he said, citing interference from fans and motorcycles near the finish. Despite this, Evenepoel extended his advantage over third-placed Isaac del Toro and fourth-placed Paul Seixas, securing his runner-up position before the final queen stage, which also concludes on Alpe d'Huez.

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It was a crazy climb, the atmosphere was incredible, and winning here is thanks to my whole team.