July 24, 2026 – Gap to L’Alpe D’huez – Photos: A.S.O.
For the last few kilometers up L’Alpe D’Huez, it looked like Richard Carapaz might score another victory, like he did yesterday in the first Alp stage.
But it was not to be. About 2 kilometers from the finish, Tadej Pogacar put the gauntlet down and let the world know –again–that he is the only one that no one can beat.
The Slovenian star had attacked his General Classification rivals 13 kilometers from the summit and then caught up to Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) inside the last 3 kilometers. He let Carapaz dream for a mile or so, that maybe he could take another win atop the Alps.
But in the last kilometer, Pogacar he had had enough, and took a flyer off the front, disintegrating his rivals in a gesture that they certainly understood–“I am the best, deal with it,” and claiming his fifth victory in this year’s Tour, his 26th since his debut in the race in 2020.
He now surpasses André Leducq (25 stage wins) and moves closer to Mark Cavendish (35), Eddy Merckx (34) and Bernard Hinault (28). Alpe d’Huez will also host stage 20’s finish on the eve of Sunday’s Paris grand finale.
You could sense the disappointment from Lenny Martinez, who came in second to the line, but also the despondency that no one can humanly beat Pogacar. It is not even fun anymore.
At least Carapaz picked up the Polka Dot jersey, which Pogacar had been holding for himself.
The Details
Paret-Peintre v Carapaz
The uphill start to Col Bayard (4.7 km at 7.2%) split the peloton, and a leading group of 42 riders formed at the front. It included 11 former stage winners: Richard Carapaz, alongside his teammates Ben Healy, Sean Quinn andAlex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), Thymen Arensman (Netcompany Ineos), Adam Yates (UAE Emirates XRG), Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike), Michael Matthews, Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla), Ion Izagirre (Cofidis), the green jersey wearer Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and the polka-dot jersey wearer Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step). Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) was the highest-placed rider in the general classification (7th, +12’50’’).
The battle for the polka-dot jersey was the highlight of the first two climbs to the Col Bayard (km 4.8) and the Col du Noyer (km 25.2). Paret-Peintre won the uphill sprint ahead of Carapaz on both occasions. The Frenchman then took the lead in the mountains classification.
The breakaway explodes
The Maillot Jaune peloton crossed the Col du Noyer four minutes behind the breakaway riders. Tadej Pogacar’s UAE Emirates XRG and Remco Evenepoel’s Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe upped the pace to close the gap. But the leaders at the front also counted on their teammates for a chance at victory at Alpe d’Huez.
The gap reached a maximum of 4’25’’ at the intermediate sprint (Le Périer, km 89.4), where Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) took full points. His lead against Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) for the green jersey was now up to 57 points.
The breakaway exploded on the following ascent to Col d’Ornon (cat 2, summit at km . Paret-Peintre was done. Carapaz crested the ascent in the lead. Then Bruno Armirail (Visma-Lease a Bike) set a strong pace all the way to the bottom of Alpe d’Huez. The attackers began the ascent with a lead of 3’25’’.
Pogacar flies to his 26th stage victory
Richard Carapaz, Sepp Kuss and Lenny Martinez rapidly emerged as the strongest climbers at the front. Behind them, Tadej Pogacar distanced his rivals 13 kilometers from the summit. He rapidly caught up to Adam Yates, who helped him before the Slovenian sets off alone.
At the front, Carapaz attacked continuously. Martinez stayed in the play and Kuss got back. The trio failed to collaborate however. As Pogacar closed in on them, Carapaz unleashed his power 3 kilometers from the summit. But a kilometer later he was caught by Pogacar and Martinez. The Slovenian dropped them just inside the final kilometer and showed them who was boss in his 26th Tour stage win, the first at Alpe d’Huez.
Behind him, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) gained a handful of seconds on Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates XRG) and a few more on Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) on the eve of another battle to Alpe d’Huez.
