PAU > GAVARNIE-GÈDRE – Photos A.S.O. Thomas Maheux, Charley Lopez
The first mountain stage of the Tour de France 2026 led to a lone breakaway by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG), culminating in a retaking of the Yellow Jersey.
The four-time winner of the race attacked on the slopes of the Col du Tourmalet to claim a 23rd stage win (one more than André Darrigade, previously fifth best scorer in history), his eleventh in the Pyrenees, his second in this edition.
At the summit of the climb, he already achieved a historic landmark, becoming the first reigning world champion to conquer the Tourmalet KOM. Pogacar kept pushing, covering the final 43 kilometers alone – a new personal best in the Tour. He opened massive gaps at Gavarnie-Gèdre.
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished second now 2’38’’ back, ahead of a small group led by Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG on the line (+2’57’’). Pogacar also takes the Maillot Jaune from Torstein Træen, who suffered a crash on the Tourmalet downhill but was able to complete the stage nonetheless.
The Details
Starting from Pau, it was the final stage in the Pyrenees, and the riders faced over 4,000 meters of elevation to reach Gavarnie-Gèdre past the iconic ascents up to Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet. At 2,115 metres of altitude, the Tourmalet is the second highest summit of the Tour de France 2026, only surpassed by Col du Galibier (2,642 m) on day 20. The day’s challenges promise thrilling action, chasing the polka-dot jersey, the Maillot Jaune, and battling for GC.
Pedersen led in the first skirmish
Victor Campenaerts attacked as soon as the flag dropped. He was joined at the front by Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), who was determined to win the intermediate sprint of Pouzac (km 59.1). Huub Artz (Lotto Intermarché) briefly joined in the breakaway before dropping back to a bunch paced by Jasper Philipsen’s Alpecin-Premier Tech and Biniam Girmay’s NSN.
Pedersen took the full 25 points in Pouzac, with a gap of just 15 seconds to the bunch, led by Max Kanter (XDS Astana) on the line.
UAE Emirates XRG launch Pogacar
Visma-Lease a Bike still wanted to race aggressively. Their moves created splits in the bunch, but Tadej Pogacar’s UAE Emirates XRG dominated the peloton. After a series of attacks and counter-attacks, Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) managed to get away on the cat. 3 Côte de Mauvezin, after 78 kilometers of battle.
The Australian climber opened a gap of 1’15’’ en route to Col d’Aspin (the 2nd most featured ascent in the history of the Tour, behind Col du Tourmalet). But UAE Emirates-XRG upped the ante. O’Connor was reeled in 5 kilometers from the summit. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) narrowly edged Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) as the French climbers battled for the 10 KOM points at the summit.
UAE Emirates – XRG continued applying pressure with Tim Wellens, Felix Grossschartner, Brandon McNulty, Adam Yates, and eventually Isaac del Toro. The Mexican wunderkind launched Tadej Pogacar’s attack as they entered the last 5 kilometers of ascent up to the Col du Tourmalet. And with 43 kilometers to go, Pogacar flew away.
Pogacar Dusts the Field and his Competitors
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) tried to follow, but the gap gradually yawned further. Quickly it was up to 30 seconds at the summit (km 147.8), where Pogacar became the first reigning world champion to conquer the Tourmalet KOM.
The Slovenian kept pushing and eventually claimed his 23rd Tour stage win with a gap of 2’38’’ to Vingegaard. Behind the Dane, a small group got together. Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG) was the first on the line (+3’57’’), ahead of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM), Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), and Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike).
Dropped on the ascent to Col du Tourmalet, overall leader Torstein Træen (Uno-X Mobility) crashed on the downhill. He eventually completed the stage with a gap of 29’55’’. Pogacar took the Maillot Jaune with a 2’38’’ margin on Vingegaard.
