2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

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2026 Tour de France stage 21 - Preview

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Race Situation

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It was an unusual start to the day with the riders having their team presentation in Thoiry, where the stage was originally meant to begin from at 14:40 local time with all the riders and race officials heading into Paris by bus and car with the stage starting at 17:50 local time. Roughly 50 minutes from now.

Bonjour and welcome to the final stage of the Tour de France 2026! A shortened day due to police being relocated to southern France to battle the huge wildfires down there. So the riders have 88.7km of racing starting and finishing on the Champs Elysees with three laps of the amazing Montmartre circuit.

Take a look at our preview of the stage with the new profile and what that may mean for the riders...

>>> Tour de France 2026 stage 21 preview – A shortened day of racing in Paris to crown the final victors

For more in depth information including the official statement by the race organisers, take a look at our news piece...

>>> Final stage of 2026 Tour de France shortened due to exceptional circumstances caused by wildfires

The jerseys have been pretty much decided. Anything can happy on this tricky course around Paris, but the jerseys are expected to be as followed:

Yellow GC - Tadej Pogačar (UAX)
Green Points - Mads Pedersen (LTK)
Polka-dots KOM - Richard Carapaz (EFE)
White Youth - Isaac Del Toro (UAX)

With the podium looking like this:

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAX) 72:53'22"
2. Remco Evenepoel (RBH) +6'26"
3. Isaac Del Toro (UAX) +9'42"

Remarkably, only 11 riders remained inside an hour of Pogačar with Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) being the last of them at +56'37" with the last placed rider in GC, Cees Bol in 158th, being at +6:22'08" down on Pogačar after a brutal three weeks.

The crowds are already absolutely gigantic in Montmartre with the summit of the climb by the Sacré-Cœur playing host to massive numbers of people with rain clouds looming overhead.

Tadej Pogačar will be joining a very elite group of riders with five Tour de France overall victories to their names.

Eddy Merckx
Jacques Anquetil
Bernard Hinault
Miguel Indurain

An incredible disaster would have to happen to prevent the Slovenian from joining them.

Pogačar and the rest of his UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad have gone full yellow for the final stage in Paris. Also the number five is plastered everywhere they can fit it.

Lidl-Trek will very likely take the team standings as they lead UAE Team Emirates-XRG by 36'57", but that can disappear very easily. Lidl-Trek will be going for Mads Pedersen to win in green while UAE will be aiming for another win for Tadej Pogačar in yellow.

Colnago have made two special bikes for Pogačar and Del Toro with a full yellow and white frames done for them.

Cannondale have made a fantastic polka dot bike for Carapaz who wins the mountains jersey for the second time in his career.

The stage is set, the roads are mercifully dry and the riders are rolling to the start with Pogačar getting his saddle height adjusted and Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) adjusting his power meter.

Interestingly, Quinn Simmons has been named best teammate of the Tour de France after his work for Mads Pedersen, Juan Ayuso and Mattias Skjelmose.

It is pretty gusty out on course with wind gusts said to possible be up to 30mph at times. Definitely a chance for echelons if a team really goes for it.

88.7km to go

Racing begins but the first lap does appear to be relaxed as the riders roll off the start/finish line. All the jerseys lined up together in front of the peloton with huge cheers coming from the massive crowds.

Around the Arc de Triomphe for the first time as the jerseys still lead the way. We are technically racing bit it does appear the riders will just roll round this first lap at least.

Pogačar is, of course, decked out in yellow.

The usual photos are being taken for the jerseys and their teams.

Small mechanical for Abel Balderstone (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA). Technically their debut at the race but the sponsor did race in 1987 and 1988.

Let's take a look back at the race as a whole with three magnificent weeks.

Week one was brutal!

S1. Visma-Lease a Bike won the TTT with Jonas Vingegaard going into yellow
S2. Isaac Del Toro took 1st ahead of Pogačar in a UAE one-two
S3. Pogačar then stormed onto the scene properly and went into yellow
S4. Mads Pedersen went into green with a stage win from the break after a tactical masterclass from Lidl-Trek with Torstein Træen taking yellow
S5. Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) took his first every Tour stage at the first time of asking
S6. Pogačar won again looking like he could win almost everything as he retook yellow
S7. Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) took his first of three wins
S8. Merlier doubled up
S9. week one ended with Mathieu van der Poel powering to breakaway success as Pogačar was in yellow after week one.

Week two:

S10. Pogačar started week two with a bang as he stormed to yet another win, his third of five stages
S11. Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) surprised the other sprinters with a long distance sprint win
S12. Merlier completed his hattrick
S13. Mauro Schmid (Jayco-AlUla) took a superb win from the break
S14. Pogačar gets win number four
S15. Evenepoel took first road stage win as we bid farewell to Vingegaard as week two closed

Final week:

S16. Evenepoel completed his set with the expected TT win but saw teammate Florian Lipowitz crash out
S17. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) took his win and went to just seven points away from Pedersen's green jersey
S18. Richard Carapaz took his first of two wins in a magnificent final week from him as Pedersen jumped clear of Philipsen again
S19. Pogačar signed off with record breaking climb and stage win on an incredible chaotic Alpe d'Huez
S20. Carapaz took another stage win with two crashes from Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) making the polka dot jersey's job a bit easier as Del Toro solidified his third place with Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) cracking

S21. We shall see!

Update from organisers

The GC times will be taken at the end of the Champs-Élysées laps with around 41km to go as they head onto the Montmartre laps.

Attack!

Le Berre (TEN)
Vinokurov (XAT)
Heßmann (MOV)
Steinhauser (EFE)
Thomas (COF)
Slock (LOI)
Dillier (APT)
Veistroffer (LOI)

Racing is underway but that early move is dragged back immediately.

Attack

Baptiste Veistroffer (LOI)

He goes solo yet again. The Frenchman has about 6" on the peloton for the moment.

Puncture for Egan Bernal (NCI) and he gets a quick bike change and is already back in the cars.

Bernal back in as Veistroffer now has 16" on the peloton.

Huge movements on the front of the peloton with Alpecin-Premier Tech and Lidl-Trek hammering the pace. Pedersen has taken points in every single intermediate sprint at this race which is quite amazing.

The intermediate sprint is coming very soon. Veistroffer has 10" in the peloton with 2km to the sprint.

1km to the intermediate sprint.

Veistroffer won the intermediate sprint with Pedersen taking fifth with 12 points for the green jersey.

Veistroffer now caught by the peloton with new moves trying to go clear.

The peloton all calm again with multiple riders spread across the road.

Attack

Xabier Mikkel Azparren (Pinarello-Q36.5)
Thibault Guernalec (TotalEnergies)

They have a gap of 21" according to the timings.

Despite multiple road sweeps, the climb to Montmartre was still covered with screws, broken glass, clips and more. Hopefully all goes smoothly for the riders.

50km to go

The leading duo have 33" on the peloton but all the riders are getting into colour order with the racing about to head onto Montmartre for the first of three times.

The Champs-Élysées only circuit is almost done as the riders head towards Montmartre with gigantic crowds waiting on the climb...

One hour of racing done with the leaders of Azparren and Guernalec holding 50" on the bunch.

The riders turn right and they head onto the Montmartre circuit.

Jayco-AlUla hits the front with Luke Durbridge riding his final Tour de France. Likely looking to set up Michael Matthews.

Mechanical for Del Toro! He gets a bike change very quickly and is back on his way but not ideal.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Lidl-Trek now come to the front with Alpecin-Premier Tech also trying to muscle their way in.

Onto the climb they go and Azparren is waving up the crowd while leading the race. Alpecin-Premier Tech take over the pacing in the peloton with Guernalec caught by the peloton.

Attack

Mads Pedersen (LTK)

The green jersey is flying here as they catch Azparren with Pogačar moving up as well.

Del Toro gets back into the peloton but has a long way to chase.

Pedersen leads Van der Poel, Pogačar and a group of about 10 others.

Tom Pidcock (PQT), Jasper Stuyven (SOQ), Kasper Asgreen (EFE), Michael Matthews (JAY), Vincent Van Hemelen (TBV) and others all in this lead group.

40km to go

This is a talent packed lead group but some big names are missing.

Ben Healy (EFE), Clement Russo (GFC), Tim Marsman (APT), Biniam Girmay (NSN), Milan Fretin (COF) and Olav Kooij (DCT) also said to be in the lead group according to official timings.

The peloton is closing things back together again.

Mechanical for Jasper Philipsen on the climb so now it is likely all in for Van der Poel.

The leaders sit up with Van Mechelen drifting off the front but he is swiftly dragged back and it is all back together again.

Roughly 50 riders off the back including Del Toro. All GC times have been taken with the Mexican likely losing a few seconds. Pidcock somehow also in this group at 48" from the peloton.

30km to go

NSN, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Netcompany-Ineos, Decathlon-CMA CGM and Alpecin-Premier Tech all leading the way in the peloton.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe are on full leadout for Evenepoel by the looks as Jan Tratnik pulls off for Van Dijke.

Daan Hoole (DCT) comes to the front to try and take control for Kooij but Tim Wellens (UAX) comes through to take over the pacing for Pogačar onto the climb.

Attack

Tadej Pogačar (UAX)
Mathieu van der Poel (APT)
Remco Evenepoel (RBH)
Olav Kooij (DCT)

And that is it!

Kooij and Evenepoel dropped as Pedersen tries to make up ground but Pogačar and Van der Poel are clear of the rest with 26km to go as Van der Poel pulls through immediately.

They already have a huge gap on the rest apart from Evenepoel and Pedersen. Evenepoel makes it back on and Pedersen may not be too far behind.

Evenepoel taking a moment on the back to recover after chasing back onto the wheels of Pogačar and Van der Poel with just 5" back to Pedersen as Evenepoel now comes to the front for the first time.

Pedersen makes it across to the leaders with a superb effort with the peloton just behind at about 20" being led by Decathlon-CMA CGM for Kooij.

Just 9" back to the peloton who are closing fast.

20km to go

With the extra distance to the finish after the climb the peloton are able to close the attacks down. It looks like these four will be brought back.

Attackers caught by Decathlon-CMA CGM. Superb ride by the French team for their Dutch sprinter.

Jayco-AlUla return to the front with Decathlon-CMA CGM. The riders now head to the final ascent of Montmartre.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Lidl-Trek come back to the front. The group with Del Toro, Pidcock and others are almost four minutes down but don't have the G to worry about.

One lap to go

Into the final lap of the race with 16km of this 2026 Tour de France left it is Adam Yates of UAE Team Emirates-XRG who leads the peloton across the peloton.

Cofidis come to the front to work for Milan Fretin, that would be a turn up for the books.

Pascale Eenkhoorn (Soudal-QuickStep) comes to the front for Jasper Stuyven. Huge amounts of movement behind them.

Florian Vermeersch tries to come up for Pogačar but gets bumped out with Victor Campenaerts taking over onto the climb.

Attack

Fred Wright (PQT)

He has Vermeersch with him as Pedersen, Pogačar, Stuyven, Van der Poel and the rest following.

Attack!

Van der Poel and Pogačar go clear of the rest with a huge move. Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) chases.

10km to go

Van der Poel leads over the top again with Pogačar on his wheel with no-one close to them for now.

Pedersen's group are just 15" back with Evenepoel's group at 20" from Van der Poel and Pogačar.

Visma-Lease a Bike have two riders in the chase and are chasing hard with Abrahamsen with just 6" gap.

The peloton are closing down rapidly as well with Decathlon-CMA CGM doing a superb job yet again for Kooij.

7.5km to go with the chase group at 7" then the peloton at 16".

The two chase groups are close to coming together as the leaders continue to push flat out.

Back onto the Champs-Élysées and around the Arc de Triomphe. Van der Poel and Pogačar have 12" on the chase group and 17" on the peloton as Jasper Philipsen appears in the peloton.

Just 4km to go with Decathlon-CMA CGM riding flat out and they catch the chase group with 12" gap to Pogačar and Van der Poel.

Decathlon-CMA CGM only have three men left for Kooij with 3km to go on the front with Benoot looking after Kooij. Pogačar and Van der Poel have 11".

2km to go and it dips under 10 seconds! Just 8" gap now as another rider swings off the peloton.

Flamme Rouge!

The final 1000 metres of the 2026 Tour de France with NSN joining Decathlon-CMA CGM on the front with just 5" of a gap! They're within touching distance!

Van der Poel leads onto the famous road but the peloton are right there!

500 metres to go as Cofidis return to the front as Van der Poel attacks!!

Mathieu van der Poel SOMEHOW wins stage 21 of the Tour de France 2026!!

It is an Alpecin-Premier Tech one-two with Jasper Philipsen taking second ahead of Mads Pedersen.

That was a truly astonishing finale to the Tour de France I have ever seen.

And lets not forget! Tadej Pogačar joins the giants of our sport with his fifth Tour de France overall victory.

A big five wins for Pogačar in the Tour. What next? La Vuelta is in a few weeks...

What an incredible way to bring the Tour de France 2026 for the men to a close.

He couldn't follow Van der Poel and take a sixth stage win, but it was still a brutal showing of power from Tadej Pogačar who wins the Tour de France in magnificent style.

Mathieu van der Poel speaking to TV after the finish...

"A year I was thinking about this [stage 21]. I was sick last year and had to watch this stage on television. I was already thinking about this moment, and then the way it went, it's a dream.

"Yeah, it was super hard, and then to be up there with the best rider in the world. All my respect for today, and yeah, I thought we were gonna get caught back, but then I was just thinking about this moment, and I just put my head down and last 500 metres.

"I just went as hard as I could, and I was just waiting until a wheel was coming past, and it didn't happen. And in the very end, I see tire next to me, and it's the one from Jasper. It just shows we never give up. Maybe the start of our Tour was not good, but yeah, one and two on Champs Elysees. I think that's pretty good."

Brothers in arms. Two good friends uniting over three weeks with Tadej Pogačar taking yellow with Isaac Del Toro taking third in GC and the white best young rider's jersey.

Tadej Pogačar in an interview on TV after the finish:

“It was an amazing day. I’m speechless. It’s an incredible day, there was an incredible atmosphere. I’m happy that the race is over and that we won it for the 5th time. Every victory is really special. I’ve ridden 7 Tours already, and I’ve always finished on the podium. You might think this is a fairytale - it’s incredible for me too.

I don’t know how I do it. There are many factors involved. The most important one is enjoying what you do and being surrounded by people who are there for you, also in the lowest times, and support you so you can build towards your goals. I now have to find a new goal to chase, once this one is accomplished. Which goal? Let’s just not jump ahead of ourselves and enjoy this moment!

It’s a magnificent podium, shared with incredible champions with whom I’ve been fighting all these weeks. Shame that Jonas and many others crashed out of this Tour. I hope we can all fight again next year.

If you enter the Tour de France, you know you have to suffer and go through a lot just to be here. You meet the greatest rivals, and everybody is in his best shape, doing their best.
Will I be at La Vuelta in a few weeks? Let’s see…”

Mathieu van der Poel was forced to watch Wout Van Aert storm to victory on the Champs-Élysées last year. This year it is the complete opposite with Van Aert making his way back to racing after a wound infection and Van der Poel storming to a dramatic victory in Paris.

Richard Carapaz takes the polka-dot mountains jersey for the second time in his career by 56 points over Tadej Pogačar.

Lidl-Trek held onto their over half hour advantage on UAE Team Emirates-XRG to take the team classification as well as green with Mads Pedersen, best teammate in Quinn Simmons, plus 6th and 7th in GC with Mattias Skjelmose and Juan Ayuso. Not a bad way for Luca Guercilena to sign off as Lidl-Trek general manager.

Del Toro has ridden two Grand Tours and has finished on the podium in two of them. Second at the Giro last year and third in this Tour. A future Grand Tour winner, for sure.

Mads Pedersen joins a short list as well as he becomes the sixth rider to win the points jersey at all three Grand Tours. Joining Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, Sir Mark Cavendish, Laurent Jalabert, Eddy Merckx and Alessandro Petacchi.

A very special moment for Pogačar. Five overall wins at this race with five stage wins in the race as a whole.

The final podium:

1. Tadej Pogačar, UAE Team Emirates-XRG
2. Remco Evenepoel, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Isaac Del Toro, UAE Team Emirates-XRG

Mark Cavendish and Lizzie Deignan were also on the podium as the Grand Depart trophy is passed to Great Britain for 2027 with a start in Edinburgh to Carlisle followed by Keswick to Liverpool and Welshpool to Cardiff before heading to France.

And that brings the Tour de France 2026 to an exceptional conclusion. Tadej Pogačar takes the win ahead of Remco Evenepoel and Isaac Del Toro with the Mexican Del Toro taking white, Mads Pedersen takes green and Richard Carapaz takes polka dots.

Thank you so so much for following along for these three weeks. Make sure to read our post-race report below and all the reactions on the Cyclingnews website and then we have the Tour de France Femmes very close indeed and so much more to come. But, that brings our live updates for the men's 2026 Tour de France to a close.

>>> Tour de France: Tadej Pogačar equals record with fifth yellow jersey as Mathieu van der Poel wins thrilling stage 21

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

2026 Tour de France - Route

2026 Tour de France - Contenders

2026 Tour de France stage 20 - Preview

How to Watch the 2026 Tour de France

The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France.

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Race Results

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Bonjour and welcome to stage 20 of the Tour de France!

If you thought the last two stages were hard, wait ‘till you see this. With no less than 5,450m of elevation gain, and three hors category mountains, this is undoubtedly the queen stage of this year’s Tour de France.

'A death march, maybe the hardest Tour stage ever' - Tour de France stage 20 preview as the race heads back up Alpe d’Huez

While any doubts about Tadej Pogačar’s fitness were answered pretty comprehensively with his win yesterday, and his victory in the overall classification all but sealed, there remains much to play for. Only 24 seconds separate Del Toro on the podium and Seixas in fourth place; the King of the Mountains remains a three-way contest; and over half the teams are still seeking a stage win.

While there won't quite be the scenes of Alpe d'Huez yesterday, that has split opinion for the way they were balanced between spectacle and danger, there are still a huge number of fans on the roadside to watch the queen stage including at the start in Le Bourg d'Oisans, from where the riders have just rolled out from the unofficial start.

Unpopular opinion: Alpe d'Huez is on the limit, and it wasn't even the best atmosphere at this Tour de France

With the yellow jersey looking secure, it might be that UAE Team Emirates XRG turn their attention towards Isaac del Toro, and winning him the white jerseys and the final podium spot ahead of Paul Seixas. The pair have visibly gotten along very well through this race, and it could be that Pogačar sacrifices his own ambitions for a stage win today to help his teammate.

'We've kept motivating each other' - Isaac del Toro tightens grip on Tour de France podium as UAE Team Emirates bounce back from illness

OFFICIAL START

And they're off! Nelson Oliveira is the first rider to attack, and takes abut five riders with him, including Mauro Schmid, but they fail to get a gap. This could be a prolonged battle to form the break, given how many riders want to win a stage and how little time there is left.

A group of 6 has formed, and has a lead of 40 seconds: Steinhauser, Abrahamsen, Veistroffer, Barguil, Delbove and Azparren. That’s a decent lead, but there’s still likely to be plenty of attackers from the peloton once they start climbing the first mountain of the day, the hors category Col de la Croix-de-Fer.

The break start the Col de la Croix-de-Fer with a decent lead of 1:15, but that's likely to evaporate once the stronger climbers launch attacks to try and get into the break. This is a real slog of a mountain, only averaging 5.2%, but going on for a mammoth 24.1km.

Steinhauser is probably the strongest climber on paper of those in the break, but he's likely setting up EF teammate Carapaz, who wants to seal the King of the Mountains jersey today.

There are some tentative attacks at the front of the peloton on the lower slopes of this climb, with Jorgenson and Carapaz hovering towards the front, but nobody have a gap yet. Most interestingly, Ayuso tried to move - he must be feeling better after his tough stage yesterday, and is seeking to rise back up the GC.

The lead group has broken up, with Steinhauser, Barguil, Azparren and Abrahamsen going clear of the others on this climb. Meanwhile behind, the peloton is being thinned out with riders dropping out of the back - and even Mads Pedersen is being dropped. He must at long last be paying for the huge amount of attacks he has made throughout this race.

The lead group has been caught, and the race is all back together. There hasn't been any major attacks from the peloton yet, but Ayuso did try another tentative move. Might that change now there isn't a group up the road?

150KM TO GO

A group of about 15 riders have formed, and it's a strong one - Visma are pushing on at the front of it with Kuss, Jorgenson and Armirail, and also here are Carapaz, Healy, Paret-Peintre, Johannessen, Hindley, and Ayuso.

UAE Team Emirates XRG don't seem happy with it, and are riding at the front of the peloton, keeping them at about 20 seconds.

Today’s stage finishes up Alpe d'Huez again, but not quite as we know it. It’s to be climbed via the Col de Seranne rather than the more familiar route taken yesterday.

One man who does know that ascent is Pete Kennaugh, who won here in 2017 when a stage of the Dauphiné finished here. Here are his recollections of it.

'There was no discussion, I just went' – Pete Kennaugh, the last winner on Alpe d'Huez via Col de Sarenne, reflects on memorable day from the Team Sky era

The peloton is swelling again, as UAE set a steady tempo with Yates, and dropped riders return - including Mads Pedersen. There's an intermediate sprint at the bottom of the descent of this climb, where he could all but seal the points classification. He's digging very deep to try to do so.

There is still the break up the road, though, with about 15 riders in it and a lead of 45 seconds.

Visma are going all in for the stage win today, with Armirail pulling at the front of the breakaway group, maintaining its lead of about 30 seconds.

Along with Piganzoli and Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss is one of their four riders in the group. Based on how he rode yesterday, when he remained at the front almost all day for a third-place finish, he might be their best shout at pulling it off today.

Sepp Kuss still aiming for Tour de France stage win on Alpe d'Huez after being denied by Tadej Pogačar on stage 19

CARAPAZ ATTACKS

The polka-dot jersey accelerates, and it's a committed one. 3.5km from the top he's burst out of the breakaway group and has a gap over everyone - he wants the KOM points at the top.

And following the polka-dot jersey now the green jersey attacks - on an hors category climb! Mads Pedersen has accelerated out of the peloton, no doubt in search of the green jersey points on offer at the intermediate sprint. But it's a tall order, as he's 1:35 further down the mountain than Carapaz, and 1:10 from the rest of the break.

The pace is slow in the peloton, the gap to Carapaz growing to 2:20, and Benoot has attacked out from it, giving his Decathlon leader Seixas another rider up the road for later.

KOM - COL DE LA CROIX-DE-FER

Carapaz reaches the top of the climb by himself to take 20 more KOM points, and is closing in on victory in that classification - though he’ll need to capture more points on the upcoming summits to be sure.

Paret-Peintre was second to the summit, while behind him was the rest of the break, followed by Pedersen, who’s digging really deep and will n doubt fly down this descent to try to catch those in front of him.

Here are the updated KOM rankings.

1 Carapaz 111

2 Paret-Peintre 99

3 Pogačar 90

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Paret-Peintre has joined Carapaz at the front of the race on the descent, and the two share a sporting welcoming gesture before starting to work together.

Behind, Pedersen is flying down the descent, and has just joined the rest of the chasing breakaway group, where his teammate Ayuso is present. Further behind then, Benoot crashed on the descent, but managed to remount and is back racing.

The chasers have caught Carapaz and Paret-Peintre, and lead the race again - and Pedersen is in this group. The intermediate sprint is just 18km of downhill and valley roads away, and if he takes the points there, the green jersey is his, even before the Parisian finale.

DNF - ILAN VAN WILDER

Van Wilder crashed on the descent, and has unfortunately abandoned the race. That's a real shame for him, as he was right up there in GC a 12th overall.

He joins Pascal Ackermann, who also left the race earlier.

There’s a temporary calm in the race, as they move towards the intermediate sprint, where Pedersen looks sure to take the points and seal the green jersey.

After that, the tempo will likely shift again as priorities change, but in the meantime, have a read of our deep-dive anti-doping in modern day cycling.

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INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

He’s done it! Mads Pedersen rolls over to take the 25 green jersey points uncontested.

All he has to do now to seal victory in the points classification is to make it to the finish in Paris tomorrow. What a ride it’s been by the Dane, a worthy winner and a rider unparalleled in the way he rides with such panache. And to do so this way, attacking out of the peloton on an hors category climb to bridge up to a breakaway, epitomises what makes him so special.

100KM TO GO

Now, Lidl-Trek and Pedersen shift their attention towards Ayuso, and propelling him up the GC. He's up to fifth on the virtual GC as things stand, with the peloton three minutes down from the lead group containing Ayuso.

The riders are climbing again, up the Col du Télégraphe. This one's another very familiar one from Tour history, rising for 12km at 7.1%, and is almost immediately followed by an even more famous mountain, the Col du Galibier.

There are tired legs in the break, and many riders have been dropped on the lower slopes of the climb. Jorgenson and Armirail are done after their work earlier, as is Pedersen, unsurprisingly; and Paret-Peintre is yo-yoing off the back, his KOM hopes hanging by a thread.

90KM TO GO

Paret-Peintre is dropped for good, now 20 seconds back, and EF have noted. The group has thinned out to eleven riders, but Carapaz is still there and looking comfortable, and has company in his teammate Ben Healy.

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Ten riders remain in this breakaway that leads the race, as they climb the Col du Télégraphe - Kuss, Piganzoli, Ayuso, Carapaz, Healy, Arensman, Foss, Hindley, Riccitello and Tobias Halland Johannessen

Behind, the peloton has drifted to 4:30 behind, and as a result Bahrain-Victorious have taken over the pace-setting, aware that Ayuso is putting Lenny Martinez's 5th place under threat.

It's been a comfortable day so far for Tadej Pogačar, who has been surrounded by his UAE teammates, now clearly recovered from the problems that struck them earlier this week. And no there day has become even simpler, as Bahrain have taken on pace-setting duties.

Meanwhile the break are just 1.5km from the top, and Carapaz is poised to take the KOM points uncontested, with Paret-Peintre dropped.

KOM - COL DU TELEGRAPHE

Carapaz is led out by Healy, and eases off his wheel near the top to take the 10 points. With so many points on offer today, getting into the break and sweeping them up was exactly what he needed to do to seal the polka-dot jersey. If he can claim the 20 on offer at the top of the Galibier, the jersey is all but his.

1 Carapaz 121

2 Paret-Peintre 99

3 Pogačar 90

After the briefest of descents, they're going back uphill again, up the mighty Col du Galibier. Despite having spent so much of the last half an hour climbing, they still have a whole 17.7km to climb to get to the top, at a not inconsiderable average gradient of 6.8%. This is a punishing mountain.

Paret-Peintre has just been reabsorbed into the peloton That's it for his hopes of winning the polka-dot jersey - it's now Carapaz's to lose.

His breakaway group are seeing their gap reduced on the mountain, as Bahrain continue to pace the peloton, but they're still 3:50 ahead.

The breakaway at the front. There are a lot of different interests here - the Netcompany duo of Arensman and Foss are desperate for the stage, without having won one yet; Carapaz has the ambition of sealing the polka-dot jersey as well as the stage; Ayuso wants to move up the GC; and Hindley and Riccitello are here as satellite riders for their respective GC leaders, Evenepoel and Seixas.

70KM TO GO

Foss and Piganzoli have been dropped from the front group, and now, as Healy sets the pace, Arensman is struggling to hang on. Healy is going hard not just to set Carapaz up for the summit, but also for the stage win - the peloton have fallen back to over four minutes adrift.

Bahrain have ceded pace-setting duties back to UAE, and the gap to the leaders is growing again, to 4:30. They aren't looking in great shape, with Yates dropping out of the group, leaving Pogačar with just Del Toro and Großschartner left with him.

Healy is done at last, and has dropped out of the lead group. Despite struggling earlier, Arensman is having a second wind, and as taken over at the front.

Behind, the peloton is still being led by Großschartner, and is 4:25 behind.

CARAPAZ ATTACKS

It's a trademark explosive move from Carapaz, who has dropped everyone in the group 4.5km from the summit of the Galibier. He countered a more subdued Ayuso move, and the Spaniard has now fallen adrift, behind Kuss, Hindley and Riccittelo, who lead the chase.

Hindley, Kuss and Riccitello have come back to Carapaz, with just under 3km left to ride until the summit of the climb. These appear to be the four strongest climbers from the day's break, and, with a lead now of 4:50 on the peloton, have a real chance of racing for the stage win.

Pogačar is having some words with Großschartner at the front of the peloton, and the latter continues to pace the peloton. They're going quick enough to thin the group out, with 10th on GC Jegat among those dropped, but are falling further and further behind the leaders, who are 5:30 ahead - and now just 1km from the summit. Carapaz has moved to the front in anticipation.

A big chance in the peloton, as Pogačar turns to a domestique role! He's setting the pace at the front, and immediately the group is thinning out. He's riding in support of Del Toro and his third place on GC.

KOM - COL DU GALIBIER

Carapaz goes over the summit of the Col du Galibier, the highest point of this year's Tour, securing both the Souvenir Henri Desgrange - and, if he makes it to the finish tomorrow, the polka-dot jersey. Chapeau, the Ecuadorian has ridden sublimely this final week of the Tour!

Meanwhile Pogačar's pace is proving too much for most - even his teammate Del Toro was struggling to hold on! He knocked his pace off a bit, and now has Evenepoel, Seixas, Martinez with him as well as Del Toro. Skjelmose has been dropped.

Pogačar leads the group of favourites 4:40 after the leaders (who have on the descent been joined by Ayuso), with just four riders on his wheel - Del Toro, Evenepoel, Seixas and Martinez. Skjelmose is chasing 20 second behind.

Here are the virtual KOM rankings now, Carapaz now holding a mathematically unsurpassable lead.

1 Carapaz 141

2 Paret-Peintre 99

3 Pogačar 90

Riccitello is struggling on this descent, and has been dropped by the other four. By contrast Ayuso managed to get back into that lead group on the descent, and is looking good to leap up the GC. As things stand, with the gap to the peloton still at about 4:30, he's up from 7th to 5th on the virtual GC.

Skjelmose, Van Gils and Prodhomme have just returned to the yellow jersey group, swelling it to 8 in size. That helps preserve Skjelmose's place on GC, while the other two give their respective GC leaders Evenepoel and Seixas some support in the group.

The riders are descending and heading back towards Alpe d'Huez, albeit via the different slope of the Col de Sarenne.

The crowds won’t be anything like what they were yesterday, which will come with a sense of relief for many in the peloton - especially those involved in the Einer Rubio / UAE Team Emirates XRG incident. Here’s more on that fall-out.

'If we had had older cars, the accident would not have happened' – Tour de France organiser defends Alpe d'Huez crowd control as UAE manager apologises for Rubio car incident

30KM TO GO

It’s still Tadej Pogačar who leads the chase group as they near the bottom of the descent. He’s only brought the leading group back to four minutes so far, but they need to be careful - and not, as they did a few moments ago, start looking at each other.

Carapaz, Ayuso, Kuss and Hindley reach the foot of the Col de Sarenne, with a lead of 3:35 over the Pogačar-led group of favourites. Will they be able to hold that on the 13km, 7.3% climb?

The yellow jersey group also reach the foot of the climb, and there's a tussle between Pogačar and Prodhomme to lead the group. The latter takes over for a few moments, but knocked it off and the yellow jersey has resumed control, riding tempo for Del Toro.

The leaders at the front are attacking each other, with Ayuso and Hindley making attempts before being brought back by Kuss and Carapaz. Their lead to the yellow jersey group is don to 2:30, and they're in danger of being caught, especially if they keep riding like this.

Kuss has gone clear from the rest of the break! Hindley is second on the road at about 10 seconds, and Carapaz is bearing down on him and about to latch onto his wheel. Ayuso has fallen back though, and losing more ground, at 20 seconds.

Pogačar has been leading the group for a long time now, and has done since the last climb (pictured below), but appears to be riding well within himself. Seven riders are still with him, and Kuss is growing his advantage, which is now up to just under three minutes.

20KM TO GO

Kuss continues to lead, but Carapaz and Hindley are working well together and slowly brining him back. They can see him up ahead, and he's only about 8 seconds away.

Decathlon are making their move! Prodhomme has taken over at the front, and, unlike earlier, this time has Seixas on his wheel. And now Riccitello has dropped back to give the team another man.

They've upped the pace, but the group remains altogether for now, with Del Toro and Pogačar following them closely.

5km from the summit of the climb, Carapaz and Hindley have re-joined Kuss. They really have to work together, as Decathlon's acceleration is seeing their gap be eaten into - it's now down to just 2:15.

Prodhomme is done, having had to be called back by Seixas for going too hard. And now Riccitello is setting the pace, but Del Toro and the rest remain undropped, although Skjelmose is struggling to hang on.

Seixas takes over from Riccitello, but isn't really putting Del Toro under pressure. In fact, on his wheel Del Toro and Pogačar are feeling fresh enough to have a chat.

And now Del Toro takes over, and ups the pace - and Seixas is dropped! Only Pogačar and Evenepoel are able to follow Del Toro.

Up ahead, Kuss has dropped Carapaz and Hindley again. They're still in contention though, only a few seconds behind with a couple of kilometres still to climb.

The yellow jersey group is still at 1:45 - this is going to be a close call when it comes to the stage. What might play in Kuss' advantage is that Pogačar is still riding Del Toro rather than going on the charge again by himself. He's setting tempo for his teammate up the climb.

Up ahead, Hindley has been well distanced, but Carapaz is getting closer and closer to Kuss and will hope to catch him before the summit in under 1km.

Behind, Pogačar is leading the group consisting of Del Toro, Evenepoel, Ayuso (who was brought back from in front) and Martinez (who has rejoined from behind), but isn't making inroads on Kuss, who is 1:50 ahead.

KOM - COL DE SARENNE

Kuss goes over the top, about 20 seconds ahead of Carapaz. This is going to be a breathless final 14km as the latter tries to chase him down!

Pogačar leads himself, Del Toro, Evenepoel and Martinez over the top, two minutes later. It seems the stage will go to one of the two men at the front.

10KM TO GO

Carapaz has made some inroads, but not enough yet. He's still 15 seconds behind Kuss.

Meanwhile the yellow jersey group is two minutes down, with Seixas at least 40 seconds further down in a group with Sjkelmose and Ayuso. The Frenchman needs to dig deep to ensure is fourth place on GC is protected - he has a buffer of 2:54 over Martinez in fifth.

This is getting tense for Kuss! He's just about holding on to a lead of 13 seconds over Carapaz, and the Ecuadorian is on a mission.

CRASH - KUSS

Kuss has fallen - not once, but twice. He was up quickly the first time and managed to retain a lead, but the second time looks like it’s down for his chances - he’s up again quickly and racing, but Carapaz flies past him while he was on the ground, and now leads the race.

Carapaz swings back onto the Alpe d'Huez, where he so nearly took victory yesterday. With a lead of 9 seconds on Kuss, and 1:10 on the yellow jersey group, it looks like this time he'll take the win! He has less than 4km to the finish.

Hindley led the yellow jersey, and now Evenepoel takes over, surrounded by the fans on Alpe d'Huez - and now Evenepoel accelerates! Pogačar doesn't respond, and continues riding temp with Del Toro on his wheel. Del Toro is briefly dropped, but Pog slows down to allow him to latch back onto his wheel.

Martinez has been dropped, but is still going hard. The man 2:54 ahead of him on GC, Paul Seixas, is vulnerable, about 1:30 behind him.

Evenepoel is riding away, and hunting a stage win! He's got 40 seconds to make up on Carapaz, with 1500m still to climb to the finish.

1KM TO GO

Carapaz goes under the flamme rouge, leading Kuss by 25 seconds, Evenepoel by 35 seconds, and Pogačar and Del Toro by 55 seconds. The win should be his!

CARAPAZ WINS

Richard Carapaz does it again, taking his second stage win of the race - and this time, resplendent in the polka-dot jersey he has won!

Kuss is caught by Evenepoel on the finishing straight, taking third place, the latter taking second.

Pogačar and Del Toro are next to cross the line, arm in arm. They have all but sealed first and third place on the podium.

Paul Seixas came to the finish in tenth, in a group with Ayuso and Skjelmose at 2:55. That's enough to see him defend his fourth place on GC, while the two Lidl riders will remain seventh and sixth respectively.

They might not have added a seventh stage to their haul from this year's Tour, but Pogačar and Del Toro have all but sealed first and third place on this year's podium with their rides today. That's a feat the team has only managed once before, in 2023, with Pogačar and Adam Yates.

This was a rough day for Sepp Kuss, and he’ll be devastated at missing out on the stage win having led the race in the final kilometres until a dramatic double-crash. But it could have been much worse were it not for a well-positioned barrier on the final descent of the day.

Sepp Kuss misses out on stage victory after crashing twice on descent while leading into stage 20 finale at Tour de France

Thanks for joining us today, for what was a thrilling queen stage of the Tour de France. It’s been a Tour of real panache, as reflected by the riders who all but sealed victories in the classifications today - Pedersen for green, Carapaz for polka-dots, Del Toro for white and of course, Pogačar for yellow.

The action isn’t done yet. The riders head to Paris tomorrow, and (even if the route is set to be shortened), if last year’s stage is anything to go by, the new Montmartre route will produce another thriller. This Tour promises to go out with a bang - be sure to join us again for its finale.

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

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Race Results

2026 Tour de France stage 19 - results

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Hello and welcome to stage 19 of the Tour de France - which this year, is Alpe d'Huez day!

This is Alpe d'Huez day at the Tour de France, but not the only one - for the first time ever, it will be raced two days in a row.

But today is the day where the climb takes centre stage, tackled via its hardest side, and the headline climb of the day, much harder than the three that precede it. The climb is often talked about for its decisive role in the race for the yellow jersey - that feels like what today’s ascent will be.

Tour de France 2026 stage 19 preview - It's time to make history with the first of two back-to-back mountaintop finishes on the iconic Alpe d'Huez

The yellow jersey had felt all wrapped up, with Pogačar coasting to victory, but there’s an air of doubt surrounding him and the team now. Illness is circulating the team, and suddenly they look a lot weaker than previously at this Tour, and are unable to exercise as firm a grip.

With this comes the lingering possibility that Pogačar either is, or could become sick. And if ever there’s a climb you can’t afford not to be firing on all cylinders on, it’s Alpe d'Huez.

Sick soldiers and mixed messages – What's really going on at UAE Team Emirates-XRG and how will it change the last days of the Tour de France?

All eyes are on Tadej Pogačar.at the start today. How is he feeling? Could he possibly be sick?Or is he about to make history, and add Alpe d'Huez to the long list of famous summits he has won on?

The riders are on the move in Gap, and heading towards the official start and the flag. Anticipation is brewing!

Tadej Pogačar at the start with Valentin Paret-Peintre, who still wears his polka-dot jersey on loan. Expect the latter to attack towards the start in an aim to pick up enough points to take the jersey outright.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off! And immediately they're climbing, up the category two Col Bayard (4.7km at 7.1%). Already sprinters are being dropped out of the peloton, and attacks attempted out of the front The first group to go clear has four riders in it - Healy, Quinn, Gee-West and Tobias Halland Johannessen.

Rubio and Martin did briefly join those leading four, and now dozens of other riders have joined them. It's a group almost big enough to be called a peloton - a lot of riders are desperate to get away into the break today. How will UAE cope with controlling things?

KOM - COL BAYARD

Carapaz and Paret-Peintre are both in this breakaway group, and, as ever, sprint for the KOM points. It's the usual outcome, with the latter out-kicking the former.

Meanwhile in the peloton, which is 35 seconds adrift, UAE have lost Wellens and Vermeersch, who have both been dropped.

A rider in the top ten has managed to sneak into the break, which has a lead of one minute - Lenny Martinez, who is seventh overall at 12:50. This could cause the teams of riders ahead of him, notably Lidl-Trek and Decathlon CMA CGM, to chase.

Also among the 40 or so riders in this group are Pedersen, Arensman, O’Connor, Voisard and Tobias Halland Johannessen, plus the stage-hunting Visma trio of Jorgenson, Kuss and Piganzoli, and UAE's satellite rider Adam Yates, who is clearly feeling much better than a few days ago.

110KM TO GO

Lidl-Trek (pictured here at the start) are the main team pushing at the front of the breakaway group, along with EF - despite the fact that Martinez could leapfrog their GC men Skjelmose and Ayuso. They're prioritising the green jersey, with Pedersen in the group, and just one more (albeit hard) climb for him to survive until the intermediate sprint.

Their work is seeing the group move away from the peloton, which is now 1:30 adrift.

The riders are climbing again, and this time its a category one climb, the Col du Noyer. It's not as hard as Alpe d'Huez, but with an average of 8.4% for 7.3km it's still a tough one, and could see the break split up with the superior climbers going clear.

The break's lead continues to grow, now up to 1:50.

Fears about UAE Team Emirates XRG have been mostly allayed so far. Wellens is being dropped again now having made his way back on the descent, but Pogačar still has Del Toro, Großschartner, Politt and Vermeersch (who is leading it currently) in the peloton with him, while Yates was strong enough to get himself into the break.

The team also insist that their leader is feeling fine.

'Tadej is OK' – UAE Team Emirates play down doubts about Tadej Pogačar's health after illness strikes Tour de France team

KOM - COL DU NOYER

EF were unable to carry out their plan as outlined by DS Charly Wegelius at the top of the climb, as Paret-Peintre jumped early 200m from the summit, again out-sprinting Carapaz for the 10 points.

Paret-Peintre is now virtual leader in the classification, which he has made his aim at this Tour de France to win.

'The goal is to be at the front and fight for this jersey' – Valentin Paret-Peintre continues Tour de France polka dot battle against Pogačar and Carapaz on Alpe d'Huez

Red Bull have joined UAE at the front of the peloton as they take on the descent of the climb, which is shallower and longer than the way they went up it.

As things stand they're giving the break a great chance of succeeding, as they've allowed them to get 3:35 up the road. The upcoming 50km or so will be crucial as to determining the break's chances, as they're mostly valley roads, where they will need to build and maintain a big lead to hold off the inevitable charge of the GC riders on the final climb.

90KM TO GO

3:30 now for the break.

There are a lot of teams represented in it that will be desperate for it to succeed, and to have a shot at winning a stage before times run out - perhaps most of all, Netcompany Ineos. They've endured a tough race, but are still fighting, and have Arensman Foss and Tarling up the road today.

‘Even when I was a rider, I wasn’t the type to wallow in my own sorrow’ – Geraint Thomas says Netcompany Ineos moving in ‘right direction’ despite Tour de France struggles

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80KM TO GO

3:20 is the gap between the peloton and the leaders. It's looking promising for the break, but they will need to grow it more on this valley road.

The scenery is spectacular here in the Alps. But Alpe d'Huez will be a whole different beast, with every inch of roadside covered in fans. It promises to be some spectacle, that also has the potential to get chaotic.

Fears of chaos on L'Alpe d'Huez as crowds pack Alpine climb for Tour de France showdown

CRASH

Two riders have gone down in the peloton - Haller and Planckaert. They're both back up and riding again after hitting some road furniture protected by padding, but it took Haller a while.

70KM TO GO

The UAE and Red Bull teammates of Pogačar and Evenepoel are pulling at the front of the peloton. The fate of this stage will largely depend on how much they (especially the former) want to bring back the break and go for the stage win, and so far the signs are that they are keen to. With 70km to go, they are keeping the break at about 3:30.

Along with Visma-Lease a Bike, EF Education-EasyPost are, yet again, doing much of the work at the front of the breakaway group. Despite winning the stage yesterday with Richard Carapaz, both the team and the rider are hungry for more success today.

'I couldn't stop thinking about this stage' - non-conformist Richard Carapaz makes the most of his last clear opportunity to seize Tour de France stage victory

60KM TO GO

Visma's staff are happy with how they're riders are going, and their quartet of Jorgenson, Kuss, Piganzoli and Armirail are working hard at the front of the break. They've helped grow the lead out to just short of four minutes.

DNF - AFFINI

Despite their good work in the break, Visma-Lease a Bike are now down a rider - Edoardo Affini has just abandoned the race. He had looked better at this race, after going into it with injury scares, but will not make it to Paris.

The break are nearing the intermediate sprint, which is 10km away. This is the reason Pedersen has gotten into the break yet again, and he has Gee-West, Vacek and Simmons with him to help ensure he gets the points.

Another 25 points would give him a very healthy lead in the classification, and make it very hard for Philipsen to take the green jersey from him.

The indefatigable Ben Healy has at last reached his limit. Having yet again gotten into the break, and yet again done much of the work at the front, he’s sat up and dropped out of the break, and is waiting for the peloton to absorb him.

It may be some wait, however. The peloton is now 4:20 behind the break, who are improving their chances of staying clear for the stage win.

40KM TO GO

Pinarello have started to join Red Bull and UAE in setting the pace in the peloton. Presumably they’re responding to Lenny Martinez’s presence in the break, who was one place above their leader Tom Pidcock on GC in seventh, and is now up to virtual fifth, with the break’s lead up to 4:30.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

Pedersen takes the points at the intermediate sprint uncontested. Him and his Lidl team have done brilliant work these past couple of days to solidify the Dane's lead in the points classification, and now leads his main rival Jasper Philipsen by 57 points.

The road up to the intermediate sprint was uphill, and continues that way for a while before the official start of the day's penultimate climb, the category two Col d'Ornon. Already some riders are being dropped, including, surprisingly, Jorgenson.

Paret-Peintre has also been dropped from the lead group, which is now being led by Movistar and Visma-Lease a Bike. This is bad news for his polka-dot jersey hopes, as rival Carapaz is still in the group and looking comfortable.

Here's the scene at Alpe d'Huez further up the road. Every ascent of the famous climb is a memorable occasion, but the novelty of this year's double-ascent, and the sheer number of crowds who have flocked there as a result, means this promises to be something uniquely special.

Alpe d'Huez – A history of the most famous 21 turns of the Tour de France

30KM TO GO

More and more riders are being dropped from this break as they ascend the 6.2% slopes of the 5.5km Col d’Ornon. UAE’s Yates has gone, Piganzoli has gone, as has Lidl’s Gee-West, Vacek and Pedersen are all finished.

In fact, Lidl have changed tactics now that the intermediate sprint has come and gone, and have a rider pacing at the front of the peloton - they’re back to riding for GC, and defending Ayuso and Skjelmose from Lenny Martinez, who continues to ride in the lead group.

KOM - COL D'ORNON

Richard Carapaz takes the KOM points at the top, and has a much easier time of it this time with no Paret-Peintre to challenge him. He closes the gap to the Frenchman in the virtual standings - and could do so more if the break can hold off the peloton. It's still in the balance, with the break 4 minutes up the road.

Here are the new KOM rankings:

1 Paret-Peintre 84

2 Carapaz 79

3 Pogačar 70

The peloton has really thinned out on this climb! UAE’s Großschartner is pulling hard, and the only riders left with him as they crest the climb are teammates Pogačar and Del Toro, plus Evenepoel and his teammates Hindley and Van Gils, plus Seixas, Prodhomme, Ayuso, Skjelmose and Pidcock.

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15KM TO GO

As they approach the foot of the famous Alpe, the break’s lead is 3:30 - they have a chance.

It’ll be fascinating to see which of those riders still in the lead group will be strongest on Alpe d'Huez - will Carapaz have enough left in the tank after his efforts to win yesterday? Can Kuss help redeem Visma’s race? Will Johannessen land another one for Uno-X? Can Arensman finally win one of Netcompany? Or will Martinez grab the stage as well as leap up the GC? It’s a hard one to call, and promises to be a thriller.

ALPE D'HUEZ

It begins! Armirail leads the break onto the climb, which is already lined with fans right from the bottom. And the damage is already being done - Cattaneo and Benoot are dropped almost straight away.

And now Mads Pedersen leads the peloton onto the climb, 3:20 behind the break. It’s bigger than it was at the summit of the previous climb, with riders dropping back from the break and returning from behind, but is set to thin out again now.

Ayuso has been dropped! He follows Pidcock, who went a little earlier. This could be a tough day for the Spaniard, but his Lidl teammate Skjelmose is still in the much-diminished yellow jersey group.

In the lad group, Arensman attacks and has been joined by Martinez, Kuss and Carapaz have joined him. The cream of this breakaway is rising to the top.

POGACAR ATTACKS

He's made his move, and nobody has followed! Behind Seixas has a teammate in Prodhomme setting a pace, in a group with Evenepoel, Hindley, Skjelmose and Del Toro.

Pogačar has bridged up to Yates, who is giving him a turn. They're over 30 seconds up on the Evenepoel group already.

Meanwhile the leading group of Kuss, Carapaz and Martinez are 2:30 ahead of him. Arensman has been dropped from the group.

10KM TO GO

Carapaz is eager to go clear, trying to accelerate, but still has Kuss and Martinez.

As well as moving up on GC, Martinez is also in contention to become the first French winner of this Tour. But can they hold off the Pogačar charge? He's 2:30 behind.

Pogačar has used up Yates, and is back riding solo again. He had slowed down while riding on the Brit's wheel, but is both closing a gap on the three leaders (who are attacking each other rather than working together) to just over two minutes, and increasing his lead to the Evenepoel chase group (which is being led by Seixas's teammate Benoot, who dropped back from the break) to 45 seconds.

The three leaders at the front. Kuss was dropped momentarily, but managed to rejoin.

Pogačar is still on the charge, now 1:40 behind, while the chase group is now being led by Seixas, with Evenepoel, Skjelmose, Del Toro and Cattaneo also present.

Kuss makes his own attack after being dropped, but doesn't go clear, and the three leaders remain together.

Pogačar is still coming - he's 1:10 behind, while the Evenepoel chase group is a whole 1:20 behind.

5KM TO GO

Carapaz attacks again, and again Kuss is dropped, only to claw his way back. These three look evenly-matched, but are all going slower than the yellow jersey, who is just 50 seconds behind now.

There's barely an inch of space on the road, but the fans are behaving well, and parting enough to allow the attacks - which continue to constantly come among the lead trio.

Pogačar can see Carapaz, Kuss and Martinez ahead of him, who are now only 13 seconds ahead. The catch is about to be made...

EVENEPOEL ATTACKS

Remco makes a move! He's attacked out of the group of favourite, trying to make his through the jammed crowds. Is there space for him to pass the motorbikes?

Here he comes! Pogačar passes Kuss, and then Martinez, and now he’s coming for Carapaz, who at last managed to drop the others. Pog still has 2.5km to catch him.

Martinez remains glued to Pog's wheel, and the pair have caught Carapaz. This isn't over yet though - can the brekaway pair hang on to his wheel for the final 1.7km?

Meanwhile Evenepoel has a small gap over the other group of GC contenders.

Pogačar tries an attack..but can't shed them! This could be a fascinating finales.

1KM TO GO

Pogačar attacks again just after the flamme rouge, and this time he's edging clear..and has a gap!

POGACAR WINS

The yellow jersey solos the final kilometre to take a famous victory! And breaks the record for the fastest ever ascent of Alpe d'Huez.

Martinez beats Carapaz in the sprint for second a few seconds later.

Evenepoel arrives home 2:29 after Pogačar, followed closely by Del Toro at 2:41, who also managed to drop Seixas and Skjelmose. But that pair spend up towards the finish and limited their losses to just a few seconds.

You sense that was the one Tadej Pogačar really wanted. He now has five stages at this Tour de France, and 26th in his career, but this one was particularly special - to win on the Tour’s most famous climb, in the yellow jersey, and in dramatic fashion as he picked the breakaway riders off one by one, will be remembered as one the highlights of his extraordinary career.

Martinez and Carapaz might not have quite been able to stop the charging express train that was Tadej Pogačar on Alpe d'Huez, despite coming very close to doing so, but it’s still a very good day for both of them.

Carapaz now leads the King of the Mountains classification outright, by one point from Pogačar, and so will wear the polka-dot jersey tomorrow with just two stages left; and Martinez rises from seventh to fifth on GC, and is now well ahead of Ayuso, who was one of the day’s big losers after being dropped early on the climb.

He might not have been seen much by the TV cameras as the battle between Pogačar and the breakaway riders took centre stage, but it was another exceptional ride from Remco Evenepoel. Once again he was the best of the rest among the GC contenders, and is now comfortably in second place, 2:31 ahead of Del Toro in third.

The race for the podium and the white jersey goes on. Del Toro attacked, and had a gap, but ultimately only managed to put four seconds into Seixas. With only 24 seconds separating them, this one is going to go down to the wire, and there's plenty of scope for change on tomorrow's huge day in the mountains.

Another piece of history made by Pogačar - he ascended Alpe d'Huez faster than anyone in history, breaking Marco Pantani’s famous record from 1999.

Tadej Pogačar beats nearly 30-year-old Alpe d'Huez climbing record set by Marco Pantani

Thanks for joining us today, for a stage that brought the kind of history, drama and exceptional performances that are so synonymous with the great Alpe d'Huez.

And we get to do it all tomorrow. The riders will be riding up Alpe d'Huez once more, albeit by an ‘easier’ side, and this time is preceded by other legendary hors Alpine passes, the Galibier and Col de la Croix-de-fer. It’s the queen stage, and as the final stage before Paris, the decisive moment that will put to rest most of the many contests that remain open at this Tour. Be sure to follow along with us!

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Race Results

Have your say

Hello and welcome to stage 18 of the Tour de France!

After yesterday’s thrilling battle in the race for the green jersey, today the attention turns back towards the general classification, as at long last the race heads into the Alps! This competition might seem a lot more closed off, with Tadej Pogačar’s huge lead of 4:32, but you never know what can happen in the final stages of a Tour de France - especially when we know what illness has struck the leader’s team…

Tour de France: Jasper Philipsen wins explosive sprint finish on stage 17 as points classification battle tightens

With today’s parcours not as severe as the two mighty Alpe d’Huez stages to come, the consensus appears to be that today will likely be one for the breakaway rather than the GC. The stage win specialists will know this, as will those targetting the polka-dot jersey, and therefore the battle to get into the break at the start of the day will be more vital and very competitive.

Tour de France 2026 stage 18 preview - First of three summit finishes to ignite polka dot jersey contest

The riders are in the neutralised zone, having set off from the picturesque unofficial start at Voiron. They will be racing for real in about 2km.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off! It's a subdued start, with only a few tentative moves attempted so far - they might be waiting for the first climb of the day, which isn't for another 20km.

Lewis Askey, Jonas Abrahamsen, Marco Haller and Pascal Eenkhoorn managed to get a small gap for a little while, but have since been brought back. These aren't the kind of riders we imagine will make the definitive break when it forms - there is far too much climbing on the menu for them.

A new group has formed, and it features some of those in the previous group - Askey and Abrahamsen. They’re joined by Le Berre, Gate and Vinokurov. They’ve built a lead of 25 seconds, but the action is far from done with the climb starting in about 10km.

170KM TO GO

The King of the Mountains candidates are coming to the fore ahead of the climb. Richard Carapa (third in that competition) has his EF Education-EasyPost riders controlling at the front of the peloton, keeping the five-man break's lead at about 40 seconds; and Astana DS Pete Kennaugh states that Soudal-QuickStep are also wanting to control things, for their man Valentin Paret-Peintre (second in the competition).

These are the five riders out front...but for how much longer? The riders will start riding the Côte d'Engins in a few kilometres, which, at 5.5% for 11.6km, will see only real climbers remain at the front of the race for.

160KM TO GO

The riders have just started the climb. EF had been setting the pace in the peloton, but now Visma-Lease a Bike take over. Now Vingegaard is out of the race, they must be targetting days like this to go for stage wins.

This is an interesting developing, and a worrying one for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Brandon McNulty, one of their key climbing domestiques, is dropped out of the peloton almost as soon as the road went uphill. He is, presumably, sick, which suggests that whatever Adam Yates came down with is contagious.

So the big question is - has their leader Tadej Pogačar managed to avoid the illness that has struck the team, or is he also vulnerable?

Adam Yates to race on at Tour de France despite suffering with stomach problem

Abrahamsen, Le Berre and Vinokurov have dropped Askey and Gate on the lower slopes of the climb, and a chase group has formed behind them featuring Quinn, Slock, Van Eetvelt and Anders Halland Johannessen. The gaps are all very small though, with only ten seconds separating the front breakaway group and the front of the peloton.

A new group of four is clear at the front of the race, and it contains the polka-dot jersey candidates - Carapaz and Paret-Peintre are here, along with the former’s teammate Healy, plus Caruso and Bernal. 4.5km from the summit, they’re preparing for battle for the KOM points.

Meanwhile more riders are being shelled out of the back of the peloton, including Jasper Philipsen. If Mads Pedersen can hang in there on this climb and the net, there’s a chance for him to gain an advantage again in the points classification at the day’s intermediate sprint.

That group has been brought back, instigating a new flurry of attacks, including one by Quinn Simmons - who you might have thought would prioritise setting a tempo for Mads Pedersen, who’s shrill right towards the front of the peloton and trying to survive this climb to contest the intermediate sprint later.

Lidl-Trek have ridden brilliantly as a collective all race, but Simmons has spoken out at his frustration at the way the team prioritises Pedersen’s green jersey bid over his desire to win a stage.

‘He can ventilate the frustration, but we stick to the line’ – Lidl-Trek director responds to Quinn Simmons’ comments on team’s Tour de France priorities

150KM TO GO

A group of three now leads the race, with 1km to go until the summit. Along with Schmid, It contains two of Carapaz's teammates, Healy and Quinn - but not Carapaz himself. Will he bridge over before the top?

KOM - COTE D'ENGINS

Carapaz did indeed attack from the peloton behind to join is teammates, but had to settle for second at the summit as he was joined by Paret-Peintre, who out-sprinted him at the top. That pair have become the clear candidates to challenge Pogačar for the polka-dot jersey.

1 Pogačar 70

2 Paret-Peintre 56

3 Carapaz 48

4 Evenepoel 36

5 Seixas 34

A new lead group has formed on the false flat that followed the official summit of the climb, and guess who’s present in it? Mads Pedersen! The Dane has Jorgenson, Arensman, Castrillo, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Engelhardt and Breuillard with him, and a gap of 13 seconds on the peloton. EF aren’t happy with the situation though, and Ben Healy is trying to drag the peloton back to them.

140KM TO GO

Despite the best efforts of EF, who have also had Carapaz try an attack, this Pederen group still leads by over 20 seconds. The riders are still not descending, continuing up an uphill road that it not count as part of the official climb.

While Pedersen is riding for the green jersey, EF are worried about letting this break up the road and taking some much-needed KOM points that Carapaz wants.

Healy is attacking constantly to try and get out of the peloton and bridge up to the seven leaders, but is having no luck. He's being marked by the teammates of riders already up the road, including Netcompany's Bernal and Lidl's Simmons. As they near the start of the descent, the lead group is 30 seconds up the road.

The lead group continue to maintain their advantage, of 35 seconds over the peloton. Romain Grégoire is the latest rider to set off out of the peloton in pursuit, but has no help with him and is only a handful of seconds ahead of them.

Castrillo is one of the seven riders in the break today, and is on a mission to redeem what has been a difficult race for Movistar, who remain winless and lost their GC man Cian Uijtdebroeks in the first man.

One positive story that has come from the team is Nelson Oliveira, who is quietly on the brink of making cycling history.

'The best strategy is not thinking too much' – Nelson Oliveira closes in on all-time record of Grand Tour finishes at 2026 Tour de France

Mission accomplished for Romain Grégoire, who has managed to bridge up to the seven leaders all by himself. They lead the peloton by 40 seconds, as they near the bottom of the descent.

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Ben Healy is on the attack again, and is part of a five-man group that is chasing the leaders, also featuring Schmid, Tratnik, Vacek and Garcia-Piena. They’re still 45 seconds adrift, but already 30 seconds ahead of the peloton.

That’s not ideal for EF, who would have wanted Carapaz in it for the KOM points, but still gives them a shot at the stage win if these breakaways are the definitive ones.

Carapaz and Paret-Peintre haven't thrown in the towel yet. They've just jumped out of the peloton, with the latter's teammates Stuyven and Vervaeke joining them to try to pace them to the two groups ahead.

The peloton don't look happy to let them go, however, and are trying to chase them down, but the the combined strength of the two Soudal rouleurs has seen them open a lead of 15 seconds over them. They're still 13 seconds behind the Healy group, and 1:10 down on the leaders.

Good work from the Soudal riders, who have brought the Paret-Peintre / Carapaz quartet up to the Healy group. They start the climb one minute down on the leaders and 50 seconds up on the peloton, from which more riders have tried attacking out of.

The riders are climbing again, up the category two Côte de Monteynard (9.9km at 5%). Healy is paying for his earlier efforts and is dropped out of the chase group, but the rest of them are closing in on the eight leaders, now just 40 seconds ahead.

Stuyven and Vervaeke have also since been dropped from the chase group having helped it go clear, leaving it up to Paret-Peintre, Carapaz, and the others (Bernal, Schmid, Garcia Pierna and Vacek) to bridge up to the leaders by themselves. They're making slow progress, still 25 seconds behind.

Meanwhile a large chase group of about 25 riders has formed behind them, and are just under a minute behind, with the peloton a further minute and a half behind them.

There are only about 1.5km left until the top of the climb, and still the chasers have not caught the leaders. Paret-Peintre and Carapaz look pretty desperate to do so, given the KOM points on offer at the top. They still have 15 seconds to make up - can they do it in time?

KOM - COTE DE MONTEYNARD

The chasers did indeed manage to make the catch within 1km to the top, and once again Paret-Peintre beats Carapaz in the sprint to gain the five points at the top.

Behind the 14-man lead group are about 30 chasers at 1:15, while the peloton is 3:45 adrift - the biggest lead there has been all day.

As widely predicted, UAE Team Emirates XRG appear happy to let the break go for the stage win today. They’re riding tempo at the front of the peloton, and have allowed the leaders a gap of 4:25.

The question now is whether the chase group in between can join the leaders. They still have 1:12 to make up to do so.

The chase group is starting to make real inroads now, and are just 50 seconds behind. It's a very big one, and they're working well enough together to bring down this gap.

The leaders are on the third climb of the day, the category three Côte des Terrasses. So another chance for the two polka-dot jersey chasers to get more points; but not so many this time, with just 2 and 1 on offer at the top. Meanwhile the chasers progress has been halted, the gap pegged at 55 seconds.

KOM - COTE DE TERRASSES

More points for Paret-Peintre at the top, who again out-sprints his rival Carapaz. Here's what the rankings look like now:

1 Pogačar 70

2 Paret-Peintre 63

3 Carapaz 52

4 Evenepoel 36

5 Seixas 34

Attention now shifts in the breakaway group from the polka-dot jersey to the green jersey. The intermediate sprint is coming up in around 10km, which is the entire reason Pedersen has made it into the group. He has Vacek with him to control the group, and ensure no sneaky attacks are made before the sprint.

This is set to be some comeback for Pedersen, whose plans backfired yesterday and saw his lead in the classification slashed.

Forget Tadej Pogačar and the yellow jersey, the Tour de France points battle on stage 17 was way more fun - Analysis

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Having let the break’s lead grow to over seven minutes, the stage winner won’t come from the peloton today. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a battle among the GC favourites on the final climb - particularly between Paul Seixas and Isaac del Toro, between whom the race for both the podium and the white jersey is intensifying.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

Job done for Mads Pedersen, who takes the points at the intermediate sprint uncontested. After yesterday's setback, suddenly his grip on the green jersey seems far firmer.

1 Pedersen 477

2 Philipsen 445

3 Girmay 361

4 Kanter 271

5 Kooij 230

With both Bernal and Arensman in the break, Netcompany are well-positioned to go for the stage win today.

They’ve endured a difficult Tour, with Josh Tarling yesterday the latest to try and fail to land them a stage win. With no rider in GC contention, or for any of the other jerseys for that matter, they are all in for a stage win.

'He's got grinta' – Josh Tarling praised for breakaway performance as Netcompany Ineos try to salvage their Tour de France

There's a split in the lead group. Jorgenson, Schmid, Johannessen and Garcia Pierna have a gap over the rest. But as has been the case all day, it's Carapaz and Paret-Peintre who are trying to chase them down.

40KM TO GO

Carapaz and Paret-Peintre have joined the four leaders, and are working well together to build a lead of 30 seconds over the chasers. Netcompany Ineos are the team that's really missed out, with Bernal and Arensman both still in the chasing group, which now only have seven riders.

As for the large chase group behind them, they've been going backwards for a long time now, and find themselves in no-man's land with the leaders 3 minutes ahead, and the peloton 6 minutes behind.

The leading 6 are working well together, growing their lead to the chasers to one minute.

This is a key phase of the race, as the road drags slightly uphill for a long time (including a brief steeper incline of 6.7% for 2.5km when the reach a category three climb) all the way until the foot of the final climb. These are the kind of roads where working together in groups against the wind will be vital, and the chasers are currently in danger of being put out of contention for the stage even before the final climb begins.

40KM TO GO

Still the leading 6's gap grows, to 1:15.

Meanwhile the peloton are 8 minutes behind, with Tudor, Pinarello and TotalEnergies taking up the pace-setting in defence of their places in the top ten of GC, currently under threat from Carapaz.

It’s been a comfortable day so far for Tadej Pogačar, but his team UAE are looking very vulnerable today. McNulty was dropped out of the peloton long ago, and Adam Yates has also sat up, leaving him short of his usual mountain domestiques.

Things could therefore get interesting if the GC men really go for it on the final climb. Remco Evenepoel has played down his chances of taking yellow, but might he smell blood given the illness affecting the team? He looks in the form of his life following his atypical preparation going into the Tour, and has managed to get the better of Pogačar in both the last two GC stages.

'It was a good decision' – Is Remco Evenepoel's controversial break from racing behind his rising Tour de France form arc?

Jorgenson attempts an attack from the lead group. The others manage to bridge back up to him though - all, apart from Garcia Pierna, reducing the group down to five riders. They're about to start the penultimate climb of the day, the 2.5km, 6.7% Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes.

20KM TO GO

Garcia-Pienra is inching his way back into the lead group, as they come to within 1km of the summit. Meanwhile the main chase group containing Bernal is now a distant two minutes behind, and appear to be out of contention for the stage win.

KOM - COTE DE SAINT-LEGER-LES-MELEZES

Two more points for Paret-Peintre at the top, and one more point for Carapaz. The real fight will come on the next and final climb, however, where there isn't just another ten points at steak, but also the matter of a stage win.

DNF - BRENDAN MCNULTY

Brandon McNulty has left the race having suffered all day.

He becomes the first UAE rider to withdraw from the race, so they are still strong in terms of numbers. But how many of them are suffering with illness? And might they come under pressure on this upcoming final climb? It promises to be an intriguing ending to this stage, both in terms of the win, and the action among the GC contenders.

Paul Seixas still has lots of teammates with him in the peloton. This might be a real chance for him to try and exploit UAE's weakness and go after Del Toro's spot on the podium, as well as his lead in the white jersey classification.

'He has made progress as a leader during the Tour de France' – Paul Seixas' teammate reveals how the Frenchman has adapted to the role

Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe have seized control of the peloton on the approach to the climb, and have lots of numbers to intimidate UAE with. Will Remco Evenepoel try anything on it, or ride purely defensively?

One team who have stated that they plan to ride aggressively in search of rising the standings rather than defend what they've already got are Lidl-Trek, who have Ayuso and Skjelmose in 5th and 6th respectively.

'There could be some very big explosions' – Juan Ayuso predicts carnage as Tour de France GC battle heads to the Alps

ORCIERES-MERLETTE

The leaders have started the final climb, which rises for 7.1m at 6.7%. They remain together for now, but that's surely to change soon as the gradients rise and they start to attack each other. With the chasers a distant 3:50, and the peloton even further back at 5:35, one of these 6 will win the stage today.

5KM TO GO

Of the 6 teams represented in this lead group, all of them have already won at least one stage at this year's race - with the exception of EF. As the best decorated climber on paper in this group, the pressure is on their man Carapaz to deliver. So far no attacks have come.

It's cagey and tactical in the lead group, with some very tentative attacks being made, from Jorgenson, Schmid and Paret-Peintre, but nobody going all in.

Until now! Carapaz explodes out of the group, and no-one other than Paret-Peintre can follow for now.

Schmid and Jorgenson drag themselves back to the two leaders, but soon after Carapaz attacks again, 3.5km from the finish - and this time nobody has gone with him!

Jorgenson and Schmid are chasing behind, but already at a distant 20 seconds. Paret-Peintre has been dropped by them and is still further behind. This is looking very good for the Ecuadorian.

30 seconds now for Carapaz, who appears to be riding away to victory!

1KM TO GO

Carapaz goes under the flamme rouge, 37 seconds ahead of Jorgenson and Schmid, and 1 minute ahead of Paret-Peintre.

Meanwhile in the peloton, the pace is up from the work from Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe, but no attacks yet.

CARAPAZ WINS

Richard Carapaz crosses the line, and EF at last have the stage win they have spent the whole Tour so aggressively fighting for!

Behind, Schmid wins the sprint for second ahead of Jorgenson.

Interest now shifts to the GC group, where Red Bull continue to set a pace. They're riding tempo, and the peloton is reduced to about 15 riders, but it's not enough to put any of the GC men under real pressure.

The group of favourites roll over the line together, about 4:30 after Carapaz. There are no time gaps between them, and we will have to wait for the two harder stages to come tomorrow and the following day for real GC attacks and action.

This is stage win number two at the Tour de France in the career of Richard Carapa, and the ninth across all the Grand Tours. Even when he drops out of GC contention he invariably animates Grand Tours, and that has been especially true at this race; he was awarded today for his constant attacking throughout this race.

And he’s not done yet. His efforts today have seen him move to just seven points behind Pogačar in the mountains classification. The Slovenian will surely pick up points on either one of or both the Alpe d’Huez stages, when he’s expected to chase for a stage win, but there will still be lots of points available for Carapaz - especially if he can get up the road on the penultimate stage, which has lots of points available over the early hors category mountains.

He might not have quite had the climbing legs to defeat Carapaz, but it was nevertheless another great result for Mauro Schmid, who finished second. The Swiss is arguably in the form of his life, and has placed first, second and second in three of the last 6 stages.

Thanks for joining us today for what was a classic in the genre of the drawn-out, hard-fought fight for the stage win, the kind you often get in the final days of a Grand Tour. Tomorrow could be a very different affair, if, as anticipated, Tadej Pogačar decides he wants to win the stage, atop the iconic Alpe d’Huez. But is his illness-struck team in the shape necessary to control the break? And could he himself even be suffering from it?

Whatever the answers to those questions, tomorrow is Alpe d’Huez day, which is always essential at the Tour de France - so be sure to join us again tomorrow when we;ll once more bring you all the action!

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

2026 Tour de France - Route

2026 Tour de France - Contenders

2026 Tour de France stage 17 - Preview

How to Watch the 2026 Tour de France

The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go!

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Results

Tour de France: Jasper Philipsen wins explosive sprint finish on stage 17 as points classification battle tightens

Good morning and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 17 of the Tour de France!

Today's route

Here's a look at the profile today, which is listed as a flat stage by the Tour's official website, but the four categorised climbs in the first 60km of the route might have something to say about that.

Heading southwest from Chambéry down to Voiron, it's likely the final chance for the breakaway specialists to have their chance, with three brutal mountain stages and the finale in Paris likely to favour the top GC riders better.

A key point on the route is the positioning of the intermediate sprint in Colombe, where current green jersey points leader, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), will be looking to defend against Alpecin-Premier Tech's Jasper Philipsen. But will either of them be able to make it and fight out the points available at the finish?

Lidl will be the favourites as Pedersen is the better climber and has already won from a breakaway this Tour, but Alpecin have Mathieu van der Poel as a second option for the stage if green looks impossible. Either way, it should be fast and explosive right from the flag drop at 13:30 CEST.

If you missed any of the action from yesterday's 16th stage, it was a dramatic start to the final week with a back-to-back winner in the individual time trial:

Tour de France: Time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel destroys race against the clock and takes back-to-back wins on stage 16

It was a bittersweet day for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe as they took victory, though, with last year's podium finisher and Evenepoel's co-leader Florian Lipowitz crashing out of the race. He suffered a fractured collarbone after coming down at high speed around a corner, leaving the Belgian to defend his second place without a second GC option.

Florian Lipowitz abandons the Tour de France after a heavy crash during the stage 16 time trial

All of the riders are currently signing on at the start in Chambéry. You can watch the team presentation live before every stage on Le Tour's X account: Podium signature stage 17.

After the leaving the race following his stage 15 crash, Jonas Vingegaard has reportedly undergone successful surgery to his fractured collarbone. Despite the sadness of having to abandon the race, the Dane showed his leadership as he bid farewell to his teammates on Monday, with the remaining riders changing focus to chasing stages in these final five days:

'Make the best of it!' – Over an emotional burger and fries, Jonas Vingegaard encouraged his Visma-Lease a Bike teammates to go on the attack at the Tour de France

Just 10 minutes to go now until the unofficial start of stage 17. It's more blue skies and hot weather welcoming the riders to Chambéry on this Wednesday afternoon.

No prizes for guessing which bus tends to be the busiest at each of the stage starts. Anything to get a peak at the yellow jersey Tadej Pogačar, but also the ultr-popular Isaac del Toro. Maybe only Decathlon CMA CGM's bus and the furore surrounding French hope Paul Seixas rivals this.

Unofficial start of stage 17

Riders are gone from the start line of stage 17 of the Tour de France in Chambéry! The flag should be dropped at kilometre 0 in around 15 minutes. From then on, expect major breakaway action all the way to the line.

Pogačar's expectations for stage 17

Here's what race leader Tadej Pogačar had to say at the start, and he's expecting anything but an easy day, knowing full well how aggressive the opening two hours will likely be:

"Very hard start and hopefully an easier finish, but you never know. I think it's quite a difficult day in my opinion. It looks not so hard, but it's going to be a pain in the ass," said the Slovenian, though it sounds like UAE won't be overly involved if they don't have to be.

"We are close for team classification also, and it's something the guys would really like to have, but it's not the main priority of course, so we'll see what happens."

Tour de France Stage 17 underway

After a long section of neutralised riding to build the tension even more, the 17th stage of the Tour is underway, and fireworks are expected. Don't take your eyes off it.

The earliest moves came from Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarché) and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility). Behind them, it was obvious more riders were ready to go – the front of the peloton very much resembling a coiled sprint right now.

There's some tricky road furniture to navigate just to add to the expected madness of this stage start. The riders are heading briefly downhill out of Chambéry, before they reach the foot of a long section of climbing with 163km to go.

165km to go

It's still Veistroffer and Abrahamsen leading the race on stage 17, and they have a slim lead of around 20 seconds on the peloton. Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-Easypost) and Marco Haller (Tudor) had set off in pursuit, but a huge group has just attacked off the front of the peloton and joined them.

Massive crowds welcoming the riders in this early phase of racing.

Davide Ballerini (XDS Astana) has come down in a crash, sliding out after a roundabout. As a result, there are splits in the peloton.

That big chasing group came back together to the main bunch, which is still. all in one long line as the attacks continue to fly.

The two early leaders on stage 17, Abrahamsen and Veistroffer. The peloton is exploding behind them with Ben Healy (EF Education EasyPost) Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) among the latest groups trying to break away.

Côte de Bassa

The two early breakaway were both reeled in at the foot of the first categorised climb of stage 17, the Côte de Bassa (1.5km at 5.5%). Alaphilippe and Healy were both in the group that came across to them, but with almost half of the peloton on the more this afternoon, the race was quickly back together with 157.5km to go.

Netcompany Ineos are really looking to get something out of today's stage, knowing they likely won't be able to make much impact in the high mountains. They've had Kévin Vauquelin and Josh Tarling on the attack on the first climb.

Vauquelin was solo for the opening part of the climb, as the peloton lulled momentarily. Approaching the final 500 metres, though, he was passed by a group led by green jersey Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and polka-dot jersey Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep). The Frenchman took the maxmimum points at the crest, but it's almost straight onto the next climb with the peloton still together.

150km to go

Lidl-Trek have been very active, as expected, with Pedersen, Quinn Simmons and Mathias Vacek all among the attackers at the start. They've not managed to split things fully to form a break, but they will be looking for a repeat of stage 4 to Foix.

On that day, it was the three riders mentioned above who got into the day's break and completely dominated proceedings, with Simmons and Vacek marking every move in the finale for Pedersen to sprint to the win.

That day was carefully planned out by the team months in advance, and with today's parcours suiting their riders perfectly, similar can be expected from Pedersen and his domesqieus.

'Not as easy as it looks' – Mads Pedersen perfectly executes Tour de France stage win plan made months in advance by 'workaholic' head DS

Crash in the peloton

Several riders have been taken down in the peloton on stage 17, as the aggresive start causes chaos. Tom Pidcock was down but quickly back on his bike and looked largely unaffected, but his Pinarello Q36.5 teammate and British champion Fred Wright came down more heavily, left with road rash and checking a wound on his left hand.

Also involved in the incident was fellow GC top 10 rider Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), Marc Hirschi (Tudor), Rob Stannard (Bahrain Victorious), Dylan van Baarle (Soudal-QuickStep), and Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies).

All of the riders involved are back on the bikes and everyone seems to have escaped anything more sinister.

140km to go

A new trio attacked off the front: Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Harold Tejada (XDS Astana) and Ion Izagirre (Cofidis). Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) attacked across to make it a leading quartet, with Ben Healy also coming across to join his teammate.

They are approaching the foot of the next climb on today's route, the Côte de Rossillon (1.7km at 5.3%).

Côte de Rossillon

That leading group of five did not last long on the second categorised climb of stage 17, with the peloton quickly swallowing them back up.

EF were quickly on the attack again, however, with Richard Carapaz taking the maximum King of the Mountains points at the crest and continuing on with the move. Green jersey Pedersen and polka-dot jersey Paret-Peintre were not far away as the race went over the top.

37km raced at full gas and an average speed of 45kph, mostly uphill, but still no breakaway. It's going to be a long one...

Lidl-Trek are still trying to crack the race apart with Pedersen and Simmons, but with so many teams chasing to try not to miss out, the balance is swinging in favour of the sprinters who are surviving these opening stages well enough.

Just as I typed, though, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) has blinked and attacked in the latest move. Phe peloton is exploding into life again, and the presence of Alpecin's main man would suggest they are OK to let the final sprint chance for Jasper Philipsen go in favour of their big star having a go from the break.

130km to go

This latest break is full of big name stars, notably Van der Poel, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike), Tiesj Benoot (Decathlon CMA CGM), Jasper Stuyven (Soudal-QuickStep), Egan Bernal (Netcompany Ineos). It's not fully going away, though, gap still at just 10 seconds.

Still, any team who has missed it is pacing in the peloton behind, knowing this group of very strong riders could be the one that goes. There's around 22 riders in the front for the moment.

Col des Prés

The gap to the breakaway finally started increasing at the foot of the longest climb of the day: the Col des Prés (3.5km at 6.8%). Alpecin-Premier Tech continued to ride at the front of the peloton, even with Van der Poel up the road in the break, but with no real venom in their pace.

Soon after though, having missed it, green jersey Pedersen went off on the attack on his own with a 22-second gap to make up. He was followed by several others who didn't make the initial move, George Bennett (NSN), Vlad van Mechelen (Bahrain Victorious), and Alpecin's Tim Marsman.

Visma kept the pace high in the front group with the gap to the peloton coming down quickly, with that Pedersen move threatening to undo all the work of those in the latest break.

US champ Simmons actually dropped from the front group to try and help the Dane, but he started to pay for his efforts towards the top. Still, the race came back together before the top of the climb, despite the efforts of Van der Poel, who took the maximum KOM points at the front of the splitting peloton.

115km to go

A look inside one of several groups who tried to attack away in these early stages, with Van der Poel, Simmons, Tarling and Bernal involved. That action has come back together, and the race is now onto a long section of downhill roads before the final categorised climb of the day, where riders like those seen below will surely try again...

Côte de Saint-Jean d'Arvey

Onto the final categorised climb of the day, the Côte de Saint-Jean d'Arvey (1.1km at 5.7%) and the attacks are coming thick and fast again. Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) led things into the foot, but it's Van der Poel, Bernal, Simmons and Tarling who are at it once more on the attack.

More huge crowds welcomed the riders onto the slopes, where Van der Poel really surged to split things up. Visma have done much of the chasing in the splits behind to try and re-form a huge break at the front.

2019 yellow jersey winner Bernal led the race over the crest of the climb, with no more categorised ascents to come, but with 114km of more thrilling racing still to come.

110km to go

Most of the big GC names are in the front group of the race, which has come back together, but notably missing is third place overall Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).

The Mexican star is in the group at 40 seconds from the peloton – where Pogačar, Evenepoel and Seixas are – which also includes green jersey and stage win hope Pedersen, who dropped back after all of his early efforts.

Breakaway forms with 100km to go

Finally after all of the all-out action, there seems to be a breakaway forming on stage 17. There are now 16 riders in the front: Per Strand Hagenes (Visma-Lease a Bike), Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), Pablo Castillo, Einer Rubio (Movistar), Clément Braz Afonso, Guillaume Martin (Groupama-FDJ United), Rick Pluimers (Tudor), Simmons, Van der Poel, Bernal, Tarling, Stuyven, Engelhardt, Benoot, and Mohorič.

The splits in the peloton have been undone, with the Del Toro and Pedersen group rejoining Pogačar and the rest of the GC favourites in the second group on the road. Decathlon are pacing on the front in what is now the peloton, who are 42 seconds behind the leaders.

Some of the sprinters are in the main peloton, notably Olav Kooij, Jasper Philipsen, Søren Wærenskjold, Huub Artz and, of course, Mads Pedersen. They are closing in on the breakaway of the day, just 38 seconds back with 91km to go.

The likes of Biniam Girmay, Phil Bauhaus, Milan Fretin, Pascal Ackermann, Max Kanter, Pavel Bittner and Magnus Cort are all in the groupetto, around three minutes behind the leaders and 2:30 behind the main chasing group.

Decathlon CMA CGM have the best of both worlds at the moment, with Tiesj Benoot in the break, young GC star Paul Seixas sat comfortably in the peloton, and sprinter Olav Kooij in the hunt for a second stage win with his teammate contributing to the chase.

A lull in pace in the peloton has allowed for three more attackers to try and re-ignite the fight for the stage win: Jorgenson, Healy and Mathis Le Berre. They are 50 seconds behind the breakway – which has also been squabbling in front and failing to cooperate – with the peloton now at 1:17 with Uno-X actually committing a rider to the chase.

NSN aren't giving up in the group who are 3:13 off the lead of the race, and with the peloton failing to work properly together and 75km still to ride, they are ride to keep pushing. Whether they can make it bike in time for the sprint is a different question, though.

The chasing trio of Jorgenson, Healy and Le Berre is making a good impression on the deficit to the break. They are now within 27 seconds of making it a break of 19 riders in front. It would also give Hagenes and Baudin a teammate each up in front.

Decathlon are committing riders to the chase, with the gap down to 54 seconds. After realising Uno-X would help, they came back to control, but it will take a fully concerted effort to bring back those in front.

Breakaway up to 19 riders

Contact has been made by Jorgenson, Healy and Le Berre, strengthening the break. However, they will need to get a move on in front if they want any hope of making it to fight out the win – the gap to the charging peloton is down to just 30 seconds now.

Adam Yates appears to massively struggling. He dropped back curiously from the peloton, and is now two minutes behind and still barley pedalling. He doesn't look himself or in tip-top shape. He crashed out of the Giro earlier this season, but that was the first time he hadn't finished a Grand Tour in his career, so him climbing off would be a big shock.

65km to go

Mads Pedersen is on the attack again! With the gap to the break down to just 20 seconds or so, he scorched across the gap and joined the front group. A reminder that there's still 35km to go until the race reaches the late intermediate sprint. He's got Simmons to help drag the lead group along.

Pedersen started the day in green, but he knew that if he was going to solidify his lead before a trio of stages in the mountains, he would have to light up the racing and distance the likes of Philipsen and Girmay.

One of them is well out the back, but the Belgian – who started as his nearest rival – is still well in the race for the stage win. Much of the racing today has been dictated by how Lidl-Trek want to play it.

When the Dane made his move to bridge across, it brought several riders with him, one of which was Philipsen, who is currently in a move about 20 seconds behind the lead breakaway where Pedersen is.

50km to go

The race is split all over the road in the breakaway as a result of Pedersen's daring move:

The Dane is up in the front now with 50km to go, alongside Healy, Kwiatkowski, Stuyven, Planckaert and Engelhardt. Behind them is a massive group of 26 riders, notable names including Visma trio Campenaerts, Hagenes and Jorgenson, Hindley, Simmons, sprint hope Kooij and lead-out man Benoot, and Van der Poel for Alpecin. That second group is 45 seconds down the road from the leading five riders, with Philipsen in another chasing group at 1:27. After almost three hours of crazy action, the peloton has finally calmed down and is now sat more than four minutes behind the exploding breakaway.

Under 20km to go until the intermediate sprint in Colombe, where Pedersen will surely be taking maximum points and extending his lead in the green jersey competition. In theory he should pay for all the efforts he's made today, but no-one gets better on a brutally hard day like Mads Pedersen does – he thrives in the chaos.

Adam Yates vs the time cut

Here's a look at British rider and key domestique for Tadej Pogačar, Adam Yates, before he started to struggle in the peloton and dropped like a stone through the groups and to the back of the race.

As it stands, he's more than nine minutes behind the leaders on the road and five minutes behind the yellow jersey group. He's reportedly struggling with sickness and is now back at the team car and talking with a sports director. He'd be a big loss for Pogačar and Del Toro just before the final mountain stages.

It will be a race to beat the time cut for Yates now.

35km to go

There's been a change in the breakaway groups, with the Philipsen chase group joining up with the Kooij group – the two top sprinters still in the running for the victory today – which has led to Planckaert no longer working in the group of five in front as his Alpecin team chases behind.

Pedersen and his five companions still lead the day by 1:26 from the group containing the two elite sprinters, and soon, Decathlon will likely commit a man to this chase to help Philipsen's team, allowing Kooij a chance to double up after already taking a win on his Tour debut into Pau on stage 5.

Tim Wellens has dropped all the way back to help Adam Yates in his efforts to stay in the race, UAE clearly not giving up on their luxury climbing domestique. They are around 14 minutes behind the leaders on the road and have Anders Halland Johannessen for company, but the Norwegian dropped much earlier in the stage.

Intermediate sprint

Mads Pedersen gets his wish and dominates the intermediate sprint from the leading group of six. Planckaert tried to outsprint him and take points away for his leader Philipsen, but was no match for the green jersey.

Pedersen gets the 25 points at the line, and with four riders separating Philipsen from the position he wanted, he only managed to get nine, even with Lidl-Trek's other riders trying to take them from him in the chasing group.

Pedersen now has 442 points, with Philipsen on 395. With 50 points on offer for the stage win, there is a world where the Belgian can take the green jersey off of the Dane's shoulders if he is to win the day and Pedersen pays for his efforts and doesn't score any.

20km to go

Jasper Stuyven has gone on the attack after the intermediate sprint, perhaps knowing that Pedersen wouldn't necessarily commit to chasing him after mopping up the sprint points he wanted. The Soudal-QuickStep man is now 20 seconds in front of the Pedersen group of five chasers, but a full minute ahead of the group containing Kooij and Philipsen.

A former Milan-San Remo winner and all-around elite Classics rider, Stuyven has never won a Tour de France stage in his 10 appearances so far. He's come close on several occasions, notably on the gravel stage to Troyes in 2024, and stage 7 of the 2021 race when he was second in Le Creusot. He's actually only won one Grand Tour stage in his career, at the Vuelta in 2015, so this would be a massive result for him.

His gap is at 45 seconds to his nearest chasers and growing now.

Stuyven is all alone against the breakaway now, with Pedersen's group being re-absorbed. His gap was going in the right direction out to almost 50 seconds, but with Planckaert and Engelhardt back, it should be Alpecin, Lidl, Jayco and Decathlon all chasing together to try bring back the Soudal-QuickStep rider.

10km to go

Stuyven hasn't won a race since he triumphed on the Via Roma in San Remo, but he's sensing the chance to win big again here. Gap at 32 seconds and coming down quickly as Alpecin keep pressing on to bring him back and give Philipsen a final chance.

Stuyven may make it to the finale with a lead intact, but here's a reminder that it isn't a totally flat run-in that awaits him in Voiron. He will need to get over this 2.6km bump to have a chance at surviving away solo.

Alpecin and Jayco are on the front and pushing, but they are running out of power. Stuyven is still 23 seconds ahead and the chasing group should be confident of bringing him back – any hesitation will kill off the chase, however.

5km to go

Alpecin have lost two riders with Planckaert and Verstrynge dropping after their efforts. They may have to use Van der Poel early to try and ensure Philipsen has a chance, but that would mean sacrificing their elite lead-out.

It's Engelhardt vs Stuyven now as Jayco try and bring things back for Michael Matthews. Lidl-Trek are also pushing on through Derek Gee-West, but Pedersen has shouted at his teammates to stop, provoking an attack from Movistar's Castrillo.

This stop-start attacking will help Stuyven, but as the race is on a little drag, Pedersen is perhaps gambling that Lidl-Trek don't have to do all the work as the Belgian falters in front.

Stuyven caught

It was a valliant move, but Stuyven has been reeled back in by the attackers 3.5km from the finish. He almost comes to a complete standstill as the finale plays out from this breakaway.

Per Strand Hagenes attacks! We knew Visma were going to try and it's their young powerful Nowegian who has ripped off the front in search of glory.

He's been follow by several riders, notably Van der Poel, Gee-West and Quinn Simmons, who counters in the US champion's jersey.

2km to go

It's back together and cagey as Van der Poel gets to the front but doesn't attack – a sign he must be working for Philipsen, or that he's running out of steam. Still Lidl-Trek keep the pace up as Kooij moves up for Decathlon with Benoot to look after him.

Lidl-Trek and Decathlon are best placed but the attacks will surely keep coming over the top in the final kilometre. There's several names who we've barely seen in this group and could be a real threat.

Josh Tarling attacks for Ineos, trying to pull off a late raid for Netcompany Ineos. The TT specialist has a gap but Van der Poel is chasing him hard to bring it back for Philipsen. He too is caught as the sprint winds up now.

Tarling led through the final corner, but it's Van der Poel who kicks off the lead-out for Philipsen with an armchair ride for his Belgian sprinter. He's at the front and surely this is going to be it for Philipsen...

Stage 17 finish

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) wins an absolute thriller on stage 17 of the Tour de France, with the Belgian finally delivering on all the pressure and expectation to get his victory.

He can give big thanks to his whole team today, but most notably Emile Verstyrnge, Edward Planckaert, and, of course, Mathieu van der Poel, who gave everything to chase down moves in the finale and then did the perfect lead-out. When Philipsen went, no one was able to get anywhere near him – a true breakaway epic won by the sprinters.

Philipsen's 11th Tour stage win

A special day for Philipsen and Alpecin-Premier Tech. This victory is his 11th at the Tour de France and means he's won at least once in the past five Tours, highlighting his incredible consistency, even at the last moment.

Up to this point, he'd been fifth, fifth, fourth and third twice in the sprint stages, and he was getting some flak from his team manager Christoph Roodhooft, but today they got the best out of him, showing his prowess as much more than just a pure sprinter to win an epic day from the breakaway.

This big win also brings him within seven points of Mads Pedersen's lead in the green jersey points classification, who faded to eighth at the finish but picked up enough points to stay in the lead with only a few intermediate sprints and the Montmartre stage in Paris left to decide the green jersey.

Here's the top 10 from a brutal stage 17 to Voiron.

And here's the top 10 on GC, with no changes after a breakaway stage did eventually play out. It was far from an easy day, especially in those brutal opening two hours of breakaway formation heading out of Chambéry, so expect some of the frontrunners to feel it in their legs on the uphill roads to Orcières-Merlette on Thursday's stage 18

Philipsen's comments after stage 17

Here's what an emotional Philipsen had to say after finally taking his first win of the 2026 Tour de France:

"I was in the shape of my life, and first 12 days were just horrible, and I couldn't find myself, couldn't find the feeling I was hoping for. After 17 stages to take the victory, it's really one for the team that keep on believing in me," he said.

"I just want to thank everybody, I was like an angry bird at the table. I was disappointed in myself, angry that I couldn't take stage when I didn't find my feeling. The team had to deal with it, this one is for them to keep on believing and just fighting back until stage 17.

"It’s a victory that cost me a few years of my life, I think, I was fighting somewhere in the middle, between groups. I thought the stage was lost. But the team kept on believing, and we tried to make a plan, and in the end, they were super strong and delivered me at the finish line."

Here's what race leader Tadej Pogačar said after successfully navigating a tricky day. He was ready for the fight at the start, but that didn't make it any less difficult, even from the peloton. He also shed some more light on the situation surrounding Adam Yates, who – despite his struggles – finished safely inside the time cut, 26:36 down on the leaders alongside teammate Tim Wellens:

"I was expecting that it was going to be hard and a fight until after the climbs. It was a hard day," said Pogačar.

"Adam was sick yesterday, felt like sick in the morning and throughout the day, so he suffered like a dog yesterday. Today he looked much better, was eating good, but when you have a bad day like him yesterday, you pay a day later. I hope he didn't go too deep into the hole and he will be better tomorrow."

You can read our full story on Adam Yates' struggles on stage 17 below. As it stands, he's still in the race, but it's unknown how much he'll be able to help on the trio of upcoming mountain stages after really suffering with stomach issues:

Adam Yates struggles against stomach problems and time cut to survive stage 17 of Tour de France

If you're after a full recap of an action-filled stage 17, read our full stage report:

Tour de France: Jasper Philipsen wins explosive sprint finish on stage 17 as points classification battle tightens

The race for green

Mads Pedersen's undying efforts in the stage 17 breakaway did see him successfully defend the green jersey, but only narrowly. After putting in several attacks and blowing the race apart again in the final 60km, he gained 35 total points in the classification.

By winning the stage and taking seventh at the intermediate sprint, Jasper Philipsen took home 59 points and moved to within seven of overtaking the Dane.

It's a competition that should go right down to the wire in the final four stages, and with the intermediate sprints coming late in all three of the mountain stages, it could come down to the final IS point on stage 21 where green is decided. That is, unless either of the two star riders can score big on the Montmartre route on the final day in Paris.

Alongside the yellow jersey, UAE Team Emirates-XRG also lead the King of the Mountains classification through Pogačar, and the best young rider's white jersey competition with Isaac del Toro.

The Slovenian leads the former by 24 points from Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep) and, unless someone goes crazy from the breakaway in the next three days, will be expected to win the polka-dot jersey again.

Del Toro's jersey is much less secure, with 19-year-old Paul Seixas breathing down his neck just 20 seconds down in the race for white, but also in pursuit of the final podium spot overall. It will be a battle to watch in the coming three days.

The profile for stage 18 of the Tour de France. It's the easiest of the three incoming days in the Alps. With just under 4000 metres of elevation gain, and after today's all-out stage, it's sure to see some riders really struggling.

With five categorised climbs along the route, it should be enough to see the GC group whittled down purely due to attrition, but the final climb to the Orcières-Merlette ski resort may not be enough to split the top favourites – especially when they know an Alpe d'Huez double-header looms at the end of the week.

A breakaway in theory could be allowed to play out the day by UAE, especially given the likely non-full strength Adam Yates in their support, but to be honest, it would have to be someone as strong as a Richard Carapaz who gets up the road if they are going to survive the chasing peloton. It should be a good fight nonetheless, though.

That concludes our live coverage of stage 17 of the Tour de France, with Alpecin-Premier Tech doubling up on wins and Jasper Philipsen being guided to the line by Mathieu van der Poel in Voiron.

They'll be looking to win once more on the Paris stage with Van der Poel, or indeed Philipsen if it does end up being a sprint, but the Belgian will mostly be trying to snatch the green jersey away from Mads Pedersen in the coming days. All in all, it looks like another successful Tour for the Belgian team who always punches above their weight in July, led by their two superstar riders.

Come back tomorrow to follow our live coverage of stage 18, for an 185km day of climbing from Voiron to Orcières-Merlette.

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

2026 Tour de France - Route

2026 Tour de France - Contenders

2026 Tour de France stage 16 - Preview

2026 Tour de France stage 16 - Start times

How to Watch the 2026 Tour de France

The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go!

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Race Results

Time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel destroys race against the clock and takes back-to-back wins on stage 16

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 16 of the 2026 Tour de France!

Today's stage is the only individual time trial of this year's Tour taking place on a 26.1km route between Evian-les-Bains and Thonon-les Bains.

Check out the map of today's stage.

Today's stage gets underway at 13:00 local time, so that's in an hour and 20 minutes.

Here's a look at the day's profile.

The first rider down the start ramp to start the stage will be Kamil Gradek (Bahrain Victorious) at 13:00 local time.

Tadej Pogačar gets his effort underway at 17:15.

Here's the full list of the stage 16 time trial start times

Here's our preview of the 'technical and tricky' stage 16 time trial which could see someone other than Tadej Pogačar actually win a GC stage today!

World time trial champion Remco Evenepoel will be the top favourite for success today but could Mathieu van der Poel spring a surprise?

Is Mathieu van der Poel a time trial sleeping giant?

Under half an hour to go until the stage start now.

Here's a look back at Sunday's stage 15 which saw Tadej Pogačar extend his lead as Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of second overall.

Tour de France: Remco Evenepoel outwits Tadej Pogačar to win stage 15 as Jonas Vingegaard abandons after crash

And a look at the results and GC,

13 minutes to go until the start of the stage.

Here we go!

Kamil Gradek has set off to start the stage.

Several more riders on course now, including Cees Bol and Olav Kooij.

Josh Tarling is the first top time trial rider to start. He'll head down the start ramp in 18 minutes.

There are three checkpoints today, including at the top of the day's climb, the Côte de Larringes, after 9.7km of racing.

More sprinters, including Davide Ballerini, Phil Bauhaus, Milan Fretin are out.

Seven riders through the first checkpoint after 4.8km currently and Julius van den Berg is the quickest with a time of 10:18

Josh Tarling has just set off to start his ride. The British racer should be comfortably quickest of these early runners.

8km to go for Gradek, who will finish first today.

The lost art of time trialing – Is the Tour de France slowly phasing out the race against the clock?

TT kilometres per edition are slowly trending down as the GC becomes less favourable for all-rounders

Van den Berg quickest over the climb with a time of 19:36.

Tarling is top of the standings at the moment.

His time of 34:21 is top of the standings so far.

His Netcompany Ineos teammate Filippo Ganna is coming to the line now though!

But the Italian time trial champion falls just short of going quickest.

34:25 for Ganna at the finish to go second quickest.

Tarling on his ride earlier.

Only three riders under the 35-minutes barrier so far. Tarling and Ganna, as well as Huub Artz, who lies in third place with a time of 34:49.

Away from the Tour, there's been news on the 2027 World Championships, which will be a 'super' edition of the Worlds combining several disciplines. Read on for the schedule of the combined Worlds in Haute-Savoie.

Women's road race to close out 'super' World Championships in 2027 as schedule for Haute-Savoie outlined

Thibault Guernalec has gone quickest at the second checkpoint! The French rider has set a time of 17:43 there, 10 seconds quicker than Tarling.

Tarling is only fifth-quickest at the top of the climb.

Ganna, below, was second, just tenth of a second down on Guernalec.

A crash like this shatters your dreams, you do everything you can to prepare and then it can disappear in a split second – Matej Mohorič's Tour de France diary

The three-time Tour de France stage winner reflects on Jonas Vingegaard's race-ending crash and the risks riders take on roads designed for traffic, not bike racing, plus the Slovenian looks ahead to the third week and a breakaway 'battlefield'

Guerlanec has fallen to fourth place at the third checkpoint. His time of 25:50 is 22 seconds off Tarling.

Other big names to have finished so far include Biniam Girmay, Julian Alaphilippe, and Michał Kwiatkowski.

Green jersey Mads Pedersen will be heading off in 10 minutes.

It looks as though it will be tough for anyone to beat Tarling's time before Remco Evenepoel heads out on course at 17:13 local time.

Mikel Azparren and Benjamin Thomas have both put in top-10 times at the first two checkpoints, but nothing challenging Tarling.

Now Guernalec races to the line.

Guernalec crosses the line in fifth place with a time of 35:05.

44 seconds slower than Tarling after he was quickest on top of the climb.

Check out how to watch Tour de France Stage 16 with our simple guide here.

Azparren finishes as seventh quickest with a time of 35:56.

Benjamin Thomas will finish soon. He was seventh at the third checkpoint.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG manger Mauro Gianetti confirmed that his rider Brandon McNulty crashed during recon earlier today.

He collided with a member of the public, who overtook him, Gianetti said. The American is unhurt and will race the stage, though, luckily.

Mads Pedersen is off. He's favourite to win the green jersey, should he reach Paris unharmed.

Remember the days when the big Tour scandals were about riders testing positive?

This year it's about riders getting a visit from the testers at night. How dare they?

Here's the latest on that

Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas' teams among latest wave subjected to anti-doping tests on Tour de France rest day

Eighth for Thomas at the finish with a time of 35:58, while Simone Velasco sets a time of 36:47 to go 10th.

55 riders have finished now.

Thomas in eighth is the last rider within two minutes of Tarling's quickest time.

Kasper Asgreen and Luke Plapp among those starting out in recent minutes.

Nobody troubling the top of the leaderboards currently.

Damien Howson's 10th place at the top of the climb is the best of those out on course at the moment.

Former triple French time trial champion Bruno Armirail is just setting off.

Mads Pedersen 28th through the first checkpoint.

Mathieu van der Poel and Victor Campenaerts will start their rides soon.

German time trial champion Nils Politt has just started.

Third place for Bruno Armiral at the first checkpoint. His time of 9:01 is nine seconds off Tarling's time there.

Felix Engelhardt is ninth at the finish line with a time of 36:22, 2:01 down on Tarling.

The Briton has been in the hot seat as leader for two hours now.

Van der Poel and Campenaerts have just set off.

Pedersen 20th at the top of the climb.

A great ride for Armirail at the top of the climb. He beats Guernalec's time into second place there to go top with a time of 17:24.

Armirail flying down the descent at over 90kph.

Here's a look at Armirail.

Into the final 10km for the Frenchman.

He's top at the third checkpoint, too, 14 seconds up on Tarling.

Can he beat Tarling at the line?

To date in his career, Armirail has three national title to his name plus a time trial at the 2023 Tour Poitou-Charentes.

He's racing into the final 3km now.

He has a six-second lead heading into the final 2km.

Into the final kilometre...

And he does it! Bruno Armirail goes quickest with a time of 34:14, seven seconds up on Tarling.

Now it's Armirail, Tarling, Ganna at the top of the standings.

Bruno Armirail during his leaderboard-topping ride.

88 riders have finished their rides now with Nils Politt crossing the line in 17th.

Van der Poel and Campenaerts are closing in on the finish but neither are troubling the top of the standings.

Ewen Costiou is having a good ride. He's sixth, sixth, and seventh at the three checkpoints.

Costiou and Damiano Caruso (10th at the third checkpoint) both going well at the moment.

Valentin Paret-Peintre is eighth at the first checkpoint.

Seventh with a time of 35:08 for Costiou at the finish.

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Ben Healy is the 100th rider to finish.

Aurélien Paret-Peintre is fifth at the top of the climb.

Mattia Cattaneo has started out fast with a third place at the first checkpoint.

Now Cattaneo goes quickest at the top of the climb, 10 seconds quicker than Armirail.

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Aurélien Paret-Peintre fifth at the third checkpoint.

And he crosses the line in eighth place as Kévin Vauquelin sets off.

KOM leader Valentin Paret-Peintre during his ride.

Cattaneo still top at the third checkpoint, eight seconds up on Armirail.

Thymen Arensman sets off to start his ride later than scheduled.

Cattaneo coming towards the final 3km now.

The Italian has won time trials at the Tour de Pologne and Tour of Luxembourg before.

He flies past Mathias Vacek into the final 1.5km.

Mattia Cattaneo beats Bruno Armirail's time at the line!

Cattaneo goes 13 seconds quicker at the finish with a time of 34:01.

Now we're into the GC top 30 out on course.

Felix Großschartner top at the first two checkpoints. He's a second up on Cattaneo at the top of the climb.

Arensman fourth at the first checkpoint, Pablo Castrillo second there.

Brandon McNulty starts his ride all OK after his earlier crash.

Latest riders at the top of the climb: Pablo Castillo first, Thymen Arensman third, Derek Gee-West fourth

17:06 for Castrillo at the top, seven seconds up on Großschartner and 13 up on Arensman.

Spanish time trial champion Pablo Castrillo is flying so far.

Großschartner four seconds down on Cattaneo at the third checkpoint.

Matteo Jorgenson fifth at the third checkpoint as Adam Yates sets off.

Arenman second there, a second behind Cattaneo.

Castrillo fifth at the third checkpoint, a further 10 seconds adrift.

Arensman out on course.

Großschartner crosses the line in fifth, 25 seconds down and only a second behind Ganna.

Jorgenson sixth, half a second behind Großschartner.

Tom Pidcock is about to start.

Jordan Jegat in 10th overall just set off.

Thymen Arensman misses out on the top spot at the line by five seconds. He would've been quickest if he made the start on time.

Thymen Arensman misses Tour de France TT start time but still has an inspired performance

Netcompany Ineos rider left frustrated after starting 15 second late

Castrillo comes to the line in fourth place, 17 seconds down on Cattaneo.

After Pidcock, Lenny Martinez starts his ride.

McNulty seventh at the top of the climb.

Juan Ayuso the next to start.

Florian Lipowitz next.

Tom Pidcock goes quickest at the first checkpoint. That's surprising. 8:45 for him, a second quicker than Großschartner.

Paul Seixas has started.

Just three riders left to start.

Isaac del Toro goes. He's defending the white jersey.

Mattias Skjelmose beats Pidcock by 15 seconds at the first checkpoint!

World time trial champion Remco Evenepoel is off.

The Belgian has 25 time trial wins in his career.

Ayuso seventh, 26 seconds down at the first checkpoint.

And now Tadej Pogačar starts with a five-minute cushion over Evenepoel.

Lipowitz second at the first checkpoint, three seconds behind Skjelmose.

And Pidcock is second at the top of the climb, a second slower than Castrillo.

Seixas third at the first checkpoint, three seconds off Skjelmose.

Del Toro quickest at the first checkpoint, equal with Skjelmose.

Skjelmose quickest, 27 seconds quicker than Castrillo, at the top of the climb.

8:08 for Evenepoel at the first checkpoint, 22 seconds quicker than anyone else.

Ayuso a minute down on Skjelmose at the top of the climb.

Meanwhile, Pogačar is second at the first checkpoint, seven seconds behind Evenepoel.

Paul Seixas out on course.

Lipowitz second, five seconds behind Skjelmose, at the top of the climb.

Seixas is third, 10 seconds down on Skjelmose, at the top of the climb.

Pidcock fourth at the third checkpoint.

Del Toro reaches the top of the climb matching Seixas' time, 10 seconds down.

Evenepoel by far the quickest at the top of the climb.

A time of 15:42 puts him 56 seconds up on Skjelmose.

Skjelmose quickest at the third checkpoint, too, 39 seconds up on Cattaneo.

Ayuso a minute down there, still.

Pogačar at the top of the climb, 14 seconds down on Evenepoel in second place.

A look at Pogačar during today's ride.

Lipowitz second at the third check, three seconds behind Skjelmose.

Florian Lipowitz has crashed. He slide out on corner and collided with a kerb.

Seixas third at the third checkpoint, nine seconds down on Skjelmose.

Pogačar racing through the crowds on the climb.

Lipowitz is still down. It might be race over for him as Seixas passes by.

33:23 and top of the leaderboard for Skjelmose at the finish. He's 37 seconds quicker than Cattaneo.

It looks like game over for Lipowitz as he's helped across the road.

Evenepoel quickest at the third checkpoint, 57 seconds up on Skjelmose.

Pogačar 16 seconds down on Evenepoel at the third checkpoint.

Seixas was three seconds up on Del Toro there.

A poor ride for Ayuso, who finishes 1:18 down on Skjelmose.

Ayuso 11th at the finish.

No Lipowitz so Seixas is next to the line.

Seixas races across the line in second place behind Skjelmose. He's 12 seconds down.

Del Toro next to finish.

He's into the final kilometre and defending a 25-second white jersey lead over Seixas.

Del Toro finishes in third, losing five seconds to Seixas.

Just Evenepoel and Pogačar left.

The Belgian storms across the line by far the quickest.

He takes his 26th career TT victory with a time of 32:19, 1:04 up on Skjelmose.

Pogačar heads into the final 2km.

The yellow jersey takes second place as Pogačar finishes 28 seconds down.

Evenepoel speeding to victory in Thonon-les-Bains

He takes the win on Belgium's national day and closes Pogačar's GC lead to 4:32.

Evenepoel called the win "a bittersweet pill to swallow" as teammate Lipowitz crashes out of the race.

Florian Lipowitz abandons the Tour de France after a heavy crash during the stage 16 time trial

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe has yet to release a medical update

Evenepoel now has a 2:19 cushion over third-placed Isaac del Toro. Paul Seixas is fourth, a further 20 seconds down. Juan Ayuso is the new fifth place, 2:11 behind Seixas.

No real change in the GC today, barring Lipowitz crashing out. The top four remain the same and everyone else moves up a spot, meaning Yanis Voisard is a new face in the top 10.

Tour de France: Time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel destroys race against the clock and takes back-to-back wins on stage 16

Here are the top 10s...

Tour de France GC standings – Thrilling stage 16 time trial sees several changes to top 10 overall

Remco Evenepoel celebrates victory on the podium.

And Tadej Pogačar remains in yellow as race leader.

That's all from me today on our live coverage of the stage 16 time trial!

Be sure to check the site throughout the evening for more news coming in from the Tour and come back tomorrow for more live coverage of stage 17.

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Results

Tour de France stage 15 report and results: Remco Evenepoel outwits Tadej Pogačar to win atop Plateau de Solaison as Jonas Vingegaard abandons after crash

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Salut and welcome to Cyclingnews' live updates of stage 15 at the Tour de France 2026!

Week two is coming to a close with a bang as the riders take on the second of the mountainous double headers to bring the curtain down on this week of racing. Here is the profile of the day.

Dive deeper into the day with our preview...

>>> Tour de France 2026 stage 15 preview - Will the breakaway be allowed their heads or is Tadej Pogačar hungry for yet more success?

The neutralised start is in around 10 minutes from Champagnole.

With the team presentation well underway in Champagnole we get to see a new name in the polka dot jersey. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep) jumped up three places in the KOM standings yesterday to slot just nine points behind Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), so the Frenchman wears the jersey on the race leader's behalf.

Neutral start

Just 3.9km of neutral today.

The first task of the day is the intermediate sprint at Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux. And with the green jersey standings so finely balanced, this will be well fought for.

Just 36 points split Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) with 50 points splitting Pedersen and Biniam Girmay (NSN). Just 90 points split the top four with Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) not out of it yet.

Here are the jerseys after stage 14

183.9km to go

Racing begins and immediately Alpecin-Premier Tech immediately take things up to try and set Jasper Philipsen up for the intermediate sprint in Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux.

Just 14km to the intermediate sprint. We have some uphill riding to do beforehand, though.

The peloton is strung out in one long line as Alpecin-Premier Tech pushes hard.

Silvan Dillier leads the way with Philipsen sits in third wheel.

For now, no-one is challenging Alpecin-Premier Tech on the front of the bunch.

10km to go to the intermediate sprint.

Alpecin-Premier Tech continue to lead as NSN move Girmay up as well as Lidl-Trek for Pedersen.

Toms Skujiņš (Lidl-Trek) tried an attack to take as many points away from Philipsen etc as possible but he was quickly dragged back.

2km to the intermediate sprint as multiple riders are now looking very twitchy as they will look to launch immediately after the intermediate sprint.

1.5km to the sprint and Lidl-Trek now come up alongside Alpecin-Premier Tech with NSN waiting alongside XDS-Astana as they work for Max Kanter.

The top 15 all take points with 25 the max ahead of 20, 16, 14, 12, 10 and then all the way down to 1 from there.

500 metres to go.

Jasper Philipsen wins the intermediate sprint in Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux after launching off the wheel of Mads Pedersen. That is another 5 points back for the Belgian making it just 31 points between them.

Kanter took third.

Attack

Julius van den Berg (Picnic-PostNL)

Unfortunately for him, he has Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) with him who looks to be there for a laugh. More moves, though.

Attack

Abel Balderstone (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost)
Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)

Nothing getting away yet.

Mechanical issue for Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and has changed his bike.

Attack

Warren Barguil (Picnic-PostNL)

It would've been fair to assume he had left the race as he has been anonymous but is on the move now with more riders coming across to him.

Intermediate sprint (Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux)

1. Philipsen(APT) 25 pts
2. Pedersen (LTK) 20 pts
3. Kanter (XAT) 16 pts
4. Girmay (NSN) 14 pts
5. Stewart (NSN) 12 pts
6. Rubio (MOV) 10 pts
7. Simmons (LTK) 9 pts
8. Planckaert (APT) 8 pts
9. Ballerini (XAT) 7 pts
10. Armirail (TVL) 6 pts
11. Rickaert (APT) 5 pts
12. Cepeda (MOV) 4 pts
13. Ganna (NCI) 3 pts
14. Stannard (TBV) 2 pts
15. Vacek (LTK) 1 pt

That move is brought back. And a new one goes with Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor).

Attack

Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor)
John Degenkolb (Picnic-PostNL)
Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious)
Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies)
Joris Delbove (TotalEnergies)

They don't have a huge gap, though. More riders will want to join as they are about to start the first categorised climb of the day, the Côte des Rousses (6.6km at 5.1%). Jayco-AlUla, Netcompany-Ineos and Movistar chasing behind.

Turgis dropped from the break as they start the Côte des Rousses.

Jan Tratnik (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) tried a move but is just dragging the peloton across the gap. Healy and Paret-Peintre up there as well as Netcompany-Ineos look to set up Thymen Arensman with a leadout from Josh Tarling.

Merlier being dropped off the back of the peloton. This will be a very long day for him and a big worry for Soudal-Quickstep as they hope to get the three time stage winner at this race through the day. Another stage winner, Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility), is with him.

This is all together again but new moves come as Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) appears for the first time. Georg Steinhauser is trying to help his teammate.

150km to go

Valentin Paret-Peintre making sure he marks Carapaz's every move.

Attack

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)

He has Nicolas Vinokurov (XDS-Astana) bridges the gap.

Biniam Girmay now dropped from the peloton.

Puncture

Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM)

He gets a rear wheel change. Very calm and collected from the white jersey wearer. The youngest wearer of a leader's jersey ever at the Tour de France.

That break is back together yet again. Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) and Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) the next to try.

Attack

Xavier Mikkel Azparren (Pinarello-Q36.5)

He has no-one following for the moment.

Castrillo catches Azparren as Paret-Peintre flies out of the peloton and across the gap with 500 metres to the top of the climb.

Carapaz is trying to bridge the gap with the peloton in tow.

Valentin Paret-Peintre wins the first KOM of the day on the Côte des Rousses ahead of Carapaz.

KOM (Côte des Rousses)

1. V. Paret-Peintre (SOQ) 2pts
2. Carapaz (EFE) 1pt

Attack

Arensman (NCI)
Azparren (PQT)

Several riders out of the back after that first climb with the majority of the sprinters gone.

Tobias Halland Johannessen (UXM) getting involved in trying to make a move in the peloton as well as Matteo Jorgenson (TVL). All the big climbing names no longer involved in the GC tussle.

Magnus Cort trying to drag T. Johannessen away from the peloton.

This break still isn't properly away with Arensman and Azparren riding well together but still the peloton is battling behind. About 20 riders get a gap but it will be back together again.

Just 10" split these two from the peloton as they begin descending.

Pogačar was thinking about letting the break go for the win today, but at this rate the break won't have gone by the time they're on the final few climbs and the yellow jersey will surely then go for a 5th win of this race. He will go within single figures of Mark Cavendish's record.

Movistar's Nelson Oliveira is off the front of the peloton as he tries to bridge to Arensman and Azparren.

130km to go

Oliveira within 10" from the leaders with a further 9" back to the peloton.

A new counter attack comes out of the peloton:

Mauro Schmid (JAY)
Tobias Johannessen (UXM)
Raul Garcia Pierna (MOV)
Ion Izagirre (COF)
Anders Skaarseth (UXM)
Michael Matthews (JAY)
Tim van Dijke (RBH)

They join Arensman, Azparren and Oliveira. Just 10" back to the peloton.

It is long rolling terrain now until they get to the Le Salève-Col de la Croisette, a very steep category 1 climb that comes with about 52km to go. 123km to go currently.

On sprinter watch, Philipsen, Wærenskjold, Kanter, Kooij and a few others are at 1'19" off the back of the peloton whereas Merlier is at 3'40".

Attack in peloton

Ben Healy (EFE)
Marco Haller (TUD)
Julian Alaphilippe (TUD)
Marc Hirschi (TUD)

But the peloton stay with them as the gap is now at 23" up to the break.

The pace is absolutely rapid out on course with one and a half hours almost complete, the average speed sits at 47kph.

EF Education-EasyPost have completely missed the move and are now working flat out in the peloton for Carapaz to try and bridge the gap on the next climb.

Breakaway caught by the peloton after a huge amount of work done by EF Educaiton-EasyPost.

Attack

Schmid goes clear yet again but EF come flying through to chase and try and go across.

Carapaz tries to go but Paret-Peintre is glued to his wheel. Jorgenson and Healy also involved in these new moves.

Tim Wellens (UAX) has been dropped by the peloton. He seems to be on a rough day.

Attack

Nicolas Vinokurov (XAT)

The Kazakhstani champion goes clear with EF trying to bridge to him.

100km to go

A new group goes clear including Carapaz and they bridge across to Vinokurov who waits for them to join him.

Current breakaway:

Egan Bernal (NCI)
Quinn Simmons (LTK)
Tom Pidcock (PQT)
Adam Yates (UAX)
Ilan Van Wilder (SOQ)
Yannis Voisard (TUD)
Kevin Vauquelin (NCI)
Einer Runio (MOV)
Raul Garcia Pierna (MOV)
Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet (GFC)
Alex Baudin (EFE)}
Mauro Schmid (JAY)
Aurelien Paret-Peintre (DCT)
Alexandre Delettre (TEN)
Ben Healy (EFE)
Victor Campenaerts (TVL)
Ewen Costiou (GFC)
Bruno Armirail (TVL)
Matej Mohoric (TBV)
Brent Van Moer (PQT)
Marco Frigo (NSN)
Nicolas Vinokurov (XAT)
Tim van Dijke (RBH)

Abel Balderstone (CJR) drags himself across the gap and joins the leaders as they have 1'35" over the peloton as they come to the next climb very soon and it is a brute.

80km to go

The break get about 2 and a half minutes on the peloton but they aren't working together well for the moment. Oddly, UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma-Lease a Bike lead the chase in the peloton despite both having riders in the breakaway. The biggest danger to the GC in there is Pidcock at 7'59".

The riders working on the front of the peloton for UAE and Visma are Tim Wellens and Per Strand Hagenes.

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The break of 24 riders have 2'44" on the peloton with just over 70km to go.

Third day in a row that Pidcock has gone into the breakaway. He plummeted down from 4th to 9th after jumping up from 10th to 4th the day before that. Will he be doing another jump up today?

Vinokurov has gone off the front of the breakaway yet again. He is getting fed up with the break not working together and goes solo. He hasn't got much of a gap, though.

One rider is well off the back. Tom Van Asbroeck (NSN) is over 21 minutes down on the leaders. He is having an extremely tough day and is almost certain to miss the time cut.

Visma-Lease a Bike leads the peloton at 2'49" from the break. Immediately behind them is Netcompany-Ineos who are blocking for Bernal and Vauquelin in the break.

Edoardo Affini and Per Strand Hagenes are working hard to keep this break close for Jonas Vingegaard.

55km to go

The riders are about to start the next climb of the day, the cat 1 Le Salève - Col de la Croisette, this is 4.7km but has an average of 11.2%, a real brute that will certainly split the break and peloton alike.

Van Moer is working flat out for Pidcock in the breakaway now as they head to Le Salève - Col de la Croisette.

Matthews was dropped out of the break, into the peloton and out of the back into the grupetto.

Healy dropped from the break along with Van Dijke and Mohoric.

Van Moer has done all he can for Pidcock and leaves the Brit to work alone with the rest of the break sat on his wheel.

Both Campenaerts and Armirail dropped by the pace in the break as is Bernal.

Vauquelin, Baudin, A. Paret-Peintre and more all being dropped by the pace being set by Pidcock.

Back in the peloton, Pedersen sits up and will go at his own pace to the finish.

Isaac Del Toro right at the back of the peloton with Felix Großschartner alongside him. He does this a lot but still worth keeping an eye on.

And as soon as the cameras show him at the back, he moves up through the group.

50km to go

Pidcock continues to lead with just 7 riders able to follow from the 23 that were with him at the bottom.

Van Wilder is dropped by the break along with Schmid.

Attack in break

Quinn Simmons (LTK)

Rubio and Costiou set off in chase as Pidcock leads Voisard and Yates.

Costiou and Rubio have been reeled back in by Pidcock, Voisard and Yates but Simmons still leads and by 14"!

Back in the peloton, Davide Piganzoli leads for Vingegaard. The gap remains the same, though. 3'03" gap.

Costiou is dropped by the Pidcock group as Simmons is close to cresting the climb.

Simmons goes over the top but he is about to get company as Pidcock and co are about to rejoin him.

Pidcock is first to get back onto Simmons' wheel before Voisard, Yates and Rubio also rejoin the US champion.

KOM (Le Salève - Col de la Croisette)

1. Simmons (LTK) 10pts
2. Pidcock (PQT) 8pts
3. Voisard (TUD) 6pts
4. Yates (UAX) 4pts
5. Rubio (MOV) 2pts
6. Costiou (GFC) 1pt

Pidcock is virtually back on the podium again but this will definitely change.

Right at the back of the race an error to correct, Van Asbroeck is with Tim Merlier and Pascal Eenkhoorn who are 15'49" down on the leaders.

Onto the Côte du Mont goes the break and, interestingly, Yates comes through to work with Pidcock. The climb is 2.1km at 8.3%.

Pogačar and Vingegaard both had very very early morning doping tests to contend with last night...

>>> 'Somebody knocked on my door at 2am' – Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard subjected to middle-of-the-night anti-doping tests at Tour de France

Jorgenson has started working in the peloton. Out front, Schmid and Costiou make it back in again.

Bernal dropped out of the back of the peloton after being in the break.

KOM (Côte du Mont)

1. Pidcock (PQT) 2pts
2. Simmons (LTK) 1pt

Pidcock goes clear on a little kicker after the summit but didn't look deliberate as Pidcock finally gets a bidon after asking for one about 10 minutes ago.

Matt Riccitello (DCT) gets a bike change.

Attack in break

Mauro Schmid (JAY)

He goes clear on the descent as the chase us on behind him.

Back in the peloton, Victor Campenaerts is back and immediately goes to work for Vingegaard. But this is really strange tactics yet again from Visma-Lease a Bike.

Bruno Armirail also caught by the peloton, so Visma now have good numbers.

Out front, Schmid has 6" on the chasers then 2'34" back to the Visma led peloton.

Merlier, Eenkhoorn and Van Asbroeck may be in trouble today. They are almost 21 minutes down on the leaders.

30km to go

Schmid continues to lead but has 10" on the chasers then 2'35" back to the peloton.

The peloton are closing this gap with Campenaerts and Armirail doing all the damage on the valley road before the final climb.

Schmid is riding full gas here and has dragged his gap to 18" to the Pidcock group.

Crash!

Jonas Vingegaard (TVL)
Sepp Kuss (TVL)
Isaac Del Toro (UAX)
Brandon McNulty (UAX)

All up again aside from Vingegaard who has stayed on the ground.

The peloton has completely sat up, giving a huge chance to the breakaway, but terrible news for the race as he seems in a lot of discomfort.

Abandon

Jonas Vingegaard (TVL)

He leaves the Tour de France 2026 after his team has ridden all day for. The peloton now lose all their push and the break has a big chance.

>>> Jonas Vingegaard crashes out of the Tour de France

Pogačar talking to his teammates and Visma riders for information as Piganzoli appeared to be angry with Del Toro.

Moments before the crash, Schmid very nearly went down in a crash and had to take dramatic evasive action with a bunny hop over the traffic island. A minute or so later and Vingegaard was down.

Schmid is still riding hard out front on his own but he is doomed once he gets onto the climb. He hold 19" on the Pidcock group and 2'47" to the peloton that are now led by Bahrain Victorious of Lenny Martinez.

Onto the final climb, the 11.3km Plateau de Solaison with an average of 9%.

Van Wilder, Vauquelin, A. Paret-Peintre and Baudin are about 30" in front of the peloton, they start the final climb as well and Vauquelin immediately sits up.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe takes up the pace setting in the peloton to limit the time to Pidcock and, ideally, even catch him.

10km to go

Schmid leads by 29" over Pidcock, Simmons, Voisard and Yates with Costiou and Rubio losing touch. The peloton at 2'18".

Yates looks to be struggling a bit as well in the break.

Aurelien Paret-Peintre is back in the peloton and is keen to help his leader, Seixas.

Mattia Cattaneo leads the peloton for Evenepoel and Lipowitz. They are now 2'01" behind Schmid who is about to be caught by Pidcock, Voisard, Simmons and Yates.

Attack in break

Quinn Simmons (LTK)

Schmid's time updates and is still out front but Simmons is about to join him. Pidcock still leads Voisard and Yates.

Simmons catches, passes and drops Schmid with 9km to go. He is on some climbing form for someone who is not a pure climber at all.

Pidcock, Voisard and Yates catch Schmid. They are at 15" from Simmons. 1'35" back to the peloton now.

Maxim Van Gils has finished his effort after Catteneo in the peloton handing over to Jai Hindley who sits in front of Lipowitz and Evenepoel.

Simmons seems inspired having his family at the race as his father waits for him on the final climb.

Yates comes through to the front of the chase shortly after Pogačar was on the radio.

Pogačar comes to the front and starts working for Del Toro as Hindley is dropped along with Carapaz, Skjelmose, Riccitello and Martinez.

Costiou caught by the GC group as Seixas, Lipowitz and Ayuso are all really struggling to follow Pogačar, Del Toro and Evenepoel.

Ayuso, Seixas and Lipowitz have all be distanced as they catch Schmid and Rubio.

Seixas and Ayuso are seeing the white jersey ride up the road as Del Toro is being dragged away by Pogačar. And Evenepoel is now looking excellent compared to teammate Lipowitz.

6km to go and Simmons has 24" on Pidcock, Yates and Voisard but Pogačar, Del Toro and Evenepoel are closing dramatically with Seixas, Ayuso and Lipowitz are losing a chunk of time here at about 30" from Pogačar and co.

Abandon

Tim Merlier has abandoned the race after being certain to miss the time cut.

5km to go

Simmons has 25" on Pogačar, Del Toro, Evenepoel and, now, Yates. 50" back to Seixas, Lipowitz and Ayuso with Pidcock and voisard somewhere in the gap.

Pidcock has been caught and dropped by Pogačar and co with him drifting back to Seixas' group.

This really could possibly be a UAE one-two-three on the stage.

Simmons caught by Yates, Pogačar, Del Toro and Evenepoel as Seixas, Lipowitz and Ayuso catch Pidcock and Voisard with the former trying to follow for now.

Yates goes pop and swings off so Pogačar retakes the lead. Del Toro on his wheel while Evenepoel still continues to follow.

Pidcock dropped by Seixas and Lipowitz as Voisard passes him and the also dropped Ayuso who now has Simmons there to support him.

Evenepoel muscles into second wheel to follow Pogačar as Del Toro looks to be suffering after his crash.

Voisard now dropped by Simmons and Ayuso who are 46" down on the leaders.

3km to go and Pogačar continues to lead with Evenepoel and Del Toro following. 30" back to Seixas and Lipowitz. Ayuso with his Simmons support at 57" then Pidcock at 1'12".

Pogačar constantly on the radio and he sits up forcing Evenepoel through. The yellow jersey is very keen to get Del Toro onto the podium and into the white jersey but he has the Olympic champion as a problem.

Pogačar back to the front but not his usual flat out superhuman effort as he works for Del Toro. The gap has grown to Seixas and Lipowitz at 43" with 1'11" to Ayuso and 1'36" to Pidcock.

Inside 2km to go now and Pogačar is winding up the pace.

Pidcock, meanwhile, has been caught and dropped by Martinez and Skjelmose.

Flamme Rouge

Pogačar leads the way with Evenepoel in 2nd wheel and Del Toro swinging in his usual style at the back in 3rd wheel. 41" to Seixas and Lipowitz with 1'19" to Ayuso and 1'38" to Martinez and Skjelmose.

Attack

Isaac Del Toro (UAX)

Evenepoel can follow with, of course, Pogačar sat waiting and watching. Nothing comes of it and Evenepoel may start to worry UAE. I imagine Pogačar will go clear soon.

500 metres to go on stage 15.

Del Toro tries again but Evenepoel is right with him. Pogačar coming through as well with 250 metres to go. It will be a sprint!

Remco Evenepoel WINS stage 15 of the Tour de France 2026!!

Seixas and Lipowitz cross the line at 58" and the 19-year-old Frenchman loses white to Del Toro.

Skjelmose comes back to Ayuso and works with him but the Dane has to follow Martinez with Ayuso left to limp across the line. over 2 mins down.

Stage 15 top 10

1. Evenepoel (RBH) 4:23'09"
2. Pogačar (UAX) S.T.
3. Del Toro (UAX) +6"
4. Seixas (DCT) +58"
5. Lipowitz (RBH) S.T.
6. Martinez (TBV) +1'57"
7. Skjelmose (LTK) S.T.
8. Ayuso (LTK) +2'00"
9. Yates (UAX) S.T.
10. Simmons (LTK) +2'16"

GC

1. Pogačar (UAX) 55:41'31"
2. Evenepoel (RBH) +5'00"
3. Del Toro (UAX) +5'58"

Make sure to red our post race report from what was a crazy day in the saddle for the riders. Vingegaard crashing out, Pogačar riding for Del Toro and seemingly refusing to win after his old rival left the race, and Evenepoel seizing the perfect opportunity to win his first road stage at the Tour. Not to mention yet more breakaway heroics from Pidcock and Simmons...

>>> Tour de France: Remco Evenepoel outwits Tadej Pogačar to win stage 15 as Jonas Vingegaard crashes out

A very special, emotional and long-awaited road race win at the Tour doe Evenepoel who is, understandably, over the moon with the result today...

Tadej Pogačar was in control of the day from the off but didn't take the win despite looking like he could've done so with ease. He just followed Evenepoel's wheel to the line, losing just the 4" in bonuses.

Pogačar also extends his KOM lead to 22 points over Valentin Paret-Peintre.

Isaac Del Toro takes white from Paul Seixas by just 25" with Juan Ayuso slipping to 1'30" and Lenny Martinez at 4'30".

As we wait for the green jersey presentation with Mads Pedersen, here is is Lidl-Trek teammate Quinn Simmons taking the most combative rider prize from the day, as voted for by the public online.

And here is Mads Pedersen after the green jersey crossed the line in 141st at 35'50" down on Evenepoel with his teammates Mathias Vacek and Toms Skujiņš alongside him.

That brings out live updates of stage 15 at the Tour de France, as well as the second week, to a close. Thank for following along. Make sure to keep Cyclingnews open for all the latest news, analysis, interviews and more across this evening and for the rest of the season and beyond. But for now, au revoir!

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

2026 Tour de France - Route

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2026 Tour de France stage 14 - Preview

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Race Results

2026 Tour de France stage 14 - results

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Hello and welcome to stage 14 of the Tour de France!

We’re in the Vosges today, for what will be one of the biggest climbing tests at this Tour so far, culminating in the category one climb of Le Markstein. They’ve had a quiet few days, but the GC riders all come to the forefront today.

Tour de France 2026 stage 14 preview - Maiden ascent of the Col du Haag as the fourth categorised climb on Saturday expected to propel GC action

There are four mountains today, including three with a rating of category one, all amounting to a total elevation gain of 3,800m. Whereas yesterday’s stage was a mostly flat day ending with one tough climb at the finish, today is a sustained test of climbing, and will therefore suit both the GC riders and the climbing specialists.

The riders have just started the neutralised zone. It's a long one today, lasting 12.5km, so plenty of time to warm up.

They will need warming up, too. Although the first climb does not come until over 10km into the stage, this is a day where many will want to get into the break, and so the action will likely be hectic right from the flag.

Who will take inspiration from Mauro Schmid and Jayco-AlUla’s success yesterday? They demonstrated the effectiveness of having multiple riders in the breakaway, as they worked together to help Schmid come out on top. There will be multiple teams and raiders hoping for a repeat of that and doing everything they can to get their men in the day’s break.

'We've been waiting for this' - Jayco-AlUla celebrate major collective effort at Tour de France to propel Mauro Schmid to breakaway stage victory

There is one DNS to report today - Alpecin's Ramses Debruyne, who became ill last night.

The riders at the start. We're preparing for yet another instalment of the rivalry between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard. Can the latter at last manage to land a blow, having been gotten the better of for such a long time?

It's a very uncomfortable start for the riders, who are currently being subjected to hailstones! As much as they must have been longing for an easement to the heat at this year's Tour, this goes beyond refreshing and looks nasty. Just 1.5km until the start, and the riders can warm themselves up by starting to race.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off! But there are no attacks just yet. It could be that they're holding fire until after the day's intermediate sprint, which comes just 12km into the stage.

Mercifully for the riders, the rain has stopped and they’re greeted by sunshine again.

Alpecin-Premier Tech are leading the peloton, controlling it for the upcoming intermediate sprint. They still have designs on the green jersey with Jasper Philipsen; here are the current rankings in that classification.

1 Pedersen 377

2 Philipsen 336

3 Girmay 333

4 Merlier 307

5 Kanter 239

Still Alpecin control the peloton, with no attacks being attempted from the peloton. They're all waiting for after the intermediate sprint, which is coming up in just 3km.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

Philipsen takes the sprint, ahead of Pedersen, Kanter and Girmay. Girmay had a lead-out man control the sprint, but Girmay looked very tired and lost ground in the finale. Here’s what the rankings look like now:

1 Pedersen 397

2 Philipsen 361

3 Girmay 347

4 Merlier 307

5 Kanter 255

The riders are on the first climb of the day, the category one Grand Ballon. It’s a very long one, going on for 21.6km, and though it's steeper than its average gradient of 4.8% suggests - that number is skewed by a brief downhill halfway up.

EF are riding the climb with intent, first Healy and then Carapaz upping the pace at the front.

A large breakaway group has a gap on the peloton, where UAE are riding tempo. Armirail, Rubio, Carapaz and Paret-Peintre are right towards the front of the group, and among the riders trying to thin it out.

15km from the top of the climb, and this large group of about 25 riders is one minute ahead of the peloton. It's full out quality climbers who will have designs on either the stage win, the king of the mountains, or both - Carapaz, Bernal, Arensman, Tiberi, Simmons, Hirschi, Healy, Van Eetvelt, Cattaneo, Rubio, Tobias Halland Johannessen and Jorgenson, Valentin Paret-Peintre.

More significantly of all though, Tom Pidcock is here! There’s no way the GC teams can allow him up the road again now he’s as high as fourth overall.

There’s been talk throughout this Tour of whether Pidcock should ride smartly for GC, or more aggressively and target stage wins. In these past few days, he seems to have found a way to do both simultaneously!

Despite identifying him as a danger after his leap up the GC rankings yesterday, UAE aren’t panicking at his presence in the break, and continue setting a steady tempo to keep his group at 1:15.

'He's becoming a bit dangerous' - Tadej Pogačar's team feeling the heat after Tom Pidcock's Tour de France stage 13 raid

Healy and Castrillo have clipped off the front of the breakaway group, as they take on the brief downhill halfway up the Grand Ballon. They're 10 seconds ahead of the Pidcock group, which includes over 30 riders, while the peloton continue not to panic at 1:30.

Healy and Castrillo still lead by 10 seconds, as they come to within 5km from the top. It will be interesting to see who goes for the KOM points at the top - there are points available for each of the first five riders over the top, and with no single rider having stamped their authority on that classification yet, there's a chance for someone to do so today. Here are the current rankings:

1 Pogačar 42

2 Vingegaard 27

3 Carapaz 19

4 Pidcock 18

5 Valentin Paret-Peintre 18

Healy and Castrillo are back in the Pidcock group, which is now being pulled by Steinhauser, his 3 EF teammates, Healy, Carapaz and Baudin, all on his wheel. Just 3km more to climb until they finally reach the summit.

120KM TO GO

Steinhauser continues to lead the break, as they come to within 1.5km from the top. The peloton is 1:15 behind, with UAE setting tempo. The group remains all together - who will sprint for the KOM points?

KOM - GRAND BALLON

EF attempted to lead out Carapaz for the KOM points at the top with first Steinhauser and then Healy, but Paret-Peintre stole a march on him and beat him in the sprint. That pair have now pressed on down this descent and lead by a few seconds.

Here's what the KOM rankings look like now:

1 Pogačar 42

2 Paret-Peintre 28

3 Carapaz 27

4 Vingegaard 27

5 Pidcock 18

Carapaz and Paret-Peintre have been joined by Healy and the Johnannessen brothers on the descent, and have pulled out a lead of 25 seconds over the Pidcock group. Meanwhile the peloton is at 1:25.

The leading five are pulling away from the rest on the descent. A chase group of three containing Arensman, Rubio and Castrillo are 30 seconds behind, but the Pidcock group is now at 1:15, and not working well together.

100KM TO GO

The impetus has gone out of the Pidcock group. It's now 1:15 down on the leaders, and only 40 or so seconds ahead of the peloton.

Visma-Lease a Bike are in a bit of a dilemma here. They’ve succeeded in getting a few of their riders (Jorgenson, Armirail and Campenaerts) up the road and in the break. But should they work at the front, given that they also have GC rival Pidcock in the group with them? The more attacking move would be to ride on and put UAE under pressure, but at present he is having to fight more to fend off those behind on GC than the one man ahead of him.

'Vingegaard has to fight more to stay second than he does to win' – Brian Holm sees tough battle ahead for Dane to maintain best of the rest status in Tour de France

The riders are climbing again, up the category two Col du Page. Still UAE lead the peloton, and they're keeping the Pidcock group very much in check, at just 40 seconds. The leading quintet is working well together though, and have grown their lead over the peloton to two minutes.

90KM TO GO

Arensman has had to stop for a mechanical. The Dutch rider is therefore having to go hard to try to chase back up to Rubio, who has struck out alone with his teammate Castrillo having run out of gas. His work was enough to get Rubio to within 25 seconds of the leading quintet.

Visma have decided to press on in the breakaway group, despite the presence of Pidcock in it. Campenaerts has dropped back into the peloton, but Jorgenson and Armirail are working at the front of the group and have built the advantage over the peloton up to 50 seconds.

Rubio has joined the five leaders at the front, but Arensman is further behind still chasing, at 20 seconds. They're now only 1km away from the summit - Carapaz and Paret-Peintre will surely sprint for the points, but will anyone else?

KOM - COL DU PAGE

It's a repeat of the last climb, with Paret-Peintre again out-sprinting Carapaz after Healy led them out. They crest the climb 40 seconds ahead of Arensman, while the Pidcock group is at 1:50 and the peloton (which is still being led by Politt) at 3:05. Here's what the KOM rankings look like now; this pair are closing in on Pogačar's lead

1 Pogačar 42

2 Paret-Peintre 33

3 Carapaz 30

4 Vingegaard 27

5 Pidcock 18

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The weather has taken another turn for the worse, and it’s started pouring down. Bad timing, too, as the heavens have opened as the riders are descending, making these roads especially sketchy. They’re all taking it easily, and thankfully will be at the bottom quite soon, after which they’ll take on the third climb of the day - Ballon d’Alsace, which was also tackled yesterday.

Today’s stage is the second of three back-to-back tough climbing stages, which could prove decisive in the race for GC. Be sure to have a read of our more in-depth look at them.

'We will need to survive as well as possible' - Tour de France leader Tadej Pogačar hints at quiet start to tough trio of climbing stages in race

Problem for the EF riders in the break! Healy and Carapaz go wrong on the turn onto the Ballon d’Alsace, and are held up. They’ve managed to bridge back up to the other four in the break, but given how this might go down to the wire in terms of survival for the stage win, they can’t afford mishaps like that. As things stand, they remain one minute up on Arensman, two minutes up on the Pidcock group, and 3:15 up on the peloton.

It's been a relatively straightforward day in the peloton so far for Tadej Pogačar, who remains safely in the peloton. He's under some pressure with Pidcock up the road, but his team have things firmly in control, keeping his group at a minute.

Yesterday, he had a go at bottle fetching, and was full of praise for his teammates at the menial jobs like that which they do for him each day.

'It's a hard job, don't be fooled' – Tadej Pogačar turns bottle-fetcher as he gets a taste of his teammates' Tour de France workload

Arensman is back in the Pidcock group (pictured), that is still being pulled along by Visma-Lease a Bike. They remain a long way down from the 6 leaders at 1:45, but are still holding off the peloton, which are at 40 seconds.

The sextet at the front is just 1km from the top of the climb. If Paret-Peintre can once again win the sprint for the KOM points, he'll take over from Tadej Pogačar at the top of the virtual classification.

KOM - BALLON D'ALSACE

Paret-Peintre does indeed win the sprint, taking it from the front this time, and Carapaz made no real effort to come around him, settling for 2nd place. Here's the updated rankings:

1 Paret-Peintre 43

2 Pogačar 42

3 Carapaz 38

4 Vingegaard 27

5 Pidcock 18

UAE Team Emirates XRG went hard on the Ballon d'Alsace, and have the Pidcock group within their sights, the catch about to be made.

Their work is also dimming the break's chance of survival - they're now only two minutes ahead.

50KM TO GO

The Pidcock group has been caught, so these 6 riders are the only riders remaining in front of the peloton. They've still got a reasonable lead of two minutes, but you sense they will need more if they're to hold off the inevitable Tadej Pogačar charge on the final climb.

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Some riders have been dropped out of the peloton on the descent - including Lenny Martine, who is 10th on GC. His Bahrain team are leading the group to try to bring them back.

It was a tough day yesterday for Bahrain too, who worked for much of the day to try to neutralise Pidcock, but still saw their leader lose many minutes to him. If he can’t bridge up to this gap, he stands to lose yet more time.

'Everyone protects their own interests' - Bahrain Victorious spearhead pursuit of 57-rider Tour de France breakaway to keep Tom Pidcock at bay

Assisted by Netcompany Ineos, whose leader Bernal was also caught out in the split, Bahrain have helped bring Lenny Martinez back into the peloton. Panic over.

It's just as well they did, as UAE are still going at a fair lick at the front of the peloton. They've bought the 6 leaders to 1:50, as they're about to start an unclassified climb.

There’s a feeling of inevitability about a Pogačar attack on the final climb, but what of the race for the podium? It’s extremely close on GC at the moment, with only 1:02 between Evenepoel in third and Del Toro in eighth, while even Vingegaard a slender 30seconds ahead in second.

Paul Seixas is one of those riders in that cluster. He’s ridden a smart race so far, mature beyond his years - given the nature of the final climb, which really suits his strengths, today might be when he becomes more visible, and really starts to get the French excited.

'I told him we’ve got to tone it down a bit' – Luke Rowe explains why we're seeing a more cautious and conservative Paul Seixas at the Tour de France

Juan Ayuso is another of those riders in contention for the podium spots, who have so far looked pretty evenly-matched. His teammate Gee-West spoke to Cyclingnews about his prospects earlier.

'When he's good, we know how good he is' - Derek Gee-West backs teammate Juan Ayuso to make an impact in the GC battle on Tour de France mountain stages

30KM TO GO

Healy's shift is over, and he's been dropped out of the lead group. Uno-X Mobility take over with Anders Halland Johannessen working for his brother, but they're being closed down by the peloton, which are now just 1:30 behind. About 10km away from the foot of the final climb, that's very unlikely to be enough.

Having failed to win from the breakaway yesterday, UAE are reverting to their usual tactics today, controlling the break and setting Tadej Pogačar up for an assault on the stage.

If he can pull it off, it’ll be his fourth and the team’s fifth victory at this Tour de France.

‘Everyone wants to be in UAE Team Emirates-XRG, you can decide how the race happens’ – Tables turn at Tour de France as Wellens and McNulty become breakaway riders

20KM TO GO

The breakaway five are nearing the foot of Col du Haag, but with a lead of only 1:30. This is a proper climb, rising at 7.2% for 11.2km - enough for time gaps between the GC riders. Brace yourself for some action!

The break have started the Col du Haag. Anders Halland Johannessen is done, leaving just the four remaining riders in the break, with a lead of 1:20.

Decathlon have taken over from UAE at the front of the peloton on the lower slopes of the climb. The peloton is being thinned out already, and UAE's McNulty, who had been leading the peloton, is one of the men to be dropped. And Ayuso appears to be struggling towards the back...

At the front, Carapaz is on the attack in a last-ditch attempt to win the stage.

Benoot is finished for Decathlon, and another teammate takes over.

Pidcock is among the riders dropped! He stands to fall down the GC. Yates has also been dropped, so only Del Toro remains for Pog.

Carapaz has managed to go clear of Johannessen. He's still a minute ahead of the peloton, which is now being led by Visma-Lease a Bike's Kuss, who has taken over fro Decathlon's Prodhomme.

There are only 11 riders left in the peloton - Kuss, Vingegaard, Pog, Del Toro, Evenepoel, Lipowitz, Seixas, Ayuso, Skjelmose, Martinez and Voisard.

We have a first attack from the group of favourites - and it comes from Lipowitz! Seixas has gone with him, and they built a small gap, but Kuss has dragged the rest of the group back to them.

10KM TO GO

Vingegaard has taken over the pace-setting, and has just 6 left with him - Seixas, Lipowitz, Evenepoel, Ayuso, Del Toro and, of course, Pogacar. They're now only 35 seconds behind Carapaz.

Evenepoel has been dropped, but is riding at his own tempo, and not been too far distanced. There is a plateau after the summit of the climb, which could ba chance for him to make up ground again, as he has done previously at this Tour when he has been dropped.

Up ahead, Johannessen has had a second wind and re-joined Carapaz. But the pair of them are now only 20 seconds ahead of the yellow jersey group.

The catch has been made. Vingegaard has dragged the 6-man group of favourites up to the two leaders. The stage will go to one of the GC riders - but which one? The anticipated Pogačar attacks has not (yet) materialised...

POGACAR ATTACKS

Here's the move, 1500m from the top! He has a gap, not as big as he usually opens, but its slowly getting bigger, ahead of the group in which Vingegaard continues to lead the pace.

Pog is growing his lead, he's 10 seconds ahead of Vingegaard, who has dropped the rest. Seixas is third on the road, a little ahead of Del Toro, Lipowitz and Ayuso.

KOM - COL DU HAAG

A grimacing Pogačar crests the climb 23 seconds ahead of Vingegaard, who has been joined by Seixas. Can that pair work together to bring him back?

Del Toro is just a few seconds behind them, followed by Lipowitz, Ayuso and Evenepoel, who has paced the climb excellently to join them.

Vingegaard and Seixas aren't making any inroads in Pogacar's lead, which has grown to 30 seconds. They've also been joined by Del Toro, who can get a free ride, citing his teammate up the road.

1KM TO GO

37 seconds for Pog as he goes under the flamme rouge. Victory in the yellow jersey looks set to be his once again.

POGACAR WINS

Win number four at this Tour for the great Tadej Pogačar, and number 125 in his career!

38 seconds later, Del Toro wins the sprint for second ahead of Seixas and Vingegaard, while Evenepoel, Lipowitz and Ayuso arrive in a group just a handful of seconds later.

Mads Pedersen defends the green jersey, Pogačar the yellow jersey and, despite giving it away to Paret-Peintre after the earlier climbs, Pogačar also defends the polka-dot jersey.

But there has been one change in the jerseys, as Paul Seixas takes the white jersey from Juan Ayuso. Far from tiring during what is his first ever Grand Tour, the teenager appears to be getting stronger, and managed to crest the final climb with Vingegaard before ultimately placing third on the stage. He also moves up to fourth overall - debut podium finish is turning into a very real prospect, a third place that would feel much more like a triumph than the one their going for later tonight at the football world cup.

The biggest change on the GC sees Tom Pidcock slide back down, from fourth to ninth after he finished 3:34 down today. It was unclear how he would go after catapulting his way up yesterday, but today seems to confirm that he doesn’t have the legs to ride for the podium. A stage win remains on the cards though - look out for him to try and get into the break for a third successive stage tomorrow.

Thanks for joining us today, as Tadej Pogačar won his fourth stage of the 2026 Tour, and increased his lead in the overall classification.

Could he add a fifth tomorrow, bringing him just one short of his career-best tally from 2024? Quite possible given the nature of the final climb, which is an hors category averaging over 9%. But that would require his UAE team doing lots of work all day again, and, with defeating him mano y mano seemingly impossible, there will be many teams and riders desperate to get into the break, aware that’s their only chance of winning a stage. The race to try and win the stage promises to be an exciting one, so be sure to tune in again to our Live coverage!

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

2026 Tour de France - Route

2026 Tour de France - Contenders

2026 Tour de France stage 13 - Preview

How to Watch the 2026 Tour de France

The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go!

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Race Results

2026 Tour de France stage 13 - Results

Have your say

Hello and welcome to stage 13 of the Tour de France!

After a couple of sprint stages in succession, this one looks like prime territory for a breakaway to be allowed to go clear.

There is plenty of hunger in the peloton to get into the breakaway, especially among the (many) teams who remain winless, as reflected by all the efforts to do so on yesterday’s mostly flat parcours; therefore we’re anticipating a big fight to do so today, on a day that looks very well-suited to the escape artists.

Tour de France 2026 stage 13 preview - Longest stage of this year's race tackles Ballon d’Alsace on approach to finish that suits breakaway

After the crash in yesterday’s finale, there are three non-starters this morning - Jenno Berckmoes, Frits Biesterbos, and, most notably, Fernando Gaviria. The Colombian endured a frustrating Tour, although had been getting closer and closer as the race went on, before reaching the top ten for the first time on stage 12. But now his race ends prematurely, and he’ll be out of action for a little while having broken his collarbone.

'He was our big hope for the win' - Former Tour de France leader Fernando Gaviria exits with broken collarbone

The riders are travelling through the neutralised section, preparing for the official start of the stage, where the fight to get into the break will commence.

This is a curious stage. The climb (and descent) of the category one Ballon d’Alsace near the finish will be decisive, but in order to get into the breakaway to contest for the stage win, riders will need a big rouleur engine, as there are no climbs inside the first 150km of the stage. So it could be that the stage is decided by the climbing prowess of a group of breakaway riders whose speciality is not climbing.

Although this does look like prime territory for a break to succeed, it’s by no means guaranteed. Much will depend on what kind of mood is in Tadej Pogačar, and before the start today he was non-committal about whether or not he’d put his UAE team to chase the break down.

Two potential winners today, from very different scenarios - could it be Mads Pedersen from a breakaway, digging deep to survive the final climb; or Tadej Pogačar from the peloton on a GC battle?

Just 1km left before the riders leave from Dole and take on the official start. This is going to be an intense beginning, as the fight to get into the break begins.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off! Ballerini was the first rider to attack, and now another group including Abrahamsen are trying their luck - among the first of what will surely be many attempts.

200KM TO GO

Five riders have a gap of 12 seconds, and it's a strong group - Michał Kwiatkowski, Kasper Asgreen, Louis Vervaeke, Alex Kirsch and Georg Zimmermann. This won't be the end of the action, and more attacks will come out of the peloton, but if those five riders keep working together and stay out the front of the road they could be a part of whatever definitive breakaway does eventually form.

The five leaders still are 20 seconds ahead. The attacks keep coming behind, including one from Mads Pedersen and another from Ben Healy. A lot of big names fancy their chances today.

140KM TO GO

15 seconds is the lead for Kwiatkowski, Asgreen, Vervaeke, Kirsch and Zimmermann. This was a good move to get into, as all the attempts to gain a gap from the peloton since have so far been unsuccessful.

They might have Asgreen up the road already, but EF really want Ben Healy in the break, and the Irishman keeps attacking in his trademark persistent style every opportunity he gets.

He's had a difficult Tour so far, but is now in the terrain where he can really flourish.

'It's my Achilles heel, some of us just aren't built for it' – Ben Healy's attacking exploits have been stifled at the Tour de France, but he senses the moment to strike

180KM TO GO

The five riders up the road. They're working hard together, but the action in the peloton is making it difficult for them to build much of an advantage. Having been up the road for over 20km, they only have a lead of ten seconds.

The move of Kwiatkowski, Asgreen, Vervaeke, Kirsch and Zimmermann is over - they've been caught. The waves of attacks have never ceased, but now the new attackers don't have a group up the road to chase down.

170KM TO GO

There's been a split in the peloton, with a group of over 40 riders going clear from the rest of the peloton. There will be some concern among the GC teams as they try to figure out whether anyone dangerous has managed to make it in to this move. So far we have spotted any.

Tom Pidcock is the best-place rider on GC in the break. In 10th at 11:49, he'll be seen by many as a danger, and will likely spark a chase.

For now, though, it's Lidl-Trek who are trying to shut it down, having missed out on the move. They're also fearful of Jasper Philipsen, who is also in the break, and is a threat to Pedersen's green jersey.

160KM TO GO

This has turned into a battle between Alpecin and Lidl, as Philipsen’s teammates in the break look to keep this move clear, and Pedersen’s in the peloton try to shut it down. Right now, the gap remains at ten seconds.

The intermediate sprint isn’t yet for the best part of 100km away, but there are no climbs preceding it; so should this break succeed in going clear, the 25 points should be Philipsen’s. Given he only trails Pedersen by 46 points in the points classification, Lidl will not want to let him have them.

There are fifteen riders in the break to the peloton, where Pedersen has tried taking things into his own hands by pacing.

Some of the other notable names in this breakaway group, as well as Philipsen and Pidcock - Healy, Vauquelin, Van Gils, Mohoric, Wellens, McNulty, Hagenes, Schmid, Gregoire, Alaphilippe and Jegat.

150KM TO GO

Momentum is running out in the peloton. Lidl-Trek are lacking the numbers and support to keep it up, and the gap to the breakaway has grown to 40 seconds. It looks like Lidl might now have given up the ghost, as they've stopped chasing.

The peloton is over a minute behind the break now. More attacks have been made out of it though, including a move with Biniam Girmay, which has prompted Mads Pedersen to (yet again) attack himself to try and chase him down. The Girmay group remains closer to the peloton than the break, however, 50 seconds behind the latter and only 20 seconds ahead of the former.

140KM TO GO

The peloton has sat up, and is now two minutes behind the breakaway group, which has a total of 37 riders in it. But the 20-man chase group featuring Pedersen and Girmay haven’t given up yet, and are 55 seconds behind the leaders, and chasing hard to try and join them.

Jasper Philipsen will be eager for them not to. He was in a reflective mood yesterday, accepting of the fact that he was simply slower than Tim Merlier when it came to the sprints. But if that chasing group doesn’t join them, he stands to start turning his Tour around, potentially putting himself right back in contention to challenge Pedersen for the green jersey.

'If I get beaten, that's the way it is' - Jasper Philipsen forced to accept defeat as rivals Soudal-QuickStep celebrate their third Tour de France win

Slowly but surely, the Pedersen chase group is making inroads. They've still 48 seconds to bring back, but are gradually eating into that deficit.

Having ridden such a great Tour so far, with fun aggressive tactics, this had threatened to be their first mishap, but they're going about well in their efforts to amend the situation.

'We go bananas' – Lidl-Trek honour fair play code but throw cat among pigeons with barrage of attacks on the Tour de France sprinters' teams

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Mads Pedersen looks exhausted, his mouth wide open and head going from side to side, as he tries to help this group join the leaders. Progress has stalled, however, and they’re still stuck at about 45 seconds. This is going to be a hard one for him.

As well as Girmay, other riders in the group include several stage-hunters - O’Connor, Asgreen, Kwiatkowski, Matthews, Plapp, Cort and Abrahamsen among them.

120KM TO GO

Given the size of this group, surely today will be a day for the breakaway. Already the UAE-led peloton has allowed them 4:15, and are showing no signs of wanting to chase them hard.

The big question is whether the second group can catch them. Right now, it's looking hard for them, as the gap is holding stubbornly at 45 seconds.

While Tom Pidcock is the headline British name in the 37-mean leading group, his Pinarello teammate Fred Wright is another who has managed to make it. He's been speaking to Cyclingnews about his desire to win what would be a first ever professional international race.

From 'freak' injury to another shot at that 'elusive' win – Fred Wright finally finds feet at Pinarello-Q36.5 at Tour de France

Still the chase goes on, and for the first time in a while the Pedersen group has made inroads. They've brought the leaders to within 35 seconds - will they eventually be able to join them? Pedersen and Girmay (pictured) have over 30km until the all-important intermediate sprint.

It looks inevitable that the break will succeed today, but that hasn’t been the case for much of this Tour. Some in the peloton have even felt the breakaways aren’t trying to succeed, deflated by the knowledge that Tadej Pogačar can bend races to his will. Thankfully for those up ahead today, it seems the yellow jersey has no interest in chasing them down.

Are the Tour de France breakaways doing enough to try and beat UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Tadej Pogačar?

The Pedersen group is closing the gap! They’re now just 20 seconds away. It looks as though they should join them before the intermediate sprint after all, and all of the green jersey’s work all day will have been worth it.

90KM TO GO

That's it, the catch is made. So we now have a massive lead group of 58 riders.

Things should calm down a little now as they all have a breather after that long chase, but hostilities will reignite again soonish as they head towards the landmark that chase was all for - the intermediate sprint, coming up in just over 20km.

One rider who was in the Pedersen group that’s now joined the leaders is Brandan McNulty. The UAE rider has been given some freedom off domestique duty for the yellow jersey, and now has a chance to land himself, and the USA, a stage win - one that’s much needed for the nation, given they’re now on a 100-stage streak without one at the Tour.

How long will US riders' Tour de France stage win drought continue? Dubious streak reaches 100 stages

80KM TO GO

UAE Team Emirates XRG had been setting tempo at the front of the peloton, but now Bahrain-Victorious have taken over from them.

They're riding in defence of Lenny Martinez's ninth-place on GC, which has been usurped by Tom Pidcock - he's 5:15 ahead of the Brit on GC, and the peloton is currently 7 minutes down from the break.

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The breakaway is only 4km away from the intermediate sprint. Here's a reminder of what the green jersey rankings are going into it - all al of the top three are present in the break to compete for the points.

1 Mads Pedersen 357

2 Biniam Girmay 317

3 Jasper Philipsen 311

4 Tim Merlier 307

5 Max Kanter 239

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

Philipsen takes the 25 points at the sprint, after being ably led-out by his teammate Planckaert - but only just. It was a close one on the line, with Pedersen placing second and Girmay third. Here's what the rankings look like now:

1 Pedersen 377

2 Philipsen 336

3 Girmay 333

A couple of Red Bull riders have been given the day off from domestique duty and been allowed up the break today - Van Gils and Tim Van Dijke.

The team are very serious about chasing the podium with one of their two co-leaders, Evenepoel and Lipowitz, but unlike their GC rivals UAE, Visma, Decathlon and Lidl-Trek, they so far do not have a stage win. They will try to put that right today.

'Right now the fight is for the podium' - Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe prepare for two-handed GC game in Tour de France's long weekend of mountain stages

It might not be long now until the fight among the breakaway riders for the stage win begins. At the moment, Pinarello Q36.5 are setting tempo at the front for Tom Pidcock, trying to maintain their big lead of 7:40 over the peloton, and catapult him up the GC. But we’re nearing the first of the day’s two climbs, the category three Col des Croix (5.1km at 4.7%), and such a big group is surely to thin out once we start going uphill.

The break is on the climb, and riders are indeed dropping out, including Pinarello’s Fred Wright. Pidcock still has Hermans and Meurisse working for him at the front.

50KM TO GO

Just over 1km until the summit of the climb, and we have a first attack from the breakaway - and surprise, surprise, it's come from Ben Healy. He's brought about five riders with him, but the rest aren't far away.

KOM - COL DES CROIX

Hermans goes over the top of the climb first, pacing for Pidcock after the Healy move was brought back. It’s still a large group that’s together at the front, of about 40 riders. They will now descend before taking on the day’s big test - the historical, category one Ballon d’Alsace.

The gap from the break to the peloton is now up to eight minutes. It's still only Bahrain leading at the front of the peloton, but more riders' spots on GC are coming under threat now - Pidcock is now third place on the virtual GC. Will more teams assist Bahrain?

40KM TO GO

They’re about to start climbing the Ballon d’Alsace, and an exciting fight for the stage win is shaping up. Pidcock is the man many will have their eyes on, especially with such a long descent so close to the finish.

But this group is full of quality climbers who will fancy their chances of getting the better of him on the climb - McNulty, Healy, Tejada, Vauquelin, O’Connor, Plapp, Bennett, Izagirre and Jegat all look like potential winners.

Pedersen, Girmay and Philipsen are among those dropped as they start the climb, while Pluimers has attacked out of the front. Pidcock's final teammates are also finished, leaving up to the Brit to fend for himself from here to the finish.

Vauquelin set the pace briefly at the front of the group, but Pidcock has taken over after Jegat attacked. The Brit's pace is enough to bring him back.

A blast from the past as Marc Hirschi rides at the front of the race, having attacked out of the lead group. He's labouring though, and is about to be caught by the rest of the group, which is being led by Jayco-AlUla, who have O'Connor, Plapp and Schmid.

Out the back they continue to be dropped, including one of the top stage hopefuls Ben Healy.

4m from the top, Jegat tries another attack, after Jayco-AlUla were riding tempo with O'Connor. He didn't quite manage to get away, but Van Gils counter-attacks and now has a good gap of a few seconds.

Pidcock has dragged a group of about seven riders to the wheel of Van Gils. With him are Jegat, Vauquelin, Braz Afonso and a few others - plus Plapp, who has just attacked them all and got a gap.

1km from the summit, eight riders are together - Plapp, Pidcock, Schmid, Vauquelin, Tejada , Van Gils, McNulty and Braz Afonso. Plapp and Schmid are working in tandem to attack, but neither have managed to go clear.

KOM - BALLON D'ALSACE

Pidcock attacked 800m from the summit, but Plapp dragged the rest of the group back onto his wheel. Over the summit Pidcock attacked again to take the top KOM points, and now they begin the descent - Pidcock's happy hunting ground.

Ten riders are at the front together - Pidcock, Plapp, Schmid, McNulty, Wellens, Vauquelin, Tejada , Van Gils, Jegat and Braz Afonso. The Jayco pair are aware of the fact that fast-finisher Matthews is just 30 seconds behind, and could yet join them again on the descent.

As for the peloton, they're still on the climb, 8:30 behind. Pedersen has dropped back into it, and it setting the pace for Lidl-Trek, who are now defending Ayuso and Skjelmose's places on GC.

20KM TO GO

The descent isn’t quite steep or technical enough for Pidcock to make full use of his special skills, and the 10-man lead group remains all together. It could be that strength in numbers is what makes a difference in this finale - both Jayco (Schmid and Plapp) and UAE (Wellens and McNulty) have two cards to play, and will likely try firing them up the road as we get closer to the finish. This is a hard stage to call!

Wellens is the first to make an attack, as the gradient shallows and they near the bottom of the descent. That causes a split in the group briefly, but they're all back together again now.

Meanwhile the Matthews chase group is 35 seconds behind, and the peloton a distant 8:10.

Schmid and Tejada have attacked together, and now lead the rest by ten seconds. Panic is ensuing in the chase, this is a dangerous, committed move, and they're disappearing up the road.

10KM TO GO

A lot of effort is being made in the chase, but they’re struggling to cohere. Still the leading pair lead by 10 seconds.

Both stand to gain a lot - neither has ever won a stage at the Tour de France, and both their respective teams (Jayco and Astana) are winless so far at this Tour.

The advantage is leaning towards Schmid and Tejada! The chase is slowing down and the gap is growing, up to 20 seconds. There's just 6.5km left to ride.

So it looks like it’s going to be Colombia’s Tejada versus Switzerland's Schmid for the stage - the latter came out on top in that equivalent fixture a the football World Cup recently - will there repeat this time?

The two leaders have slowed as they enter the final 2km. Behind, attacks have been made by Vauquelin, McNulty and others, but they're all still 18 seconds adrift.

1KM TO GO

Tejada leads Schmid under the flamme rouge. The others haven't given up yet, but still have 18 seconds to make up. Unless they play too many games, the win should be one of theirs.

SCHMID WINS

Tejada opened up the sprint, and led for much of it, but Schmid battled back to take the win! Just seconds behind, Pidcock won the sprint for third place.

Tom Pidcock might have had to settle for third place in the end, but he still stands to gain a lot in the GC. We now wait for the GC group to arrive at the finish to find out how many places has leapt up.

The peloton arrived at the finish 7:32 after Schmid, Lidl-Trek and Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe dragging them over the line after a hard chase.

That sees Pidcock leapfrog up to fourth overall - he might not have won the stage, but he now has a great place on GC to defend, which he has being saying throughout this Tour is something he would like to try to do.

This is a career-defining victory for Mauro Schmid. He’s won big before, notably at the Giro d’Italia five years ago, but the Tour de France is at a whole different level. He’s long been a quality all-rounder, and has excelled in the classics, but to win on a stage with as hard a climb as the Ballon d’Alsace is a fine effort.

It’s also a great victory for his Jayco-AlUla team, who made top use of the very strong riders they managed to get into the break, with Matthews, Plapp and Schmid all working smartly together to seal the victory. Chapeau.

One of the big stories of the day is Pidcock’s massive jump on the GC. Big GC teams such as Lidl and Red Bull were concerned enough by him to commit to a big chase for much of the finale, with the former's Simmons leading eventually leading the peloton over the line. Is the Brit now a genuine podium contender?

Tom Pidcock rockets himself into Tour de France top five with big breakaway ride

Thanks for joining us today, for what was exactly the kind of fierce, all-in battle for a breakaway victory that we’d hope for, one that remained unpredictable throughout the day and went down to the wire.

Tomorrow could be another one for the breakaway, but then again it could also be one for the GC, as the race takes on some proper mountains, including the category one Le Markstein near the finish. There promises to be action for both the stage win, and in the race for the GC - be sure to follow along with us for all the action!

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Race Results

Race report: Tour de France: Tim Merlier wins sprint skirmish on stage 12 ahead of major pileup

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Hello and welcome to stage 12 of the Tour de France!

For the second successive stage, this one looks like it should be nailed on for the sprinters. It is a little more complicated than yesterday, with three category four climbs in total, including one within the final 25km, so the sprinters teams will have to be careful about who they let into the day’s break at the start.

Tour de France 2026 stage 12 preview - Another shot at a sprint victory in Chalon-sur-Saône

Many records for the fastest this and the record ascent of that have tumbled over the years, and yesterday, the riders completed a Tour de France road stage with the fastest speed in the race’s history. Here’s race leader Tadej Pogačar’s assessment of how that 27-year record was broken.

Yellow jersey Tadej Pogačar explains why stage 11 of 2026 Tour de France smashed 27-year-record for fastest average speed

The stage start today is being held at a Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours motor circuit - an appropriate setting given how this is expected to be another fast and furious sprint finish. They will be departing from there in a few minutes for the unofficial start.

The riders at the unofficial start. They're on the move now, and are just 2km away from the KM0. IF yesterday is an indication, there will be a lot of riders wanting to get up the road and get into the break - possibly even Mathieu van der Poel, after his surprise efforts yesterday.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off! The pace is high, with the ever-aggressive Baptiste Veistroffer at the front of the peloton, but no attacks have opened up a gap in the opening kilometre.

There's plenty of action at the front, but still no group has formed. There must be a lot of riders who fancy their chances of denying the sprinters today, as this is being raced in stark contrast to the start of the sprint stages during the first week of the Tour.

Despite XDS Astana's hopes that the breakaway riders would hold fire until tomorrow, allowing their sprinter Max Kanter to have a clear run to sprint for the stage win, lots of riders are sensing that today is a big opportunity. Attacks keep coming, and keeping getting brought back as others aren't happy at having missed it.

160KM TO GO

For the first time, a small group managed to build a lead of a few seconds - Guernalec, Hessmann, Azparren and, despite the words of his team DS about not thinking this will be one for the breakaway, Astana's Teunissen. But they've been quickly brought back by teams still desperate to have representation in the breakaway. 20km in into the stage, the fight goes on.

A new four-man group formed, and had serious firepower with Asgreen and Schmid. But also present were Paret-Peintre and Prodhomme, who are marking for their respective sprinters Merlier and Kooij, and the lack of cohesion has seen the group brought back.

150KM TO GO

The peloton has knocked off the pace, with just the one rider up the road - and it's that man again, the indefatigable Baptiste Veistroffer. Given all the efforts of riders to get into the break earlier, we can only imagine this is a temporary truce until hostilities open up again soon.

The pace remains slow, as many, including the yellow jersey, take comfort breaks. That’s likely to change as they near the intermediate sprint, coming up in just over 10km, and the green jersey candidates start winding their lead-out trains up.

For now, though, Baptiste Veistroffer remains up the lead, with a lead of over two minutes.

140KM TO GO

There's just 7km left until the intermediate sprint. Veistroffer will likely take the 25 points as he remains up the road by just under two minutes, but there's a lot of points to be fought for among the green jersey candidates.

Mads Pedersen remains in pole position in that competition and, having crunched the numbers, we believe he will be hard to depose. Have a read of our more detailed analysis regarding that competition.

With one sprint stage remaining, the Tour de France green points jersey is Mads Pedersen's to lose - Analysis

The sprinters teams have retaken control, and it's Alpecin who lead the peloton with a long line of riders. They're looking to lead out Philipsen for the intermediate sprint, who, after his reinstation yesterday, remains in contention for the green jersey.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

Pedersen wins the sprint in the peloton for the points behind Veistroffer, profiting off a strong lead-out from his Lidl-Trek teammates. Philipsen was second, Merlier third, Kanter fourth, while Girmay drifted away in the finale and managed only fifth.

With the sprint done, hostilities have reignited and the attacks are coming out of the peloton again.

Three riders have managed to go clear from the peloton - Caruso, Costiou and Vercher. The rest of the peloton has slowed - it looks like that might be the end of the fight for the breakaway.

120KM TO GO

Caruso, Costiou and Vercher have joined what must be a relieved Veistroffer, who no longer has another prospect of riding all day at the front of him self by his own. They lead the peloton by just over a minute.

Dark clouds are gathering over the peloton, and the weather could have to impact on the stage - be it rain, or possibly even crosswinds. EF DS Charly Wegelius is telling his team to be alert.

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Here are the four riders who eventually ended up in the day's break. Once again Lotto and TotalEnergies have representation, while Bahrain and Groupama are clearly becoming more restless having made it into the second of the Tour without a stage win.

KOM - COTE DE LANTY

The break has just gone over the first climb of the day, the Côte de Lanty, with Veistroffer taking the sole point on offer. It wasn't much of a test, and they were able to take it on quite easy as the pace is calm for now. That might change later, especially towards the end of the stage if any of the sprinter teams want to pile the pressure on to make life hard for their rivals.

There was some confusion amid the intermediate sprint. At first, it seemed as though Pedersen had been relegated from the sprint, and he was seen talking animatedly with the commissaire in the car, and his Lidl-Trek team saying they had been told that over the radio. However, the results have been confirmed, and Pedersen confirmed to have taken 20 points. Here are the official updated rankings:

1 Mads Pedersen 337

2 Biniam Girmay 282

3 Jasper Philipsen 271

4 Tim Merlier 237

5 Max Kanter 215

This has been another quiet day for the yellow jersey, but you imagine that will change over the coming day, especially when we reach the mountains at the weekend.

In firm control of the jersey, Tadej Pogačar could ride defensively all the way from here until Paris, but he looks like a man on a mission, eager to right wrongs from the past and gain as much individual success as possible.

Tadej Pogačar's Tour de France tour of revenge is almost complete – Which demons are still left to slay?

The heavens have opened! Many days of pressure in this hot weather has finally cracked, and rain has started falling heavily on the race.

KOM - COTE DE CUZY

The break go over the second categorised climb of the day, another category four effort, and once again Veistroffer is allowed to take the point uncontested. The peloton continues to ride hard to control the break, and has them at just 45 seconds.

As the the weather, that was only a brief shower, and the weather is dry once again.

Give or take one or two other stages that they have an outside chance in, this might already be the very last bunch sprint at this year’s Tour de France.

The kilometres that precede can be a little dull sometimes, but there’s no spectacle quite like a bunch finish, and part of that is the variety of different styles of the sprinters who try to win. Before we witness that again later today, be sure to have a read of our piece on the science of sprinting.

What kind of sprinter are you? Understanding the key strengths of Tour de France fastmen – and how to beat them

70KM TO GO

Just 40 seconds now for the four riders out front. If this is to be the last chance of a bunch sprint at this Tour, the sprinters are not going to let the opportunity slip.

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60KM TO GO

There’s movement out front, as Veistroffer and Costiou drop their two breakaway companions, Caruso and Vercher. Given their slender lead of 50 seconds, they’re likely just delaying the inevitable catch.

Jasper Philipsen is hoping to put what has been a stressful time at this Tour behind him, and at last seal what would be a first stage win at this race. He wasn’t impressed by the commissaires yesterday, even after they reinstated him, but remains as hungry as ever for success, and his Alpecin team are prominent at the front of the peloton as they work to control and bring back the break.

'They don't know the difference between a cow and a horse' – Former top sprinter criticises Tour de France jury after Philipsen relegation debacle

50KM TO GO

Jonas Vingegaard has had to make his way back to the peloton after a mechanical, with the help of a few teammates. Thankfully for him, the racing isn't full on yet, as the peloton keep the two remaining breakaway riders (Caruso and Vercher are back in the peloton) pegged at about 40 seconds.

Vingegaard has had supportive words for his great rival, in the aftermath of him being booed a couple of days ago.

'Don't boo at him' - Jonas Vingegaard defends Tadej Pogačar against Tour de France hecklers

Costiou has given up the ghost, leaving Veistroffer up front by himself, just as he was before the breakaway formed. There will be no pries for guessing who wins the combativity award today, but right now Veistroffer is re concerned with how much longer he can lead the race for. As things stand, the peloton is still allowing him 40 seconds.

40KM TO GO

30 seconds now for Veistroffer. The sprinter teams won't want to catch him too early, but the pace in the peloton might go up regardless in the coming kilometres - the terrain gets a little undulating, with one categorised and another uncategorised climb to come, and there's a chance for some teams to put the pressure on the purer sprinters (Mads Pedersen and Lidl-Trek - we're looking at you)

ATTACK - SIMMONS

Things are getting interesting, and as anticipated, it's Lidl-Trek who are laying down the pressure! Simmons attacks on the uncategorised climb, joined by 6 or 7 riders, with others trying to join them.

This is all getting very chaotic, with more and more riders jumping out of the peloton. Some very strong riders are in the front group, including Ganna.

All this started happening when Philipsen had only just made his way back to the peloton from a mechanical, and there's no sign of him towards the front of the bunch.

30KM TO GO

Ganna and Lidl’s Vacek are doing much of the pace-setting in the group that’s formed, which has about 15 riders in it. Soudal-QuickStep are trying to lead the chase in the peloton for their sprinter Merlier, but they’re 20 seconds adrift..

Amid all of that action, Veistroffer was caught and is back in the peloton, now struggling to hang on at the back.

The peloton are really going quick to try and bring this breakaway group back, and have them back at 10 seconds.

The break's been caught, thanks largely to some great work by Soudal's Paret-Peintre. There's still another climb to come, however, and a lack of control in the peloton - more attacks are likely imminent.

They're on the Côte de Montagny-lès-Buxy (2.5km at 3.9%), and attacks have indeed been fired, mostly from Lidl-Trek. Derek Gee-West instigated them, and though he has been caught, he is setting a ferocious pace up the climb, presumably to put the other sprinters under as much pressure as possible.

CÔTE DE MONTAGNY-LÈS-BUXY

Lidl are all over the climb. After Gee-West's work, both Simmons and then Vacek piled the pressure on, and have both crested the climb in a group of about eleven, a few seconds ahead of the peloton.

15KM TO GO

Despite the efforts of Grégoire and Simmons to keep away, all the riders in that group have been caught on the descent. It's a reduced peloton though - do the sprinters' teams have the firepower to control it and prevent other attacks?

This is turning into an unpredictable finale, with only 15km left. And Pedersen himself has just done a turn at the front of the peloton with a big push!

Pedersen is fully committing to attacking rather than waiting for the sprint. He's just attacked for the third time, taking a few riders with him, but can't quite get a gap. The peloton remains altogether again, for now, but the attacks keep coming.

The race is still a mess, with the attacks coming thick and fast. Lidl remain the main instigators, with even Skjelmose having a go, but nothing has managed to stick.

5KM TO GO

There's more control in the peloton now as we approach the finish. The sprinter teams have reasserted control, and the attacks have ceased. It looks like we should have a bunch sprint after all.

XDS Astana have control of the peloton at the moment, but the other sprinters are well-positioned, Merlier, Philipsen and Pedersen all right towards the front as they enter the final 3km.

1KM TO GO

After a long turn from Lidl-s Vacek, Alpecin take over at the front as they enter the final kilometre with a long train of three lead-out men. This is looking good for Philipsen.

MERLIER WINS

In a dramatic finale Merlier takes the win! Philipsen had the lead-out, but once again Merlier had the speed, and takes his third stage win at this year's Tour.

There was a crash in the sprint right towards the front of the peloton in the final few hundred metres, with Gaviria going down with Wærenskjold It was dramatic, and many riders were held up behind it, but it doesn’t seem that anyone has been too badly hurt.

It was a closer sprint than we've seen before, with all the sprinters bunched together at the front, but Merlier still had time to celebrate as he crossed the line.

Jasper Philipsen will be deeply disappointed at not being able to win today. He had a domineering lead-out from his Alpecin team, who stormed to the front at almost exactly 1km to go. He had Van der Poel as the last man to deliver him, too, but by his side Jasper Stuyven also managed to deliver his man Merlier into a strong position, and ultimately Philipsen was - as he has this whole race - simply done for pace by Merlier.

Given everything had to go through in that finale, with constant attacks over the kind of undulating terrain he struggles with, that was some win by Tim Merlier. He’s in the form of his life, and three stage wins make this the most successful Grand Tour of his career. There can be little doubt now - he is the fastest sprinter in the world.

Tim Merlier's child was at the stage today, giving him some extra motivation to go for the win today.

Thanks for joining us today, for what was the last sprint we’ll see at this Tour for a while - and possibly at all.

Tomorrow sees the return of climbing, beginning the next phase of this race, where the GC contenders will return to the centre of attention. Could it be another win for Tadej Pogačar? Can someone challenge him? Or will the breakaway be able to succeed? Find out tomorrow as we bring you all the action live once more.

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

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2026 Tour de France stage 11 - Preview

How to Watch the 2026 Tour de France

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Race Results

2026 Tour de France stage 11 - results

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Hello and welcome to stage 11 of the Tour de France!

After yesterday’s excursion through the climbs of the Massif Central, which saw Tadej Pogačar seal an even firmer grip on the yellow jersey, today the attention reverts back to the sprinters for what looks sure to be a day for the sprinters. There are only two categorised climbs all day, and both of them are only category fours - nothing for the fastmen to worry about.

Tour de France 2026 stage 11 preview

Based on how the previous sprint stages have gone, Tim Merlier is the hot favourite for the win today. Not only has he won two in succession, he’s done so in mightily impressive fashion, coming back from bad positions in the finale to storm past the opposition.

Today might not be quite so straightforward for him, however. Yesterday, he was dropped out of the peloton almost from the very start of the stage, and only managed to avoid the time cut by a matter of minutes - how much will those efforts to do so have taken out of him ahead of today’s bunch sprint?

Tour de France: Tim Merlier claims back-to-back victories on stage 8 with furious sprint into Bergerac

The peloton is one rider short of those who finished yesterday. Chris Harper has pulled out of the race after being one of the riders to fall in a crash late yesterday, and it turns out he will need surgery on the injuries sustained to his hand.

In better news for Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, the other man who went down, Tom Pidcock, is OK to continue, and has said the he thinks he’s going to be OK.

'I've don't think I've ever crashed in a Grand Tour before' – Tom Pidcock bashed up but relatively unscathed after crashing on descent during Tour de France

Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard at the start a little earlier, sharing a word ahead of what should be a more chilled out day for them both. They and the rest of the riders are on the move now and making their way towards kilometre 0.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off! And there's a fascinating development - Mathieu van der Poel is the first rider to attack, despite this seeming like a day for his teammate Jasper Philipsen. What are Alpecin-Premier Tech up to?

This is a much bigger fight to get into the breakaway than on previous sprint stages. Alpecin remain eager to get a man up there, and are among many teams who have tried to clip off the front - to no avail so far.

150KM TO GO

Van der Poel continues to attack, and is still trying to get into the day's move. At face value it doesn't seem like much of a vote of confidence in Jasper Philipsen to amend his poor start in the sprints. But might they have something else in mind? There’s an intermediate sprint coming up in about 15km - perhaps they want him to prevent the other green jersey candidates from taking points there?

Or perhaps they want as hard a stage as possible to try and wear out Tim Merlier and his team before the final sprint? It’s a tricky one to figure out.

Still no breakaway has formed, as multiple attacks keep being made, although Alaphilippe, Charmig, Oliveira and Le Berre have managed to build a lead of a few seconds.

One change from previous days is the weather. It’s still hot on the road, but humid and cooler compared with earlier, and the riders are subjected to the unusual sight of grey skies, while the roads are even still wet from rainfall earlier.

The peloton has sat up, and those four riders - Alaphilippe, Charmig, Oliveira and Le Berre - have a lead of 1:25. It appears we have our break of the day, but they might yet be joined by another rider in Liam Slock, who is trying to bridge up to them. He has 25 seconds still to make up.

The four riders up the road, who have been allowed a lead of 1:40, although that will likely come down as the green jersey teams start preparing for the upcoming intermediate sprint.

It's not looking good for Slock, however - he's drifting further away from the quartet, and is now 45 seconds behind.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

After the five riders up the road hoovered up most of the points (with Le Berre sprinting for first), Philipsen won the sprint in the peloton for 6th ahead of Kanter, Pedersen and Girmay.

Notable by his absence was Merlier, who is saving himself for the final sprint - given his difficulties in the climbs yesterday, the relentless effort required in all terrain to chase the green jersey is going to be very difficult for him to win that jersey, so perhaps he is deprioritising it and going all in for more stage wins.

Slock gave up the ghost shortly after the intermediate sprint, called back by his Lotto DS. So we're going to have a four-man break up the road today - bigger than previous sprint stages, but still a manageable size for the sprinter teams to pull back.

Right now it's XDS Astana and NSN assisting Soudal-QuickStep with the pace-setting, and they’re keeping the break at 1:30.

120KM TO GO

The gap's been held at 1:30. Notable by their absence in the chase are Alpecin-Premier Tech. Philipsen might have beat his rivals in the intermediate sprint, but his team are absolving themselves of responsibility of chasing, even having failed to get Van der Poel up the road.

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While the race is in a holding pattern, the peloton keeping the four-man break at about 1:15, let’s reflect upon yesterday’s stage and the impact it had on the GC race.

It was another crushing day for all of those hoping against hope to stop Tadej Pogačar from winning this Tour de France. The defending champion once again rode everyone off his wheel in the finale - but didn’t quite manage to land a knock-out blow, with all of his main rivals limiting their losses to under 45 seconds.

Peerless Pogačar drains tension out of the Tour de France as Jonas Vingegaard's losing battle brings podium scramble into focus – GC analysis

100KM TO GO

Still the gap is at 1:15, with Soudal doing most of the work, supported by Astana and NSN.

Not everyone is appreciating Tadej Pogačar’s dominance at this race. In fact, some fans have been outright hostile, with the Slovenian revealing to the press that he had been booed out on the road yesterday.

While he might have felt he ‘honoured the yellow jersey’ by winning on Bastille Day, the French might have hoped he’d let a break contest the stage, and have one of their home riders take the win - a much needed boost for the nation after being dumped out of the football World Cup.

'They put wood on the fire' – Is Tadej Pogačar's popularity fading as he's booed by 'haters' at the Tour de France?

Talking of the football, it’s now up to Paul Seixas to rescue France’s summer of sport now that their World Cup dream is over. He’s ridden a great race so far, riding consistently and without issue to keep himself right up there in fifth on GC, well within shooting distance of the podium.

Yesterday, he managed to negotiate and survive some dodgy descents, passing yet another test on what has so far been an exceptional debut.

'Extremely dangerous' – Teenager Paul Seixas navigates 'melting' descents at Tour de France to move up to fifth overall on debut

80KM TO GO

Still the gap remains hovering at about 1:30. The weather is warmer out there now, with the clouds having dispersed, and there’s no threat of more rain for now.

The way the stage has unfolded so far, there’s no reason to believe that the predicted outcome of bunch sprint finish won’t come into fruition. Have a read of what some of the leading candidates for the win have had to say before the stage start.

Sprinters welcome rain and cooler weather as Tour de France green jersey erupts again on stage 11 in Nevers

70KM TO GO

The break are being kept on a leash, at 1:30, but a peloton being predominantly led by Soudal-QuickStep.

Alaphilippe will surely have hoped for more than that. He’s the star man in the break, and is hoping to add to his 6 career Tour stage wins - but winning this way, from a breakaway, was always going to be more of a long shot than the stage wins he managed in his heyday, mostly from punchy terrain. He might not have the legs of those days, but still has the same insatiable motivation to chase success.

The weather remains dry for now, but word on the street is that it could take a turn for the worse later today. That could seriously complicate matters when the pace and tension ramps up for the finale.

There’s been a lot of talk about Jonas Vingegaard and his hitherto unknown considerations for quitting the sport. He might have struggled yesterday, but the mood is still good, and he and his team have been talking about how they've talked through and worked on the Dane’s issues.

'Jonas is very open and feels right at home' – How Vingegaard's threat to quit sparked changes and dialogue at Visma-Lease a Bike

The pace has been calm enough in the peloton for Juan Ayuso to spend a lot of time in the convoy sorting something out with his team car. He’s another rider being overshadowed by Tadej Pogačar, but is himself riding a great Tour de France, and is well in the hunt for what would be a first Grand Tour podium finish since the 2022 Vuelta.

'He's doing a different race than us' - Juan Ayuso is in the fight for the podium but accepts Tadej Pogačar is in a race of his own

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40KM TO GO

The gap is as low as it's been for a while, only a fraction above one minute. It's still advantage the peloton, and they might be beginning to wind it up.

COTE DE BILLY-CHEVANNES

Charmig leads the break over the top of the second and final category four climb of the day, the Côte de Billy-Chevannes, to earn a solitary KOM point. But missing now from the break is Alaphilippe, who was dropped towards the start of the climb. The appetite might still be there for the 34-year-old, but the legs no longer are.

Florian Lipowitz in the bunch, near his teammate Remco Evenepoel. Tensions appear to have eased a little between the two, and the talk after yesterday’s stage was of how they can work together to not only target a podium finish on GC, but 2nd place ahead of Vingegaard.

'We can fight for second' – Florian Lipowitz and Remco Evenepoel kick off Tour de France's second week with renewed alliance

CRASH

Three riders have gone down in a crash in the peloton - O'Connor, Zimmermann and another. Zimmermann seems the worst of of the three, and is receiving attention on the medical bike, but is back riding again.

30KM TO GO

For the first time today, Alpecin-Premier Tech have joined in with the pace-setting. With the gap between the peloton and the three breakaway riders still at one minute, they'll need to make a proper effort to bring them back.

Alaphilippe has been dropped out of the peloton, having been caught by it earlier. The peloton is going at a real pace now, brining the three remaining escapees back to within 50 seconds with 25km left to ride.

20KM TO GO

Charmig, Le Berre and Oliveira are pushing on hard, and keeping their chances alive. They lead by 44 seconds - it's close, but still feels unlikely to be enough.

35 seconds now for the break, with 15km left. The gap's coming down, but there's still hope for the three out front.

You can see from the faces of the riders in the peloton the effort that's having to be made to bring this break back. It's still coming down, slowly but surely, now to 25 seconds with 12km left to ride.

10KM TO GO

There isn’t a want of numbers riding at the front of the peloton. Picnic, Alpecin, NSN and XDS Astana are all contributing, although Soudal-QuickStep have eased up having done so much work earlier. With 10km to go, they’ve brought the gap down to 20 seconds.

Mechanical for Fernando Gaviria. That’s disastrous rinsing for the Colombian, who is unlikely to make it back to be in contention for the sprint finish today - the sole thing he is at this Tour de France to do.

5KM TO GO

The gap has plummeted the final kilometres, and the catch has been made. Chapeau to the break for their efforts!

The pace has dropped off again now the break has been caught. No team wants to commit their lead-outs too early, and the peloton has bunched up. Good news for Gaviria - he's back in the peloton again! He will be able to sprint for the stage after all.

At last the pace increases as the enter the final 2km, and NSN take over with a huge acceleration ahead of the final corners.

1KM TO GO

The peloton is all strung out single file again. Uno-X Mobility are leading, for but Philipsen, Kanter and Kooij are up there too

WAERENSKJOLD WINS

Søren Wærenskjold takes the win! After his team's lead-out, he caught all the other sprinters out by starting early, and despite getting close, Kooij and Philipsen couldn't quite close him down in the final metres, having to settle for second and third respectively.

That was an unusual sprint, disrupted when Cees Bol (ostensibly the lead-out man for Kooij) started his sprint early and jumped out of the bunch by a few bike-lengths. Wærenskjold used his slipstream, first chasing him down, then slingshotting past him to take the victory, while the others delayed responding to Bol’s move.

This result really is a turn up for the books. Until today, Wærenskjold’s only stage at World Tour level was at the 2025 Omloop Nieuwsblad, a result that equally took the field by surprise that day.

He follows in the footsteps of riders like Thor Hushovd, Alexander Kristoff, Edvald Boassen Hagen and teammate Jonas Abrahamsen by becoming a Norwegian winner at the Tour de France. And for his Norwegian team, it’s a huge victory, and especially impressive given that they also had a man in the breakaway all day.

Today has also seen a historic Tour de France record - that was the fastest ever road stage in the race’s history, clocking in at 50.9km per hour. That breaks the record of 50.36 set in 1999 by Mario Cipollini.

Tour de France speed record smashed on stage 11 to Nevers as peloton averages 50.9kph

News just coming in - Jasper Philipsen has been relegated, presumably for dangerous sprinting.

This had been an encouraging day for the Belgian, who looked sharper in the final sprint than he has in previous stages. But that decision sees him plummet down the points classification, the green jersey now seeming to be a distant goal.

Here's what the points classification looks like now. With Merlier also finishing well down in the sprint, there's now some daylight between Pedersen and Girmay and the rest.

1 Mads Pedersen 319

2 Binam Girmay 276

3 Tim Merlier 225

4 Jasper Philipsen 215

5 Max Kanter 205

Thanks for joining us today, for what was a part of Tour de France history, as the fastest stage ever ridden.

Tadej Pogačar keeps hold of the yellow jersey, and will likely do so again tomorrow for what is another flat day that should be one for the sprinters. They’ve been wide open affairs so far, with Søren Wærenskjold becoming the third different winner from four sprints. What will tomorrow have in store? Be sure to join us once again to find out as we bring you all the action.

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

2026 Tour de France - Route

2026 Tour de France - Contenders

2026 Tour de France stage 10 - Preview

How to watch Tour de France stage 10

The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go!

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Race Results

2026 Tour de France stage 10 - results

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Bonjour and welcome to stage 10 of the Tour de France!

We’re back from the rest day, and with a stern test of climbing as the peloton heads into the Massif Central for what promises to be a thriller.

This very same finale was the host for one of the most memorable Tour stages in recent years, when, in at the 2024 race, a rare thing happened: Pogačar was unsuccessful with an attack, being clawed back by a patient Jonas Vingegaard before the finish, and pipped to the line. Pogačar’s rivals are in real need of a boost like this to restore hope that he can be defeated. Given the history here, could today be the day?

Tour de France stage 10 preview: UAE set to use scene of Tadej Pogačar's 2024 defeat at Le Lioran as 'source of extra motivation'

It's Bastille Day! This is the big day at the Tour de France for the French riders, the one that everyone representing the host nation wants to make an impression. The nation has not yet won a stage at this year's race - now would be a perfect time to do so.

The star French rider so far at this race has, as hoped, been Paul Seixas, who has lived up to the hype and remains right up there on GC, in 6th overall. The parcours is tough enough for this to be contested by the GC riders - what a story it would be if the teenager can claim his first ever Tour stage on this day of all days.

The riders are on the move in Aurillac for the neutralised start. Brace yourself - given the nature of the parcours, this is going to be a huge fight to get into the breakaway, possibly the most hotly contested of the Tour so far. It's going to be a lot of fun!

It's another scorcher of a day in France, continuing what has been a relentlessly hot Tour de France. Alongside the parcours and the incentive to get into the break, that will be another factor that makes this a very gruelling, demanding stage, and a rude awakening from yesterday's rest.

OFFICIAL START

After a bit of a delay, we're off! Cofidis and Lotto are the first teams to try attacks.

Mads Pedersen has had to stop briefly for a mechanical. These first 25km of the stage are the most important of the day for him, as there’s an intermediate sprint coming up around then that he and those after his green jersey will be after - unlike at the end of the stage, where the climbers and GC riders will take over.

Thankfully for Pedersen, it was a quick change and he’s in the convoy making his way back.

A group of five (Josh Tarling, Javier Romo, José Félix Parra, Mathis Le Berre and Felix Engelhardt) have been caught, and now Ben O'Connor has counter-attacked.

The Australian is still clearly in the mood to take something from this Tour, despite falling well out of GC contention. Despite his difficulties so far, he told Cyclingnews that he's enjoying his time at this race, and is the kind of rider who could triumph on a stage like today from a breakaway if he can get up the road.

'Initially I called it love-hate but I can walk back on that now' – Ben O'Connor at peace with Tour de France after years of mixed fortunes

The peloton is back to how it was at the start of the day - all together. O'Connor has been caught, and no other attacks have gone clear for now. With the intermediate sprint coming up in just over 10km, it appears many stage hopefuls are waiting for it to be done before making their committed moves.

Lidl-Trek are using a short unclassified uphill (of which there are many in this region) to put the pressure on, with Simmons leading the peloton and Pedersen a few wheels behind. It looks like they’re trying to make matters hard for his green jersey rivals, and potentially take them out of contention before the intermediate sprint.

There was a split in the peloton, under Lidl’s fast pace, and of all people Tadej Pogačar was caught the wrong side of it. The Slovenian looked very untroubled bridging it, but did so by himself, with no teammates around him - not an ideal start to the day on such tricky terrain.

Other GC riders are still in a group a few seconds behind, including Jonas Vingegaard.

Vingegaard and the other GC riders all appear to be back in the peloton - but Tim Merlier is not. Lidl-Trek are still pushing on at the front with Vacek and Simmons, and the sprint is only a few kilometres away. Girmay is also up there, but it's unclear where the other green jersey rivals are, but Merlier won't be competing for any points.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

Pedersen wins the intermediate sprint, after a lead out from his teammate Simmons. He was nearly defeated by Kanter, who made his move early, but just about dragged him back before the lines. Behind those two,Girmay, Philipsen and Matthews also earned points as the next riders over the line.

Now, attention shifts back to the riders trying get into the day’s break.

The attacks are coming out of the peloton again, and we have a group of eleven gone clear by a few seconds - Movistar (Castrillo, Hessmann, Oliveira) and Netcompany (Foss, Kwiatkowski, Tarling) have three each, and are joined by Costiou, Aranburu, Bennett, Devolve and, interesting, Richard Carapaz. The peloton aren't happy with the group though and chasing hard.

The first rest day of a Tour often sees casualties, and this year we have one abandoned to report - Matteo Trentin, who was struck by a fever last night. His Tudor team has been one who have been active in trying to make the break, but so far nothing yet has stuck.

Tour de France abandons – Matteo Trentin drops out after first rest day

120KM TO GO

Here was the group that tried to get away earlier, but didn't succeed. More moves are going now, with multiple small groups ahead of the peloton but only by a few seconds each. It's messy, but no sign of a break sticking yet.

A big group of over 20 riders has a gap over about 10 seconds, and it’s full of big names - Van der Poel, Ganna are the headliners, but are also joined by Vauquelin, Abrahamsen, Baudin, Wellens, Jegat and Valentin Paret-Peintre, to name a few. It’s far from settled though as more are trying to join from behind.

The battle continues to rage! That group was was brought back, and now another fresh group of attackers are trying their luck. This could go on for a long time yet, especially with so many home riders wanting to have a big day on the national holiday; and some will be hating it - notably Tim Merlier, who's over five minutes adrift of the peloton now.

We might have our day’s break - a big group of about 30 riders has got the biggest lead of the day so far, of just over 30 seconds. It’s full of stellar names - Van der Poel, Healy, Baudin, Jegat, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Romo, Ion Izagirre, O’Connor, Abrahamsen, Tejada, Arensman and Vauquelin are all present. Will the peloton let this one go?

CRASH

A few riders have gone down in the peloton. They're all back on their feet, but Lennert Van Eetvelt has yet to get riding again. The Belgian has looked strong all Tour, and might have been a candidate to get into the breakaway today.

The break of about 30 riders (pictures) now lead by just under a minute, but are being chased by a peloton being paced by UAE Team Emirates XRG. A big question of the day is whether or not their leader Tadej Pogačar wants the stage today, or if he's happy to let the break take it. Based on the way they're riding now, it seems the former is true.

100KM TO GO

Although they’ve taken on lots of elevation gain already today, the riders are now on the first categorised climb of the day - the category three Côte de Pailherols.

The Astana riders are using it to try to up the pace in the break for their men Higuita, Tejada and Velasco, but the UAE-led peloton are still just under a minute behind.

KOM - COTE DE PAILHEROLS

Paret-Peintre is allowed to take the two points on offer at the top of the climb uncontested, with his teammate Vervaeke taking the other point. The Frenchman has stated his intention to target he polka-dot jersey.

'Without Remco going for the overall, you feel more free' – Valentin Paret-Peintre enjoys extra liberty to aim high in the mountains of the Tour de France

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90KM TO GO

Tejada and Romo have clipped off the front of the breakaway group and there's a lack of a chase to bring them back. They lead by 45 seconds to that group, which is now closer to the peloton, which is just less than 40 seconds behind them. Cohesion has broken down, and they may be caught, even as UAE set a modest tempo with Nils Politt.

There's some action in the chase group, as Healy, Higuita and Vervaeke attack and set off in pursuit of Tejada and Romo.

Meanwhile in the peloton, UAE continue to set tempo to control things, without going too deep just yet. As things are going, it appears they want the stage win for Pog.

80KM TO GO

Romo and Tejada still lead the race, but are being chased by Healy, Higuita and Vervaeke, who are now just 30 seconds behind. The chasing group behind them are beginning to get their act together, and are only a further 10 seconds behind, with the peloton at 1:27.

From bad nights at a dodgy hotels, to more excessive heat, there’s a lot to discomfort the riders on top of the terrain today. Here’s what Matteo Jorgenson had to say about how the heat is affecting him at this race.

'I can't immediately remember a tougher edition' – Matteo Jorgenson suffers in the Tour de France heat

The riders are on the second official climb of the day, the cat 2 Col de la Griffoul, and the race is breaking up. Romo has dropped Tejada at the front, Healy has gone clear of Vervaeke and Higuita behind, while the larger chasing group is thinning.

70KM TO GO

Healy has been brought back into the chase group, which is a lot smaller than it was with those lacking the climbing legs having dropped back into the peloton. KOM hopefuls Baudin and Paret-Peintre are still present, but they all trail Romo by 50 seconds as they near the summit.

KOM - COL DE LA CRIFFOUL

Romo takes the five points at the top, while in the group behind, Paret-Peintre, Baudin and Debruyne went clear of the rest. The other two let the former take the three points at the line.

Meanwhile the peloton closed the gap to the leaders since Wellens started working on the climb, to just one minute. They're giving the breakaway very let hope at this rate.

The peloton have really upped the pace now, as they climb the category three Col de Prat de Bouc, which began almost immediately after the previous one. Paret-Peintre, Baudin and Debruyne are struggling to remain out front before the summit.

KOM - COL DE PRAT DE BOUC

Romo takes the points at the top of the climb, while Paret-Peintre just about holds on for the final point.

The peloton are now within a minute of Romo, while every rider other than him, Paret-Peintre, Baudin and Debruyne have been caught.

Paret-Peintre, Baudin and Debruyne have all been caught by the peloton, leaving Romo as the sole man out front. With more climbs to come, starting with the category three Côte de Murat, will we see fresh new attacks?

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50KM TO GO

Romo still has just under a minute on the peloton, but UAE Team Emirates XRG have made their intentions clear - they want the stage win. While they're work today is more understandable, the ride a couple of days ago was harder to explain - have a read of how Sean Kelly tried to make sense of it.

I can't understand why UAE Team Emirates-XRG are riding so much, but Pogačar is so good that he will correct any mistakes in the Alps - Sean Kelly's Tour column

COTE DE MURAT

Romo leads the race over yet another climb, while the peloton reach the summit 45 seconds later, with Baudin quietly moving to the front to take the final remaining point.

The climbing has been hard so far, but it's about to get even harder. We're about to take on a double-header of cat 1 climbs, starting with the Puy Mary-Pas de Peyrol (7.7km at 5.9%).

It seems clear from the way UAE are riding that Pogačar is planning an attack. The question is when? On this climb perhaps? It might seem a little early, but from the way he's been riding you can envision him soloing all the way to finish and gaining a lot of time.

That said, he might be a little cautious based on what happened here two years ago, when he attacked on this very same climb, only to be caught and outsprinted by Jonas Vingegaard at the finish.

Tour de France: Jonas Vingegaard charges ahead of Tadej Pogačar to win gripping finale on stage 11

Today will be a big test for the GC ambitions of Paul Seixas, one of the riders who will hope to challenge Pogačar and Vingegaard on their rematch from two years ago.

The enormous pressure on his to perform has been alleviated somewhat by the stage win from his teammate, Olav Kooij, but the French public are still willing him to fight for the GC and light up the Tour - especially on Bastille Day.

Early sprint stage win for Decathlon 'takes a huge amount of pressure off' teenage leader Paul Seixas in second half of Tour de France

Romo’s day out in front is over, as he’s brought back by the peloton.

Wellens is done riding at the front, and now the next UAE rider takes over- but his pace isn’t fast enough to prevent Carapaz from attacking and gaining a few seconds.

Felix Großschartner is the rider pacing for UAE, and they still have McNulty, Yates and Del Toro to come after for Pogačar. Richard Carapaz is going quicker for now though, and has opened up a lead of 25 seconds.

The riders are onto the final 2km of the climb now, which a UAE DS reminds his team on race radio is steeper than the rest of the climb. Even though Großschartner is done and Yates taken over, Pogačar still has lots of teammates to use up, so an attack doesn't seem forthcoming yet, and Carapaz looks good to take the KOM points at the top.

KOM - PAS DE PEYROL / LE PUY MARY

Carapaz leads the race over the climb, about 15 ahead of the peloton, which only has about 15 riders left in it - even Sepp Kuss is struggling to hold on.

The stage win might be a huge long shot, but Carapaz has at least laid the foundations for a potential polka-dot jersey.

CRASH - PIDCOCK AND HARPER

The riders are on the descent; it's a tricky one, and has already claimed two victims - Harper, and the notoriously great descender Tom Pidcock. They're back up and riding, thankfully.

20KM TO GO

Pogačar is looking comfortable on this descent, avoiding the crash that it turns out Jorgenson, as well as Pidcock and Harper, was involved in.

For now Carapaz is still going quicker than Pogačar in the peloton, and has built his lead to one minute.

Adam Yates has just led the peloton onto the Col du Perthus, about 1:15 behind Carapaz. This one rises at a steep 8.3% for 4.5km, steep enough for Pogačar’ to explode the race. Brace yourselves.

Nicolas Prodhomme takes over with the pace-setting, a little to enthusiastically, as he has to slow down after a gap opened up between himself and the rest of the group, including his teammate Paul Seixas. The group is down again to about 15 riders.

Adam Yates has taken over the pace-setting again, but isn't pressing on too hard. As a result, Carapaz is managing to hold a lead of one minute, with 2.5km left to climb.

Yates is finished, and Visma's Piganzoli takes over from him, despite having been dropped earlier on the climb. The pace is down, and there anticipated Pogačar attacks is yet to materialise.

Piganzoli has upped the pace, and the only riders left in the group with 1km left to climb are the top ten on GC, plus Pidcock. Johannessen has been dropped.

POGACAR ATTACKS

He's made his move, just over 1km from the top, and has dropped everyone in no time! Vingegaard is alone behind him, but already several seconds behind.

15KM TO GO

Pogačar is nearing the summit, already 20 seconds up on Vingegaard - and he's just passed and dropped Carapaz!

KOM - COL DU PERTHUS

Pogačar reaches the summit, Carapaz is second over the top, then a group containing Vingegaard, Evenepoel, Lipowitz, Ayuso Skjelmose and Seixas at 18 seconds, then a group containing Del Toro, about 10 seconds behind.

10KM TO GO

Pogačar receives a word of warning on this descent. He's not going too hard, but still increasing his lead on Carapaz, who had come to within five seconds of him but is now at 10 seconds. The Vingegaard group is at 17 seconds, while Del Toro is at 28 seconds.

Carapaz has been caught by, and already dropped out of, the Vingegaard group, who are still 16 seconds behind Pogačar. They have the numbers, with 6 riders in this group, but do they have the will to work together and try to bring him back?

Pogačar is using the 5.5% slopes of the final, 3.5km climb they are currently riding up to solidify his lead. He has 20 seconds on the chasers - and is looking good for the stage win, albeit not a massive gain on GC.

Evenepoel is struggling to hold on to the wheels of Vingegaard, Seixas, Ayuso, Skjelmose and his teammate Lipowitz, and is being dropped.

5KM TO GO

Having attacked on the climb, Pogačar now has a lead of 25 seconds, and is closing in on yet another Tour de France stage win.

KOM - COL DE FONT-DE CERE

As he reaches the summit of the climb, Pogačar continues to increase his lead, to 35 seconds ahead of the five-man chase being led by Vingegaard. Meanwhile Evenepoel is visibly digging deep to limit his losses, keeping the gap between himself and the Vingegaard group to under 10 seconds, while Del Toro is losing ground, almost a minute down on the Vingegaard group.

1KM TO GO

Pogačar is nearly home, going under the flamme rouge with a lead of just under 40 seconds on the Vingegaard group.

POGACAR WINS

Another win for Pogačar, who rides hard right to the line to maximise his time gain. That's win number three at this year's race, and win number 24 of his career.

Evenepoel made it back into the main chase group on the descent, and had the legs to win the sprint for second, ahead of Seixas, then Lipowitz, then the two Lidl-Trek riders.

Vingegaard was dropped by them in the final metres, and loses a few seconds. He might have been burned out by doing so much of the chasing on the climb.

Del Toro finishes alone, and has lost some ground in the fight for the podium. He arrives at the line about 1:30 after Pogačar.

His team may not have looked quite so imperious as in previous stages, with both Yates and McNulty being out-climbed by Visma’s Piganzoli, and Del Toro dropped in the final. But it hardly mattered as Pogačar was as unstoppable as ever, flying away in the final and gaining yet more time in his quest for a record-equalling fifth Tour de France. Still, at least his rivals can take heart that some weaknesses have been exposed in his team.

That was a rough day for Jonas Vingegaard. He spent the finale pulling at the front of the chase group, having failed to drop the other GC contenders in his chase of Pogačar, as he usually does. Then he was punished for his efforts at the line, where the other podium contenders accelerated and put a few seconds into him. Not only did he lose 44 seconds to Pogačar, but also 12 seconds to Evenepoel. On GC, he’s now much closer to those fighting for the podium spots, than he is to Pogačar at the top of the rankings.

Thanks for joining us today for another display of sublime brilliance by Tadej Pogačar. He didn’t quite manage to put the Tour to bed today, but appears well on the way to doing so.

Tomorrow sees the sprinters come back to the fore, for a flat stage that should see a bunch finish. Which of them have recovered best from today’s gruelling efforts? Be sure to follow along again tomorrow to find out.

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

2026 Tour de France - Route

2026 Tour de France - Contenders

2026 Tour de France stage 9 - Preview

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Race Results

Have your say

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France.

Today's route

Today this year's Tour makes its one and only jaunt into the Massif Central region, which is famed for explosive breakaway stages due to its undulating topography.

There are four categorised climbs for the riders to deal with on a route that has been shortened due to dangerous heat (more on that in a moment). It's too hard for the sprinters and too easy for a serious general classification day - that usually equals a breakaway win.

Here is the break-down of the climbs:

- Côte de Naves (cat. 3, 2.3km at 7.4%)
- Suc au May (cat. 2, 3.8km at 7.7%)
- Côte de la Croix du Pey (cat. 3, 4.8km at 6%)
- Mont Bessou (cat. 4, 900m at 7.3%)

Tour de France 2026 stage 9 preview - Shortened by 30km but four climbs remain on breakaway-friendly route to Ussel

Stage shortened due to red weather warning

As the riders were climbing onto the team buses at the end of yesterday's sprint stage into Bergerac, news came through of an alteration to the route of today's stage 9.

The Corrèze department issued a red alert for heat, with forecasts suggesting that the temperature gauges could top 40 degrees Celsius this afternoon in the Massif Central.

The first section of the route has been altered, knocking exactly 30km off the stage distance and delaying the start slightly.

The heat has been a constant theme throughout the race so far this year, and it looks as though this will continue. Whether this modification makes an important difference to the safety of the riders is up for debate as the race will still take place during the hottest part of the day.

Stage 9 of Tour de France shortened amid 'red alert' heatwave warning in central France

Contenders for the stage

Stage 9 is due to get going in around 20 minutes for the neutral roll out, and its a safe bet that today's battle to get in the breakaway will be a fierce one. Chances to win stages at the Tour this year are few for most teams, but this stage is one that many teams will have highlighted.

And what of race leader Tadej Pogačar? Is this an opportunity to give away the burden of carrying the yellow jersey for a couple of days? Perhaps he and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG team will be happy to let a big break go up the road to hand the maillot jaune over to a rider who will not be able to hold onto it. It would give the team's domestiques a bit of relief from pulling the bunch around in this relentless heat.

There are really only two likely candidates for this; Mathias Vacek, who sits in 10th overall 7:10 behind the race leader, and Sean Quinn, in 12th place 9:35 down.

Other breakaway favourites today include the likes of Mathieu van der Poel, Romain Grégoire and Michael Valgren, who won a similar stage at the Giro d'Italia in May.

Early green jersey battle

Whatever happens today we are in for some action from the very beginning of the stage, with the intermediate sprint coming after just 13.9km in Beynat.

The competition for the points classification heated up yesterday, as several riders closed-in on leader Mads Pedersen, with the Lidl-Trek man finishing down in 12th place in the sprint.

Pulling in 70 points win his second win in as many days, Tim Merlier vaulted up to second place in the competition ahead of 2024 winner Biniam Girmay and Jasper Philipsen. Merlier batted away suggestions that he might now target the competition, due to the climbing prowess of his rivals in comparison to himself, allowing them to contest more finishes than him.

Just 56 points split the top-5 in the classification after eight stages. The overall classification may already be void of competition, but the fight for the green jersey is just hotting up. It's possible that there could be a new leader after today.

Here's the standings ahead of today's stage:

1. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), 228 points
2. Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep), 213 points
3. Biniam Girmay (NSN), 203 points
4. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), 175 points
5. Max Kanter (XDS-Astana), 172 points

Ice vest to protect from the blazing heat, and a face mask to protect against infection for the Tour's youngest rider Paul Seixas before the start in Malemort.

Neutral start

The riders are setting off for the ninth stage of this year's Tour de France.

There will be about fifteen minutes behind the race director's car before the racing gets underway proper.

Tom Pidcock was in good form at the start today, popping a wheelie on the way to the stage.

He sits 15th overall coming into the stage today, 9:50 down. Might he be allowed to escape up the road today? Or will he be viewed as too much of a threat, if not to Pogačar, to the other overall contenders?

It shouldn't be a day for these two today, but Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard will need to remain vigilant throughout.

155.9km to go

Racing is underway on stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France.

There are some notable names already towards the front, hunting either the break or the intermediate sprint. Lidl-Trek have numbers to control things for Mads Pedersen.

Breakaway attempts

Quinten Hermans and Alex Kirsch are among the first to launch attacks, but Toms Skujins is on the front of the bunch to keep things together for Mads Pedersen.

Stefano Oldani is up there with Kirsch and Hermans in a move 17 seconds ahead of the bunch with 10km to go until the sprint point. Georg Steinhauser from EF Education First-EasyPost is trying to get across alongside Ewen Costiou.

Lidl-Trek have moved almost their entire squad to the front of the bunch. They are just controlling things for the moment instead of burning matches to bring this back straight away.

Sam Bewley's voice crackles over the radio from the NSN Cycling car to instruct his team to allow Lidl-Trek to take on the responsibility for the early pacing.

Quinn Simmons is on the front now and the gap is coming down quickly. The bunch is stretching out under the influence of the USA national champion. There's 8km until the sprint as the front three becomes a front five.

Girmay, Philipsen and Merlier are stalking the rear wheels of Lidl-Trek. There is now less than 10 seconds between the bunch and the front of the race as Kirsch attacks alone.

Crash for Michael Storer

Just a small coming down for Australian Michael Storer of Tudor towards the back of the bunch. He's OK and chasing back to the bunch.

The break has been caught now and Lidl-Trek are leading the bunch into the sprint in Beynat.

The road drags up towards the line, which should suit Pedersen and also Girmay.

2km to go to the sprint now and Lidl-Trek are going all in with four riders on the front.

Girmay has been brought up to the wheel of Pedersen by his NSN team-mates now and Philipsen is well positioned too. It's a tough drag to the sprint, this. Derek Gee-West is on the front making this as hard as possible.

The unseen battle here is the riders positioning themselves to attack after the sprint, a perfect point to make a move for the breakaway. Healey is up there, so is Van der Poel.

1km to go.

It's Vacek to do the final lead out for Pedersen as Merlier is dropped from the peloton along with a dozen others.

Pedersen wins the sprint

A comfortable win for the green jersey in Beynat. Pedersen takes 25 points ahead of Girmay with Philipsen in third.

And straight away as the riders come through the sprint point, the attacks begin. Maxim van Gils is the first to go, followed by Chris Harper and Kévin Vauquelin. Richard Carapaz is part of a group latching on.

The breakaway action begins now. How long until the final move goes away?

There are already several big hitters on the move. Filippo Ganna and Mathieu van der Poel are in a counter move now alongside German champion Felix Engelhardt and a few others.

Behind, Merlier looks in some difficulty in this heat. He's already a minute behind the bunch with the toughest tests to come.

Green jersey standings

With the peloton back together, here's a quick update on the green jersey after that sprint.

Pedersen extended his lead, he is now on 253 points. Girmay is now back in second place on 223. Merlier remains on 213 and slips to third ahead of Philipsen, now on 191.

The riders are still on an unclassified climb which carried them through the intermediate sprint. Soon the road will dip towards the first classified climb of the day.

More attacks all the time, but nothing sticking just yet. Fred Wright is the man on the front of the bunch now.

130km to go

A small move going away now including Julian Alaphilippe. Kirsch is on the move again, as is Engelhardt. They are on a tight leash for the moment, having turned onto this fast descent.

Almost every team wants to have a rider up the road today, so there are plenty of motivated chasers at the moment.

A significant split off the front now, which looks much more promising for a moment, but again more riders are looking to get across.

Around 40 riders are dangling off the front. Surely this group is too large for UAE Team Emirates-XRG to be happy with it.

And once again, that group has been neutralised. The next proper opportunity for a breakaway could come on the Côte de Naves, the first categorised climb of the day.

Meanwhile, it could be worth keeping an eye on stage 7 and 8 winner Tim Merlier, who is now more than two minutes off the back in a small group. With the heat bearing down on the riders, it could be a long day for those struggling today.

First job ticked-off for Lidl-Trek today, securing maximum points in the intermediate sprint after 13.9km.

Next, the team are looking to get into the crucial breakaway, perhaps even with Pedersen, to contest for the stage.

Alaphilippe attacking

This is a twisting descent, perfect for Alaphilippe to take advantage, which is exactly what he is trying to do alongside Austrian team-mate Marco Haller.

Riders from Netcompany-Ineos and Movistar are attempting to bridge up to the front duo.

'A good opportunity' today for Matej Mohorič

Côte de Naves

Onto the first climb of the day now and it's Pinarello-Q36.5 taking it up at the front.

Pidcock takes over in an attempt to split things up. He's not going all-in, he's just trying to take a few riders with him.

Valentin Paret-Peintre takes over and takes the points over the top. Now splits off the front, but dozens of riders are off the back now. The front group is down to around 70 riders.

Vauquelin attacks with Matteo Jorgenson over the top. Carapaz pursuing.

The have a couple more kilometres of plateau before a short descent. Then it's a long drag leading into a second category ascent.

Daan Hoole is done, so that's one rider fewer for Paul Seixas to depend on.

Vauquelin and Jorgenson have been brought back now. More riders are trying to get up the road now.

When will the breakaway establish?

This is a classic Tour de France breakaway day. There is absolutely no let up.

The quantity of teams wanting to get up the road is strangling the race's progress. Every move that goes away will be without a team that wants to be in it, meaning that there is always someone motivated to chase.

At some point, the elastic will snap, but when that point is, no one knows. As the legs tire over the coming sections, more opportunities will come.

And the longer this goes on, the stronger a rider has to be to get into the move, which is why we are seeing such decorated riders towards the front.

The latest move is fronted once more by Filippo Ganna, who looks in good form today.

100km to go

Van der Poel and Carapaz join Ganna up ahead, but the peloton makes contact with the front, with Pogačar not far from the head.

Bruno Amirail and Michal Kwiatkowski are among the latest dropped from the peloton.

Mathias Vacek, sitting 10th overall coming into the stage, is also distanced.

Another move goes up the road, led by two Americans, Matteo Jorgenson and Quinn Simmons. 2020 Olympic champion Richard Carapaz is there too as is Einer Rubio as more attempt to bridge.

Remarkably, Mads Pedersen is still latched onto the back of this ever-more select group.

A group breaks clear

Things change once again at the front.

Derek Gee-West instigates another move and around ten others have gone with him including Van der Poel and Simmons. They have around 20 seconds on the chasing group, being led by Adam Yates. This is the biggest lead any break has built since the opening stages.

Lennart van Eetvelt is up there as is Jordan Jegat. They are a touch under 11 minutes down on GC.

Finally, UAE Team Emirates-XRG look happy to see things settle down, but will anyone else look to chase this one down having missed it?

Tim Wellens and Felix Großschartner are now posted on the front of the bunch setting tempo.

But just as things look to settle, Tom Pidcock attacks. He has a small gap on the group of Pogačar. It's going to be tough for the Brit to make it all the way across to the front.

Pidcock at the front

Pidcock cruises over to the front group.

Now there are 16 riders up ahead. The best placed on GC is Tobias Halland Johannessen, who is sitting 13th, 9:42 down. Pidcock is 15th at 9:50. Other big names include Jegat, Van Eetvelt, Van der Poel and Gee-West.

The leaders have 20 seconds on the bunch.

Simmons and Halland Johannessen lead

Simmons and Halland Johannessen have chipped off the front of the breakaway, which looks to be struggling to collaborate well.

The leaders now have 50 seconds over the yellow jersey, with the group 20 seconds behind in between.

Suc au May

Onto the second classified climb of the day, which seems unfair given the amount of climbing already tackled by the riders.

The leaders are now over a minute ahead of Pogačar's group, but the intermediary group is losing significant time.

Pidcock has attacked from the chasing pack, hoping not to see the stage slip out of his fingers. Gee-West and Van Eetvelt are sitting on the Pinarello-Q36.5 rider's wheel.

He is making inroads on the steep sections.

Some encouragement for Pidcock from the Pinarello-Q36.5 car.

This is a key moment in the race, as Johannessen and Simmons looked to be getting away. Pidcock is using the sections that suit him best and he can now see the leading pair just ahead of him.

Bridging over to the Pidcock group now is Van der Poel, along with Castrillo and Baudin.

These front groups have now all come together, making a strong lead group of eight. It's a perfect size for collaboration.

Going over the top of the Suc a May, the leaders have just over a minute.

Breakaway or bunch?

UAE Team Emirates-XRG are not letting this gap go out. Are they trying to set up Pogačar for another stage win?

It seems a slightly odd strategy, given the searing heat that the riders are enduring. The Emirati team are working domestiques Wellens and Großschartner hard. Will they suffer as a result over the coming two weeks?

If we know anything about Pogačar, it's that he is always hungry for wins. If he sees an opportunity, he will seize on it. The uphill sprint into Ussel suits him very well.

It's possible that UAE relents over the next hour, letting the break out of their clutches, but it's not guaranteed.

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70km to go

The leading eight now has 80 seconds over Pogačar's group. The rest of the original breakaway has been caught by the UAE Team Emirates-XRG train now.

There is some serious firepower in this front group, and a number of different rider-types too. Van der Poel will be happy sprinting against this group, while the likes of Baudin, Castrillo and Gee-West will need to attack from far out. Pidcock, Van Eetvelt and Johannessen can use their punch on these steep climbs. While Simmons is a canny racer who will sniff out opportunities to make a difference.

Lidl-Trek in charge

Without a doubt, Lidl-Trek are the team of the day so far. They started off taking maximum points at the intermediate sprint with Pedersen. They have Simmons and Gee-West in this front group too, as Pedersen sits in the chasing pack alongside Skjelmose and Ayuso.

They can win the stage from the break or the bunch.

Côte de la Croix du Pey

Onto the penultimate classified ascent of today's stage and the leaders have just over a minute.

With the gap to the front coming down, this is the key point of the race which will descide with the break or the bunch wins - or if a new attack forms.

Riders may seek to bridge across to the front of the race here, or the front group could see their advantage expand.

The riders have 4.8km to negotiate at an average of 5.7%.

Meanwhile, Lenny Martinez, sitting 8th overall, has a mechanical problem and is chasing back.

60km to go

For the first time in about half an hour, the gap to the break has dipped under a minute. A huge amount of effort being invested by Wellens and Großschartner today.

It's looking more and more as though Pogačar is coveting this stage today. He will need to drop Mads Pedersen first.

Small sections of relief through this section as the trees give shade from this unrelenting sun.

Also unrelenting is UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Pogačar appears hungry for victory once more as the gap ebbs to 50 seconds. The yellow jersey still has five team-mates to call up in this group.

Over the top over the climb and the gap remains just under a minute.

Pidcock puts in a small acceleration at the top. He is keen to keep things rolling and is clearly in fine fettle today. Van Eetvelt won't thank him. He was in the wheel and had to drop back, unable to go with the Brit.

The next 30km is endlessly undulating. Can this group finally create a gap that will dissuade UAE from their pursuit. It appears unlikely.

50km to go

Van der Poel is barrelling down this short descent, stretching the front group. The gap has climbed back over a minute.

Riders suffer in the heat

The temperature is up to 34 degrees celsius at the finish in Ussel, but it's hotter on other parts of the course today and in parts the road surface is melting under the tyres of the riders.

As a reminder, the parcours was shortened by 30km today due to red weather warnings in the region.

Riders are combatting the weather by pouring bottles of water over their heads. Tights filled with ice cubes are also stuffed down the back of the jersey.

Add this heat to the sever intensity of the day, and you can understand why the riders are suffering today. This may be one of the hardest days of the 2026 Tour de France.

On this descent, the gap has jumped another 20 seconds.

The road is about to drag up again for another twenty kilometres: another opportunity for the bunch to close in perhaps.

With no team-mates, Florian Lipowitz has gone back to the car for bottles and ice. He makes his way back to the front and hands a bottle to Remco Evenepoel.

Netcompany-Ineos begin to chase

A change at the front of the chasing group. UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Wellens and Großschartner have pulled off the front and are replaced by Tobias Foss.

The Norwegian's Netcompany-Ineos team-mate Filippo Ganna is still in the group, having been very active earlier in the day. Foss was in the original break before getting dropped. He will struggle to bring this group back by himself.

The front group is still working well together. The gap is at 1:18.

Puzzling tactics

It's been a more than chaotic day today, but the tactics on display are puzzling. UAE have pulled for two hours with Wellens and Großschartner, seemingly to set up the yellow jersey for a tilt at the stage win, but now, with the gap still bridge-able, they pull off the front.

They have made the day tough for everyone, weakening their rivals, which may be their only aim for the day, but it seems odd to lift the foot off the gas now, unless they are simply running out of resources.

Now Netcompany-Ineos comes to the front with just one rider and the gap is expanding. Daryl Impey, the team's sports director, says through the radio that the team is chasing for Egan Bernal's 10th place on General Classification.

Wellens, who has been working all day, is now collaborating with Foss to chase the front group, suggesting Pogačar could still be motivated for the stage. However, UAE still have the likes of McNulty and Yates who could add to the pursuit.

There is 10km left of this undulating section before a long descent. The longer this gap remains above a minute, the better the chances for the breakaway.

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Moving towards the final climb of the stage today, the gap has decreased to 40 seconds.

The collaboration up front is falling apart. There is a lot of looking around going on up front. The Lidl-Trek riders may now be thinking that their best chance of a win comes from Mads Pedersen in the group behind.

Castrillo gets back on the front and tries to reassert some pace as Van Eetvelt cuts a frustrated figure as he pulls through.

25km to go

The gap is down to 30 seconds. Things are not looking good for the breakaway.

Mont Bessou

A steep, short ascent here and Van der Poel gives an electrifying acceleration. The former world champion goes solo, pursued by Johannessen and Pidcock.

Crucially, the Lidl-Trek riders are dropped, meaning that there will be full commitment in this leading group once more.

Behind, Vauquelin joins Foss on the front in support of Ganna and Bernal, but Van der Poel's acceleration has seen the gap grow once more towards a minute.

Pidcock mechanical

Just as the front group begins to work together on the descent, Tom Pidcock suffers a mechanical errors and is forced to drop out of the group. It's a devastating moment for the British rider, who has looked among the strongest in the lead group so far today.

With Lidl-Trek out of the front group, it's likely that the German team will begin to help Netcompany-Ineos at the front of the chase group, aiming to bring things back together for Pedersen.

Gee-West and Simmons will drop back from the break. Ayuso and Skjelmose are in the chasing group, but both sitting high on GC, may not want to contribute. Carlos Verona will add his legs to the chase.

Pidcock has made it back to Van der Poel, Baudin and Johannessen at the front. He still appears to have problems with his gearing, but he is there.

The gap to the chasing group is now 50 seconds. Gee-West and Simmons now have the brakes on and are set to add their weight to the chase.

15km to go

Gee-West and Simmons, having been dropped from the break, are now on the front of the bunch and chasing.

They have 55 seconds of a gap to close alongside Foss and Vauquelin. Carlos Verona is now moving to the front for Lidl-Trek and will start chasing as the riders take on a short rise.

In the balance

This is looking like it could be very close between the break and the chasers.

The gap is coming down slowly, but there are still more resources to add from behind. The fast roads suit the likes of Simmons and Foss over the front group which is predominantly made up of climbers.

Perhaps Lidl-Trek adds Skjelmose to the pursuit, or Netcompany-Ineos coax Bernal into contributing. Another few pairs of fresh legs from behind could make the difference in this finale.

Right now, the breakaway has a slight advantage, but it's in the balance.

10km to go

45 seconds is what separates the two groups. Another short rise is about to come for the riders before a final dip towards the uphill finish in Ussel.

7km to go

The other team to consider here, a team that should perhaps be using its numbers in the group, is Cofidis. The small French outfit won't have many chances in this Tour, but they have fast-finisher Alex Aranburu in the chase group alongside Ion Izagirre.

Right now, their chance for a rare stage victory is slipping away.

The gap remains at 45 seconds.

Simmons is done as the road pitches up. It's Gee-West now who is giving his last efforts. Foss has disappeared from the front too.

The resources of the chase are melting away in the heat on the road to Ussel.

5km to go

It's just Verona and Vauquelin on the front of the chase group now. The gap is down to 40 seconds, but time is running out.

Each member of this leading quartet has been sensational today. They have kept riding even when the outlook appeared bleak.

Van der Poel has been worth his weight in gold, driving things on over these flat and slightly downhill sections.

And now Ion Izagirre appears on the front of the peloton. But surely this was too late. The Basque veteran needed to join the front five kilometres ago.

2km to go

29 second gap. As long as the leaders keep rolling through, the stage is their's.

1km to go

The gap is down to 20 seconds as the road begins to pitch up in front of the leaders. Van der Poel is posted on the front but he appears to be easing up on the run to the line

Van der Poel remains on the front as the quartet head for a sprint for the stage win.

Van der Poel launches the sprint with Johannessen on the wheel...

Van der Poel wins

And the former world champion takes a remarkable stage win, holding off the Norwegian on the sprint to the line.

Van der Poel beats his chest in celebration after an incredible breakaway effort. He trusted his sprint, leading the group for the entirety of the final kilometre.

Johannessen was second and Pidcock third ahead of Baudin.

Behind, Filippo Ganna took the sprint from the bunch ahead of Pedersen.

Imperious Van der Poel handles the tactics, and the heat, to perfection

There are many, many tactical questions to ask today of UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Lidl-Trek, but in the end this was a day that suited Mathieu van der Poel to the ground.

A day akin to the Cobbled Classics, with pressure asserted through the pedals with every revolution. The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider dealt with the conditions and managed the tactical conundrum of the day to perfection.

The key moment came when the Dutchman attacked on the final classified climb of the day, distancing the two Lidl-Trek riders from the breakaway to form a fighting four who worked together well and held off the bunch.

Van der Poel handles the heat

Johannessen not disappointed with second

Stage 9 top-10 results

General classification after stage 9

Thank you for joining Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France. Tomorrow, the riders will enjoy a rest day before stage 10, where the General Classification contest will come to life once more on a 166km stage to Le Lioran.

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

2026 Tour de France - Route

2026 Tour de France - Contenders

2026 Tour de France stage 8 - Preview

How to watch Tour de France stage 8

The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go!

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Results

Tour de France: Tim Merlier claims back-to-back victories on stage 8 with furious sprint into Bergerac

Have your say

Welcome to today's stage!

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 8 of the Tour de France!

We're expecting another sprint finish today, with the parcours almost totally pan-flat and a very sprint-friendly finale in Bergerac. That means we're getting two sprint days in a row after yesterday's gallop into Bordeaux.

The main question we're asking is less about the sprint though, and more about the breakaway. Let's hope there's a real break, and not just a lone rider as we saw on stage 5...

Stage 8 preview

Here's a closer look at what is in store today.

Sprint stages seem to be like buses at this year's Tour de France, as after having to wait until stage 5 for the first opportunity, the fast men are getting three chances in quick succession, with stage 8's flat run to Bergerac coming hot off the heels of a sprint battle in Bordeaux.

No one sprinter has asserted dominance in this Tour yet, with Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM) winning the first test in Pau, and then Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) romping to victory on stage 7. He'll be tantalised at the chance to make it two in a row, but it's also possible we see a third different winner from a super open sprint field.

Full preview: Tour de France stage 8 preview – A rematch for the sprinters in Bergerac as Merlier goes for two in a row

Obviously today is a sprint day, but our Deputy Editor Patrick Fletcher has been reflecting on the GC, the decisive day that was stage 6, and if the course designers could have avoided a stage that opened up such big time gaps so early on...

The Tour de France organisers wanted 'suspense to the end' but the Tourmalet stage design backfired dramatically – and they should have seen it coming

Today's stage will be underway in just over an hour.

Here's a reminder of how the sprinters fared yesterday:

Tour de France: Tim Merlier banishes bunch in Bordeaux for stage 7 sprint victory

If you're keen on your tech and looking for something to read before the stage starts, Josh Croxton has rounded up all of his finds that didn't make it into our main galleries.

From the handy to the random, there's all sorts in here. Definitely worth a look.

Tech randoms from the Tour de France – Techy, silly and curious finds from the biggest race in the world

Søren Wærenskjold at the start of the day, referencing the Norwegian football team’s drum and Viking row routine from the football World Cup, ahead of their match against England tonight.

Wærenskjold was second in the sprint yesterday, and the last time England faced an opponent at the World Cup (Mexico), a rider from that nation won at the Tour - Issac del Toro. Is that a good omen for the Norwegian?

The sprinters at the Tour could do well to listen to the observations of Caleb Ewan. The Australian was one of the most prolific of his generation at this race, and has been analysing this year’s sprints from his role of commentary box for SBS.

'I always love watching the sprints' - Caleb Ewan analyses the Tour de France sprint in Bordeaux

The riders have heard the countdown for the unofficial start, and are riding though the streets of Périgueux.

Here’s Paul Seixas before the start earlier. Interestingly, he’s wearing a mask - whether or not that’s precautionary, or if he’s carrying an illness, is unclear. In any case, thankfully for him today should essentially be a day off for the GC riders, on a parcours that is flat and which will be about avoiding incident or mishap rather than a test of legs.

Although it’s another flat stage tailor made for sprinters, the terrain is a little bumpier than yesterday, and could therefore be a little more complicated than yesterday’s. Only two riders went up the road then - according to this Lotto DS, more might have a go today.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off! Prudhomme waves the flag, and a flurry of attacks come of from the peloton, none of which have stuck yet. This has already been more of a battle than yesterday.

Kasper Asgreen is among the riders who have tried to get clear, and has been spotted and identified as dressed for a breakaway attempt by NSN, who are hoping to keep this stage controlled for their sprinter Biniam Girmay.

As a rider with a huge engine who has defied likely bunch sprints in the past, he's exactly the kind of rider they won;t want to let up the road, as reflected by how he’s been marked out of the break so far.

The peloton has now bunched up and slowed down, with Liam Slock having got up the road, and been joined by Thibault Guernalec and Jakub Otruba set to join him. Those three riders will be the break of the day.

170KM TO GO

The lead of Slock, Guernalec and Otruba has grown to 1:50, and been pegged there as the sprinters' team take control of the peloton and start riding tempo. That's the holding pattern of the day established.

The scene from the start in Périgueux, a picturesque spot on the banks of the river Isle. There might not be much action in terms of GC today, but there's plenty of beautiful scenery for the local tourist boards to show off.

160KM TO GO

As was the case yesterday, Soudal-QuickStep are working with Alpecin-Premier Tech at the front of the peloton to control the break. They're riding a steady tempo, but keeping the break at a very stingy 1:15. Just like yesterday, they aren't giving the break a sniff.

The crowds in Périgueux flocked to the roadside to see the Tour of earlier today.

150KM TO GO

1:37 is the lead for the three breakaway riders - it appears they’re on a doomed errand once again.

The inevitably of the break being caught hasn’t stopped Baptiste Veistroffer from persisting in previous stages, and he’s developing a bit of a cult status as a result. He’s not in the break today, but his Lotto teammate Liam Slock is, confirming that team as the race’s chief animators so far.

Baptiste Veistroffer has become the breakaway hero this Tour de France needs

Here’s Remco Evenepoel in the peloton. It might be a quiet day for him in the saddle, but behind the scenes the story of the tension between himself and teammate Florian Lipowitz won’t go away.

Efforts from the Red Bull team to play down the story and demonstrate the pair are getting along have been far from convincing, and we’ll be keeping an eagle eye on how the two ride together for the remainder of this race.

Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz are putting on a happy face at the Tour de France, but I'm not really buying it – is anyone?

Soudal-QuickStep and Alpecin-Premier Tech continue to control the peloton, but there is no sign of Biniam Girmay’s NSN joining them. Their DS is happy with that situation, informing the team’s race radio that the ideal situation for them is for those teams to do all the work, and keep the break on a leash.

130KM TO GO

The gap has been allowed to grow to the biggest it has been all day, to 2:10. With three riders it does have more firepower than yesterday, and so they might prompt the peloton to have to have to dig a little deeper to ensure they're brought back.

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Mads Pedersen sharing a word in the peloton. He still holds the green jersey by a big margin, and for anyone who wants to take it from him, pan flat stages like today are the chance to make gains. His lead in the classification has been built on breakaways and intermediate sprints, and in the pure bunch finishes like today’s he’s a little off the pace of the very fastest like Merlier, Kooij and Philipsen, finishing down in seventh and ninth in the two so far.

It’s still Soudal-QuickStep who are doing a big share of the work at the front of the peloton. They executed the plan for the stage win perfectly yesterday, with Jasper Stuyven delivering Tim Merlier to victory in the sprint.

In this post-Remco era, the team have returned to their past selves as sprint specialists, and having already delivered Paul Magnier to three stages at at the Giro, they’re seeking to reclaim their status as the patrons of the Grand Tour sprints.

110KM TO GO

The break's been caught back a little more, to 1:40. It seems the lead of over two minutes they had earlier is as much as they're likely to be allowed all day.

Guernalec, Otruba and Slock will have to ride smartly, holding enough back in this phase to have enough left in the tank to try to hold off the chase for as long as possible once it begins in earnest.

Despite having such a strong lead out in the finale yesterday, Alpecin-Premier Tech were unable to take the victory, with Philipsen fading in the finale to place fifth.

Whether or not that was down to Van der Poel swinging off too early, or a lack of legs on behalf of Philipsen, was unclear. But the way they’re riding on the front again today suggests they’re still committed to his mission of adding to his ten career Tour stage victories.

100KM TO GO

The gap's come down some more, to 1:30. There are still 100km to ride, and so the peloton will not want to bring them back too early.

Jonas Vingegaard and his Visma-Lease a Bike squad are hiding somewhere in the bunch, keeping mostly invisible. They have been intentionally staying clear of the hustle and bustle towards the front, even at the end of the stage where there are risks of splits, out of fear of crashes.

'We will sit a lot more at the back' - Visma-Lease a Bike double down on Tour de France strategy of keeping off front on sprint stages

The riders are climbing the first of the day's two climbs, the Côte de Domme. It's only a modest effort, with vital stats of 37km at just 3.3% earning it just a category four rating, but will still be felt in the legs of the breakaways riders who have spent all day at the front.

KOM - COTE DE DOMME

Slock takes the sole point on offer at the top of the climb, with the breaking reaching the top 1:37 ahead of the peloton.

The three riders all sprinted for the points, but Slock was comfortably the quickest.

The next landmark is the intermediate sprint, in about 15km, and there will be lots of interest in the peloton among the green jersey for the points on offer there. Although Mads Pedersen still holds a healthy lead, it remains wide open a classification, with no angle sprinter proving to be dominant yet, and most of them showing intent to target points.

Here’s what the rankings look like at the moment:

1 Mads Pedersen 204 points

2 Biniam Girmay 145

3 Max Kanter 140

4 Tim Merlier 134

5 Jasper Philipsen 126

The peloton passing through the small town of Domme, the location of the climb. It was another of many picturesque sights on the route today, with such narrow streets that much of the peloton had to stop and wait at a pinch point while travelling through.

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We're only 4km away from the intermediate sprint. The sprinter teams are massing towards the front, and each are preparing how they're going to take it on.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

There was a proper sprint from the breakaway for the maximum points, with Slock starting his sprint early, but being ousted at the line by Otruba.

But the real significant action happened behind in the peloton, where a late charge from Philipsen saw him pip Kanter and Pedersen, with Merlier and Girmay the next two riders across the line.

Here are the updated points classification rankings. The order in the top five remains unchanged, but there's no clear daylight between this five and the rest:

1 Mads Pedersen 214

2 Biniam Girmay 153

3 Max Kanter 152

4 Tim Merlier 143

5 Jasper Philipsen 140

50KM TO GO

The peloton is still 1:50 behind the three breakaway riders. We're nearing the phase of the race where they will start to begin to reel them in, but so far the race remains calm.

It’s been a comfortable day for Tadej Pogačar in the peloton so far, at least in terms of racing action and stress, albeit not the weather. He looks set to defend his yellow jersey for another day.

Assuming he doesn’t win today, this will match his longest run without a win since last September - at a mere two racing days. A ridiculous statistic that underlines just how unprecedentedly dominant he has been.

KOM - COTE DU BUISSON-DE-CADOUIN

The break has split on the climb, with Slock and Otruba dropping Guernalec. Of those two, Slock won the sprint for the KOM point.

And back in the bunch, EF have woken the race up by accelerating on it. Asgreen is the instigator, having tried and failed to get into the break at the start of the day, and has forced a split with about 10 riders getting a small gap.

The split in the peloton has now been undone, but it got very messy for a few moments, with the dangerous Jonas Abrahamsen trying an attack over the top of the climb, and a group swelling to about 30 riders going a few seconds clear of the peloton.

Up ahead, the three breakaway riders are all now riding by themselves, with Slock leading, followed by Otruba, and Guernalec trailing. Cohesion broke down on the climb, and they're now each in it for themselves.

30KM TO GO

Here's a glimpse of the move instigated by Asgreen. It didn't succeed in getting a group to go clear, but the flurry of action has brought the breakaway riders closer - Slock is now 1:30 ahead of the peloton, Otruba 30 seconds behind him, and Guernalec 1:18 behind.

It’s still Soudal and Alpecin doing the work at the front of the peloton, and they’ve upped the pace now. Slock’s lead is down to 1:20, and both Guernalec and Otruba have been swallowed up.

20KM TO GO

The chase is very much on, but Slock is holding off the charge well for now. With just 20km left to ride, he's still holding a lead of 1:20, despite having been in the break all day, and despite now having nobody to assist him.

Slock stands a genuine chance of surviving! He's stubbornly maintaining his gap which has dipped only a little to 1:50. Soudal and Alpecin still aren't getting much help from the others. Race on!

Team NSN are now helping with the chase, but it's still not enough to make much inroads. The gap remain at 1:15, with just 12.5km still to ride.

10KM TO GO

Decathlon are the latest team to assist with the pace-setting, for their sprinters Olav Kooij. That should help bring the gap down quicker, which still isn’t coming down quick enough for Slock to be caught - it’s at 1:05 now. This is a fine ride by the Belgian.

Uno-X Mobility are joining in now, for their sprinter Søren Wærenskjold, who was second. They're beginning to drag Slock back, the gap down to 50 seconds with 8km left to ride.

This is a cruel stretch of road for Slock, a gradual uphill that will sting his legs after such a long effort. He’s hanging on in there though, and still has 35 seconds with 6km to go.

Slock's Lotto teammates are doing everything in their power to try and help him succeed, blocking the peloton at a corner to try and slow the peloton down, even if it saves him a mere second.

The advantage is now swinging towards the peloton and the sprinters. With 4km to go Slock's lead is down to 25 seconds, and Astana and Picnic both have long trains at the front and setting a fast pace. It's still going to be so close!

Slock leads by 10 seconds with 2.5km left to ride Astana have a line of four riders pulling the peloton.

That's it, Slock has run out of gas. His lead of 10 seconds disappears rapidly, and as they near the final kilometre, we're going to have a sprint.

Astana lead the peloton into the final turn, Alpecin are up there too.

MERLIER WINS

Van der Poel provided another-lead out to deliver Philipsen, but from a long way back Merlier stormed past him for the win!

That was an extraordinary sprint from Merlier! Van der Poel’s lead out was so strong that he, Philipsen and four other riders opened up a gap between the next rider. But Merlier managed to single-handedly close that gap, then had the speed to fly past them all, and the energy to hold off the challenge from Girmay and Kooij, who were second and third respectively.

So that's two wins in two days for Tim Merlier, making him the first sprinter to do so since Jasper Philipsen in 2023. If there was any doubt that Merlier is the quickest sprinter in the world right now, it's been dispelled by his performance today. Despite being positioned far from perfectly, he showed a stunning turn of speed to take the stage win.

Today's victorious stage winner, Tim Merlier, on the podium again following his stage victory from yesterday.

These two victories have brought Merlier much closer to Mads Pedersen in the points classification, while Biniam Girmay’s second place also brings him closer to contention for the jersey he won two years ago. Here’s what the rankings look like now:

1 Mads Pedersen 228

2 Tim Merlier 213

3 Biniam Girmay 203

4 Jasper Philipsen 175

5 Max Kanter 172

His name was barely mentioned today, which is exactly what the yellow jersey Tadej Pogačar would have wanted on a flat stage like this, which was one to be survived rather than attacked.

Tomorrow could be more of a complicated affair, with rolling, hilly terrain that could be hard to control, as multiple raiders try to get up the road and get into the day’s break. It’s a fascinating looking stage, with interest among those fighting for the stage win, points classification, polka-dot jersey - and possibly even ambush territory for the GC. As ever we’ll bring you all the action, so be sure to follow us online from the start.

Stage 9 shortened

Breaking news after the stage: tomorrow's stage 9 has been shortened due to the high temperatures, with a red alert heatwave warning in the region where the stage is set to finish.

More here: Stage 9 of Tour de France shortened amid 'red alert' heatwave warning in central France

2026 Tour de France - Everything you need to know

2026 Tour de France - Route

2026 Tour de France - Contenders

2026 Tour de France stage 7 - Preview

How to Watch the 2026 Tour de France

The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France.

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Results

Tour de France 2026 stage 7 - Results

Have your say

Bonjour and welcome to stage 7 of the Tour de France!

After all the explosive GC drama of yesterday’s stage, things should calm down a bit today as the attention shifts back towards the sprinters. The parcours to the familiar sprinters’ destination of Bordeaux is almost entirely flat, and therefore there’s nothing that should overly concern the sprinters vying for what would be only the second opportunity to sprint for a stage win at this year’s race so far.

Tour de France 2026 stage 7 preview - Another chance for the sprinters into Bordeaux

In the aftermath of yesterday’s stage, Tadej Pogačar now has a huge lead in the GC. After just one mountain stage, his attack on the Tourmalet was already enough to see him move 2:42 ahead of Jonas Vingegaard, with no other rivals within 3:30 of his time. Pogačar had been building to that moment for a long time, and delivered a deadly a blow as he could have hoped.

'I couldn't sleep long because I was so excited' – Despite flashbacks and an early wake-up, Tadej Pogačar takes complete control of Tour de France on first mountain stage

Whatever your thoughts on whether or not the race for the yellow jersey is over, the sprint stages are far more open and unpredictable. Both the top favourites, Tim Merlier and Jasper Philipsen (pictured), were gazumped by Olav Kooij on the sprint two days ago, and they plus a whole host of others will all fancy their chance of glory today.

OFFICIAL START

The riders are done with the neutralised start, and have began racing as the flag is waved! Baptiste Veistroffer and Jakub Otruba attacked straight away and have a small gap. Will the peloton be happy to let them go?

Everyone is indeed happy to let Veistroffer and Otruba up the road. The whole bunch spread across the road and slowed down the moment they went away, and nobody tried to respond to join them. Consequently, the gap had already grown to over a minute just a few kilometres into the stage.

It seems a minute is all that the peloton are willing to allow the break. Alpecin-Deceuninck have taken on the obligation of controlling the peloton, for their sprinter Jasper Philipsen, and are setting the pace, keeping the gap at just under a minute.

There is one rider missing from the race who finished yesterday’s stage - Torstein Træen. The Norwegian fell hard wearing the yellow jersey yesterday, and despite managing to finish, but has deemed it best to pull out of the race overnight.

That might be a hard way to leave the race, but merely getting to wear the famous yellow jersey for a couple of days made this one of, if not the, highlights of his career.

Torstein Træen suffers heavy crash on Tourmalet descent, loses Tour de France yellow jersey

It’s another hot day in France. Though the pace has been slow so far, and looks set to continue that way for most of the stage, this weather will still take its toll on the riders. A lot of the riders in the peloton have talked about struggling in the heat, and whoever copes best with it may shape the results in the bunch sprint today - both among the sprinters, and the lead-out men they need to perform for them.

150KM TO GO

The two riders up front, Otruba and Veistroffer, are barely being given anything of a leave. The peloton is keeping them pinned at just under a minute - clearly the sprinters' teams are in a very stingy mood, and determined not to risk what has been a rare chance of a bunch finish in this opening week.

Alpecin is the team doing all the work at the front of the peloton, with a long line of riders pulling it along. They must really fancy the chances of their sprinter Jasper Philipsen to register an eleventh Tour stage win today, despite having finished down in 5th on stage 5 after being badly positioned in the finale.

140KM TO GO

Alpecin have allowed the break a little more leeway, but not much. The gap's grown to 1:20, the highest it's been all day.

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Tadej Pogačar and Isaac del Toro have made for a sublime double act so far, sharing a stage win each in the first three days, and then dropping the entire group of favourites together on the Tourmalet yesterday Del Toro’s inexperience may have shown a little yesterday as he faded after initially going hard to go clear, and some fascinating behind the scenes footage revealed that Pogačar pointed out his mistake. But with the pair in such great sync and with such a strong relationship, things are looking very good for the team.

'You went too fast' – Tadej Pogačar debriefs Isaac del Toro in remarkable behind-the-scenes footage

Things are less harmonious at Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe. Remco Evenepoel was unhappy at the lack of help provided by Florian Lipowitz, and didn’t hold back in letting his feelings known publicly. They’ve apparently kissed and made up, but as two riders pushing so close for a podium finish on GC, and each clearly harbouring personal ambitions, things could get messy.

'They even sat together at dinner' – Red Bull downplay internal tension between Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz at Tour de France

120KM TO GO

It continues to be a very chilled atmosphere in the peloton, at least in terms of the racing rather than the weather. The break’s lead is being kept at 1:15, and everyone is safely in the bunch with no crashes or incidents having affected anyone.

Jonas Vingegaard was not happy at how yesterday went, and to lose so much time so early on. But he’s not giving up on the yellow jersey yet, saying that he believes he can improve as the race goes on, and attempt to get that time back.

'Not the day I wanted' – Jonas Vingegaard dealt major blow by Tadej Pogačar but insists he will improve at the Tour de France

110KM TO GO

The race has woken up all of a sudden! A new attack was instigated from the peloton, after a number of Uno-X Mobility riders including Jonas Abrahamsen, plus about seven other riders, tried to attack out of it. They’ve been brought back, but as a result the lead of Veistroffer and Otruba has come down to about 50 seconds.

Soudal-QuickStep have also assisted Alpecin-Premier Tech in setting the pace at the front of the peloton. In Tim Merlier they have the other hot favourite for the stage win, and the Belgian is looking for a fifth stage win in what is just his third appearance at the Tour de France, and may also be wishing to solidify his status as his team’s top sprinter after Paul Magnier’s superb Giro

If he’s beaten in too many sprints at this year’s race, he’s in danger of being replaced by his younger (and more French) colleague next year.

100KM TO GO

After that flurry of attacks instigated by Uno-X Mobility, the pair of Alpecin-Premier Tech and Soudal-QuickStep have reclaimed control of the peloton, and the race has calmed down. The gap to them and the two leaders is back to where it was, at about 1:20.

The peloton have brought the break’s lead back to down about 45 seconds in the last few kilometres - seemingly by mistake. They’ve knocked off the pace again upon realising how close they were getting, and have bunched up at the front again, allowing the lead to grow again. This chase and the parcours is turning out to be almost too easy for them; yet they won't want to catch the break too early, as it’ll risk opening the race up to fresh new attacks for them to have to control.

90KM TO GO

Veistroffer and Otruba's lead has indeed been allowed to grown again. They now have 1:30 over the peloton again, which remains tranquil, enough so for a few riders in it to take comfort breaks.

Even by his own ludicrous standards, Tadej Pogačar’s obliteration of the opposition on Col du Tourmalet was a sight to behold, in the process smashing the all-time record for the quickest ever ascent of the legendary mountain.

This kind of dominance has left many fed up with the Slovenian’s dominance, and some accusing him of being greedy in his pursuit of wins. But as his teammate Adam Yates said in the aftermath of yesterday’s stage, why would he not want to win as much as possible, when he has both the talent and the circumstances to do so?

'Would you give away stages?' – Tadej Pogačar consumes all on Col du Tourmalet at the Tour de France but does he win too much?

A Bahrain Victorious DS on race radio pointing out another reason, as well as the parcours, as to why the pace is so slow and relaxed today - the riders are drained from yesterday's efforts in the Pyrenees.

The incident involving Torstein Træen in the yellow jersey yesterday, when he was delayed following a crash as doctors looked for signs of concussion, has brought to attention the role of the concussion protocol in keeping the riders safe. Have a read here of our detailed look into how it works.

What is the concussion protocol for cycling?

70KM TO GO

The gap has remained steady for a little while now, at around 1:20. That will soon come down rapidly, however, as there is an intermediate sprint coming up in 15km that all of the green jersey candidates will begin to prepare for shortly. With there being only two riders in the day's break, there are a lot of points on offer for the sprinters in the peloton, so it's sure to be a competitive one.

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Mads Pedersen leads the points classification, and his team are taking this upcoming intermediate sprint seriously. Their DS has been on the team’s race radio detailing him as to what the run-in is like.

Here’s the points classification going into the intermediate sprint - there a lot of candidates still in contention for the jersey who will want to get involved.

1 Mads Pedersen 168 points

2 Ma Kanter 93

3 Biniam Girmay 91

4 Jasper Philipsen 86

5 Tadej Pogačar 75

6 Olav Kooij 70

7 Jonas Vingegaard 61

8 Tim Merlier 55

With 2km until the sprint, the lead-out train are upping the pace. It's still Soudal and Alpecin at the front, but Astana have joined them towards the front. Meanwhile the break's lead remains at about 1:15, but will surely come down after this sprint.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

After Veistroffer and Otruba rolled over the line first from the break, it was Mads Pedersen who won the sprint in the peloton. XDS Astana had a long lead out for Max Kanter, but Pedersen began his sprint first and went hard for it, reaching the line first ahead of Girmay, Kanter, Philipsen and Merlier.

Here are the updated points classification rankings:

1 Pedersen 184 points

2 Kanter 105

3 Girmay 105

4 Philipsen 96

5 Pogačar 75

6 Kooij 70

7 Merlier 64

50KM TO GO

The intermediate sprint did indeed have an impact on the break's lead, which has tumbled down to just 25 seconds. They still lead the race though, and the peloton will be happy to leave it a while yet to make the catch.

There is still a solitary KOM point on offer for one of Veistroffer or Otruba to take at the upcoming category four climb.

Veistroffer and Otruba are not giving up the ghost. They've grown their lead since the sprint back up to 55 seconds, and are making the peloton work hard to bring them back.

More on Remco Evenepoel versus Florian Lipowitz. Evenepoel clearly wants to put the incident behind him, telling the press before the stage today that he is done talking about it, but now he has spoken out it’ll be hard to put the genie back into the bottle, as the body language between the two will be poured over by an alert press for the rest of this Tour.

'Everything is said. The Tour is not waiting' – Remco Evenepoel clears the air with Tour de France co-leader Lipowitz after venting frustration

KOM - COTE DE BEGUEY

The breakaway pair have reached the top of the day's only climb, the Côte de Beguey, where Veistroffer outsprints Otruba for the one point on offer. They're still one minute ahead of the chasing peloton.

It's still 45 seconds for the two leaders. They've timed their efforts well all day, and still have energy to burn as they try against the odds to hold off the peloton, and the teams in it hungry for a bunch sprint.

30KM TO GO

The gap's come down a bit, to 40 seconds. The sprinters' teams still appear to have matters firmly under control.

It's still Soudal and Alpecin who are doing most of the work at the front of the peloton, for their respective sprinters Merlier and Philipsen. They are now being helped by Biniam Girmay's NSN too, though. With so few opportunities for the sprinters in this first week, the pressure is on all of them to make the most of this one.

ATTACK - UNO-X MOBILITY

A pair of Uno-X Mobility riders have tried an attack, much like they did earlier in the stage. Anders Skaarseth and former stage winner Jonas Abrahamsen are the two riders, and they have a small gap.

20KM TO GO

Despite their best efforts, those two Uno-X Mobility riders have been caught. As for the break, they're lead has been cut to a mere matter of 6 or 7 seconds. This is all going to come back together soon.

That’s it, the catch has been made. With 17km to go the race is all back together, and it looks like we’re going to have a bunch sprint!

Picnic PostNL have been talking on race radio about a tricky moment 7.2km from the finish. Things will surely get tense on the run-in to this narrowing, as both sprinter and GC team vie for position.

NSN has been doing lots of work, as pictured, but now there is no one team controlling the peloton, as it bunches up across the road. Teams don't want to burn out too early, with 11.5km still to ride.

10KM TO GO

The pace has been upped again, once more by the antics of Uno-X Moblity. First Skaarseth and then Abrahamsen (ie, the two men who attacked earlier) tried moved, but neither managed to get a gap.

The riders are having to negotiate a lot of roundabouts, and picking the right way round is crucial for optimum positioning. The dual carriageway identified by Picnic-PostNL earlier is coming up any moment now.

As the road narrows, it's Cofidis and Ineos who lead the peloton. The likes of Philipsen, Merlier, Girmay, Pedersen and Kooij are all right up towards the front, and well positioned.

5KM TO GO

NSN have a train towards the front to try and rival Netcompany Ineos and Cofidis, but it's still those two teams that lead.

The peloton is all strung out, and most of the riders in the first ten places are representatives of either Cofidis or Netcompany. This looks good for their respective sprinters Fretin and Godon.

Now here comes Alpecin, who have a long lead-out line that has taken control at the front, with Van der Poel and Philipsen ready at the back at it.

1KM TO GO

Still Alpecin lead, and there's a big fight for Philipsen's wheel. But Stuyven has also placed Merlier very well.

Van der Poel leads out, Philipsen is about to launch...

MERLIER WINS

...but it's Tim Merlier who charges through to take the stage win!

Wærenskjold takes second, and Girmay third. Despite being so well led out, Philipsen couldn't hold his lead and was overtaken by several in the final.

Philipsen might have been dropped off in the best position by his lead-out man Van der Poel, but it appears he was dropped off too early. He led for the first part of the sprint, holding off the challenge from Fernando Gaviria on his wheel, but once Merlier emerged from the slipstream to launch his sprint he had no answer to his explosive acceleration.

Here's what Tim Merlier had to say at the finish after his win.

Merlier had an especially nonchalant celebration at the finish, rubbing his shoulders with the chilled demeanour of a man who made it look inevitable that he would win today. This is the Belgian’s fourth Tour career stage win, and further evidence that he is probably the quickest pure sprinter in the world.

Today's triumphant stage winner on the podium, Tim Merlier.

He might have finished down in ninth place in the sprint, but Mads Pedersen still has a healthy lead in the points classification. Here’s what the rankings look like now:

1 Mads Pedersen 204

2 Biniam Girmay 145

3 Max Kanter 140

4 Tim Merlier 134

5 Jasper Philipsen 126

Thanks for joining us today! Tadej Pogačar’s first day back in the yellow jersey passed largely without incident or stress, while for us watching it was worth the wait, as we were treated to a thrilling bunch sprint in the finale.

The sprinters should all be set for a rematch tomorrow, for what is another mostly flat stage that will likely end in a bunch sprint. We’ll bring you all the action again tomorrow - be sure to tune in!

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Results

Tour de France 2026 stage 6 - Results

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Hello and welcome to stage 6 of the Tour de France!

It might only be the first week of the race, but the race is already in the high mountains, with a stage that goes deep into the heart of the Pyrenees, and high up to some of its grandest summits. Two of the climbs from the region’ infamous ‘circle from hell’ are to be tackled - Col d’Aspin, and perhaps the most feared of them all, the Col du Tourmalet.

The big question today is how much of an impact these mighty climbs will have on the GC race? They are certainly hard enough to cause havoc if the GC riders race up it, but will the 40km from its summit to the finish, and the relatively shallow gradients of the category two climb of Gavarnie-Gèdre that they’ll climb up to the finish, be enough to discourage early attacks?

One thing that is for sure is that many, many riders will be aiming to get into the breakaway. With such big gaps on GC already, including lots of strong climbers, today represented an excellent chance for a stage win from the break, which will surely be reflected in the battle to get into it come the start of the racing in about just over twenty minutes.

Jonas Vingegaard continues to take no chances when it comes to his health at this race, again wearing a mask this morning to try to avoid infection. The Dane had a stressful finish yesterday when he was held up by the late crash, but thankfully did not go down himself.

Jonas Vingegaard avoids Tour de France disaster, scrambles to finish on teammate's bike after late crash chaos

The riders are on the move in Pau, following the neutral service ahead of the official start.

There is one non-starter today - Alex Molenaar, who had been riding such an animated race by getting into breakaways and spent a day in the polka-dot jersey, but yesterday went down heavily in a crash.

Before things kick-off and the race ignites in a matter of minutes, have a read of our thorough preview of the stage.

Tour de France 2026 stage 6 preview - Showdown among GC favourites Pogačar and Vingegaard expected on most demanding day in the Pyrenees

The riders in the neutralised section.

OFFICIAL START

Christian Prudhomme's head is out the top of the car, the flag is waved, and the race is on!

And surprisingly, the first attacker right from the flag is a Visma-Lease a Bike, Victor Campanaerts. Visma must mean business today, and are riding on the front foot rather than passively. That bodes well for how exciting the stage might turn out to be later.

Inevitably, the irrepressible Mads Pedersen is on the attack too. The green jersey jumped out the peloton and bridged up to Campanaerts and Lotto’s Huub Artz. There are points to be won for him in the green jersey classification, with an intermediate sprint less than 60km into the race, before any of the mountains have been tackled.

180KM TO GO

Pedersen, Campanaerts and Artz have a lead of 25 seconds on the peloton. Some other riders have tried getting out the peloton to join them, including O'Connor and Ganna, but so far to no avail.

The leading trio are working well together, and are still building their lead. The road remains fluctuates between flat and slightly uphill for most of the stage's first half, so within their specialities.

170KM TO GO

The peloton chasing behind is at 50 seconds. It's calmed down there, with the attacks no longer being made from it, and NSN having taken over the pace-setting. They're responding to Pedersen's presence in the break, on behalf of their own green jersey contender Biniam Girmay.

Artz’s presence in the break follows on from his Lotto’s approach from yesterday, when their rider Baptiste Veistroffer was the sole man up the road. Ever since star man Arnaud Dr Lie’s abandonment they’ve had to shift their approach, and are doing a good job so far of keeping their jerseys visible.

'I don’t understand why I was alone, we have an amazing chance to race the Tour de France' – A pat on the back from Pogačar as Baptiste Veistroffer saves the day

160KM TO GO

The gap has continued to grow, now up to 1:25. This has become a chase between Pedersen, Campanaerts and Artz, against the NSN-led peloton.

It's likely that the race in the peloton will ignite again come the climbs later on, be it the upcoming fourth and third category efforts or the Col d'Aspin later on, when the stronger climbers will surely try to get into the break.

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Something has happened to Huub Artz in the break. He has been having long discussions with the commissaires car, and has now slowed up and allowed himself to be dropped out of the break. It’s unclear what he has been told by the commissaires, but he doesn’t look especially happy about it.

150KM TO GO

Campanaerts and Pedersen lead the race by 1:15. Artz has dropped back into the peloton - the TV has shown replays of his position on the handlebars, which it seems might have been what the commissaires were reprimanding him for.

The weather is hot out there today, with riders like Richard Carapaz (pictured) making sure to keep cool. The race is in the ‘red zone’ in terms of weather today, and there is a risk of thunderstorms later, but no sign of them materialising just yet.

Tour de France enters the Extreme Weather Protocol red zone but the show will go on

KOM - COTE DE LOUCRUP

Pedersen has taken the point ahead of Campanaerts over the first (category four) climb of the day, but the real intrigue has happened behind. There was an upping of pace at the front of the peloton, with Van Eetvelt among those to accelerate, and some small gaps in the peloton opened up, with Pogačar keeping himself right towards the front.

130KM TO GO

It's calmed down again in the peloton among the big GC men, but Remco Evenepoel was held up taking a nature break, and now has teammates with him trying to pace him back into the peloton.

Meanwhile a two-man counter attack of Raúl García Pierna and Xabier Mikel Azparren have attacked out of the peloton, and are a few seconds ahead of the peloton, which is 35 second behind Campanaerts and Pedersen at the front of the race.

but a two-man counter-attack has formed with

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT

Mission accomplished for Mads Pedersen! He's taken the points at the intermediate sprint, uncontested by Campanaerts.

Behind, Kanter, Philipsen and Girmay sprinted for the remaining points on offer (after Azparren and Garcia Pernia had been caught) finishing in that order.

Pedersen has sat up and been caught, and here come the counter-attacks! Ben Healy is among those involved, and others are trying to go with him, as the gradient kicks up for an uncategorised rise. Campanaerts remains out front alone for now, with a lead of about 10 seconds.

120KM TO GO

The peloton is all back together again, with Campanaerts caught, and Evenepoel back in the peloton following his delay from earlier. A new wave of attacks is being made, with Jorgenson among those trying to go clear, but nothing has stuck yet.

A promising group of five has formed as they approach the foot of the second climb of the day, the category three Côte de Mauvezin. Martin, Foss, Caruso, Tratnik and O'Connor are all present, and are being joined by more.

That break as been caught as the ride up the climb, but the peloton is all stretched out. There are 1,500m left to ride until the summit.

KOM - COTE DE MAUVEZIN

Ben O'Connor has gone clear of the peloton with Xabier Mikel Azparren, and takes the two points at the top, with Azparren taking one. They are about 20 seconds ahead of the peloton, from which sprinters like Girmay and Philipsen have been dropped out of.

The instructions on race radio from Decathlon DS to their riders. This race has occasionally got messy over the small climbs, with gaps emerging in the peloton, and so they're aware for the sake of their leader Paul Seixas of the need to stay alert.

For now, the race is calm again, with UAE Team Emirates XRG riding tempo at the front behind O'Connor, who is 30 seconds up the road. Azparren has dropped back to the peloton.

100KM TO GO

O'Connor still leads the race by himself, 40 seconds ahead of the peloton. There will now be a long rolling section of road before they hit the foot of the first proper mountain of the day, Col d'Aspin, where the race will really ignite.

Remco Evenepoel is looking a lot happier than earlier, sat in the peloton and smiling, in contrast to the stress he was under earlier when he was caught out in a split. He is looking in great shape at this Tour, as observed by his DS yesterday, and this could be a big day for assessing his hopes of properly challenging for the yellow jersey.

'Probably the lightest I've ever seen him' – Red Bull full of confidence in extremely lean Remco Evenepoel ahead of first Tour de France mountain stage

UAE Team Emirates XRG continue to ride at the front of the peloton, but we've just heard from the team's race radio that the instructions are to slow down a bit. That's understandable, as Ben O'Connor is the only man up the road, and poses no threat on GC anymore, and there's still some road to be taken on before the climb.

For now, O'Connor leads by 1:15.

Decathlon's Daan Hoole is having a rough day. He's just been seen at the back of the peloton, being sick onto the road - and that's before we've even started the two upcoming mountains.

As a major part of Paul Seixas’ engine room, the team will hope he can survive the stage. This has been identified as the key day in the first week of the Tour for his GC ambitions.

'The key moment of this first week' – Teenage Tour de France star Paul Seixas heads into the unknown on first high mountain stage

80KM TO GO

Here we go, the riders have begun Col d’Aspin! They will be climbing for 12km at 6.5%. O’Connor leads the peloton by just 45 seconds, with UAE leading the chase.

Some big names have been dropped from the peloton already on the Aspin - Cian Uijtdebroeks, who has struggled all Tour, and, more surprisingly, Juan Ayuso!

It appears the latter's problem was technical rather than physical, as he's making his way back into the peloton, but it's a stressful situation to be in nonetheless.

Nils Politt is leading the peloton for UAE. He's going hard, but not too hard, keeping O'Connor at 35 seconds. Meanwhile Ayuso is back in the peloton, along with all the other main GC names.

The riders are about 5km from the top of the Aspin. With only one man up the road, there are a lot of points available in the KOM competition available for anyone climbing well in the peloton who has their eye on the polka-dot jersey.

That doesn’t include the current wearer of the polka-dot jersey, Alex Baudin. He has been dropped from the peloton.

70KM TO GO

The peloton is getting smaller, and Ben O'Connor has been caught and dropped out of it. It's still a big group though, with all the GC favourites are still in it, as well as the yellow jersey of Torstein Træen - but his rival Sean Quinn has been dropped.

We have also just had our first attack on the climb, with Valentin Paret-Peintre making a move. He has his eye on the KOM points.

KOM - COL D'ASPIN

Lenny Martinez also attacked out of the peloton to join Valentin Paret-Peintre before the summit, and beat him in a sprint to take the maximum points.

They've both made their intentions of targeting the mountains classification clear by attacking. As two quality climbers who are also in possession with quick kicks in the KOM sprints, and far enough down on GC to be given freedom to attack, they look like great candidates for the polka-dot jersey.

60KM TO GO

Paret-Peintre and Martinez dropped back into the peloton on the descent, meaning we have no breakaway as things stand. The riders are still descending down the Aspin, after which they’ll start climbing the Tourmalet almost immediately.

We’ve also just had an abandon - Soudal’s Bert Van Lerberghe, a key part of Tim Merlier’s lead-out train.

The riders have started the Tourmalet! Tim Wellens is leading them on it for UAE Team Emirates XRG.

Jonas Vingegaard is receiving encouragement on Visma-Lease a Bike's race radio.

Right now it's UAE Team Emirates XRG who are dominating at the front of the peloton, though. Wellens still leads the peloton for them, and as well as him, Pogačar still has Vermeersch, Großschartner, McNulty, Yates and Del Toro with him.

50KM TO GO

Riders are being dropped on the Tourmalet. Matthew Riccitello is among them, which after Aurélien Paret-Peintre was dropped earlier, is leaving Paul Seixas looking light on support.

And now one of Visma's big support riders, Jorgenson, is dropped. So far UAE are winning the battle among the GC teams. Felix Großschartner leads the peloton for them, one of five riders still at the front for them.

YELLOW JERSEY DROPPED

Torstein Træen has been dropped! His yellow jersey is now under peril, though he has a big advantage of 7:53 to defend from Tadej Pogačar. He will have to pace himself carefully for the remainder of the mountain, and the stage.

Tom Pidcock has been dropped! The peloton continues to thin out, it's down to about 20 - 25 riders.

There are now only 16 riders left in the peloton - McNulty leads, and with him are teammates Pogacar, Del Toro and Yates, plus Vingegaard, Piganzoli, Kuss, Evenepoel, Lipowitz, Seixas, Ayuso, Skjelmose, Carapaz, Johannessen, Bernal and Martinez.

Carapaz has been dropped, as has Piganzoli, leaving Vingegaard with Just Kuss to support him. Pogačar still has McNulty pacing, and both Yates and Del Toro in reserve.

Yates has taken over as pace-setter from McNulty, who has been dropped. Johannessen is the latest rider to be dropped, leaving just 12 riders left in the group.

Del Toro takes over from Yates already, accelerates, and has gone away from the rest with Pogačar on his wheel! Not even Vingegaard has managed to follow this move.

Vingegaard is trying to chase them down behind, and has Lipowitz almost on his wheel. Seixas is behind, and the rest further down.

POGACAR GOES CLEAR

Pogačar has gone clear of Del Toro and is leading the race by himself!

Vingegaard has caught and passed Del Toro, who is going backwards. Lipowitz is catching up to him.

Vingegaard appears to be clawing Pogačar back...he's just seven seconds behind.

Pogačar is holding his lead, keeping 10 seconds on Vingegaard. Behind, Seixas has caught up to Del Toro and Lipowitz, who are 50 seconds behind.

40KM TO GO

Vingegaard is grimacing in a way we rarely see him do. He must be going very deep, but is drifting further away, to 25 seconds. The Seixas / Lipowitz / Del Toro group is 1:05 behind, while Evenepoel is in a group at 1:20.

KOM - COL DU TOURMALET

Pogačar summits the Tourmalet, to take the Souvenir Jacques Goddet. He's 30 seconds ahead of Vingegaard, and about 1:20 ahead of Seixas / Lipowitz / Del Toro.

How many risks will Vingegaard and the others be willing to take on this descent to try to bring him back? This could be a dramatic downhill.

Vingegaard is being cheered on on this descent by his DS, but 30 seconds is a lot of ground to make up. After the long descent of the Tourmalet, there is another climb to the finish to take on, the Gavarnie-Gèdre, which might rise at only 3.7% but goes on for a whole 18.7km. He cannot afford to go into the red.

30KM TO GO

Pogačar is pushing on hard on this descent, calling out to a moto to get out of his way as he powers down it. His lead is getting bigger, now 40 seconds up on Vingegaard. And he's also very nearly the virtual yellow jersey, with Torstein Træen having only just crested the climb, over seven minutes later.

The Evenepoel group has brought back Seixas, Lipowitz and Del Toro, after strong work from the Belgian on the descent. They're 1:50 behind Pog and one minute behind Vingegaard.