As it happened: World champion grabs yellow by the smallest margins with Tour de France stage 3 uphill sprint

Good morning and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 3 of the Tour de France!

Matilda here, and I'll be guiding you through the stage all day. It could be an interesting one, as the race heads back into France via plenty of climbing.

Any questions or comments? Drop them in the comments section below and I'll get back to you there, or answer anything interesting here.

Today's parcours

Here is what's on the cards today from Granollers in Spain to Les Angles in France. The peloton cross the border at just over 150km into the stage, so we're mainly still in Spain after the weekend's Barcelona Grand Départ.

• Length: 195.9km
• Elevation gain: 3,940m
• Intermediate sprint: Campdevànol, km 98.4
• Climbs:
  • Côte de Saint Feliu de Codines (8.2km at 4.5%) – cat. 3, km 17.2
  • Col de Toses (9.3km at 6.5%) – cat. 1, km 127.7
  • Col du Calvaire (11.4km at 4.1%) – cat. 3, km 172.3
  • Les Angles (1.7km at 6.5%) – cat. 3, km 195.9

If you were out enjoying your weekend yesterday, here's what you missed on stage 2. It was an absolutely cracker, especially the finale, so I'd totally recommend seeking out the highlights, too, but here's the rundown and results.

Tour de France: Isaac del Toro, Tadej Pogačar power to UAE Team Emirates 1-2 on stage 2

GC analysis

We are only two days into this Tour de France, but after the opening TTT and yesterday's Montjuïc fireworks, the GC race is well and truly on, earlier than ever.

Jonas Vingegaard is in yellow for the first time in three years, but UAE Team Emirates-XRG took the spoils yesterday in an ominous performance. Indeed, Tadej Pogačar's 'gift' to Isaac del Toro may be a very important part of the race to come – because he probably just sealed the Mexican's loyalty and highest commitment for the rest of the race.

My colleague James, who is on the ground at the race, wrote more about this:

The importance of a Tadej Pogačar gift in the race against Vingegaard for Tour de France supremacy – Barcelona Grand Départ GC analysis

Apart from the tricky parcours, the reason there's a bit of tension hanging over today is because wildfires are currently raging in southern France, which yesterday were threatening to cancel today's stage.

In the end, ASO and the local authorities have decided to go ahead, but with strict instructions to fans to not come and watch the final 40km of the stage. There will be now publicity caravan, in order to further deter spectators, and there may be fines handed out for anyone who disobeys the stay-away instruction.

More on this: Tour de France stage 3 to go ahead but spectators asked not to attend finish due to forest fires in 'exceptional decision'

About 30 minutes to go until the neutral roll out. The teams are currently signing on in Granollers, which you can watch live on the Tour's Twitter feed, if you want.

Hot day ahead

Lots of cooling going on at the start. It's 33ºC in Granollers already.

Overall standings and jerseys

Quick reminder of who is wearing what today:

🟡 Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)

🟢 Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

🔴 Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

⚪ Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) *Del Toro leads the classification

Full standings: Tour de France GC standings – Tadej Pogačar closes in on Jonas Vingegaard with time bonus on stage 2

Vingegaard is wearing a face mask to sign on and the mixed zone again. He's clearly not taking any chances when it comes to getting sick at this race.

There doesn't seem to be much consensus on what kind of a stage today might be.

Apparently Visma are happy to let the yellow jersey go if the opportunity arises, but only to the right rider – i.e. not Tadej Pogačar or another GC rival. It certainly seems like a day that would be good for the breakaway, and could come with big rewards, so I'd predict a pretty big fight to get in that move. But equally, if a rider like Pogačar or Del Toro get the chance to make some GC fireworks, they won't give that opportunity up.

What do you think? Don't forget to vote in the poll above.

First glimpse this morning of Vingegaard in yellow again this morning, and his mask.

The riders are assembling for the start now. Neutral roll out coming shortly – the flag should drop about 10 minutes later.

Neutral roll out

They're off! About 10 minutes of neutralised racing before the flag drops.

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!

Isaac del Toro is back at the car getting some assistance with his radio. (After yesterday's mishap where his team car drove straight past him, they'll want to be sure communication is all working today!)

5km left of the neutral, but they won't actually drop the flag until everyone is back in the bunch, so no rush for Del Toro.

Fortunately yesterday some other teams were on hand to help Del Toro out.

Sportsmanship on show at Tour de France as Isaac del Toro gets mechanical assistance from rival teams after his own team cars drive straight past him

Pogačar and Vingegaard are having a bit of a chat and a laugh in the roll out. Big rivals but these two really do get along and like each other.

Other riders on the front and possibly priming for a go in the break include Mads Pedersen, Quentin Pacher and Lewis Askey.

Talking of their rivalry, though, we've done a few Pogačar vs Vingegaard head to heads recently, comparing their bikes and their physiology.

Have a read here:

Pogačar vs Vingegaard: A physiological head-to-head – Where the battle will be won at the Tour de France

Official start

Off we go! 195.9km on the menu today, with three cat. 3 climbs and one cat. 1.

Full stage preview: Tour de France 2026 stage 3 preview - Where there's smoke, there could be fire

The first climb starts in just a few kilometres, so actually instead of attacks from the gun we're seeing a relatively calm peloton right now. Riders are amassing at the front, but not launching just yet, as they will be a big fight on the climb – they're saving their energy for that.

As I say that, Louis Vervaeke launches a little move off the front.

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) is in the mix near the front. Probably policing things for his team, keeping an eye on who is doing what, more than trying to get involved himself.

It's mainly strong breakaway specialists and smaller team riders who are having a go right now, but it's not quite full gas yet.

Five off the front

A group of five have just chipped off the front and they have about 10 seconds, but we're nowhere near done – the breakaway battle has only just begun, I'd say.

But for reference, they are:

• Vervaeke (Soudal-QuickStep)
• Træen (Uno-X Mobility)
• Slock (Lotto Intermarché)
• Guernalec (TotalEnergies)
• Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

Raúl García Pierna (Movistar) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) have just joined the leaders, with a load more riders chasing behind.

That's pretty much closed down now. So we start again. The first climb starts in about 5km, and it's 7km long.

Climb: Côte de Saint Feliu de Codines (8.2km at 4.5%) – cat. 3

Onto the climb now, bunch is together but the attacks are starting.

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Intermarché) is already struggling out the back. He's had a rubbish start to this race, he's been ill.

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) is puttin in a big dig, with Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep) on his wheel. The serious riders are coming out to play now, will be interesting to see what the GC teams think to this...

Crash in the bunch

Oof big old crash in the peloton, happened near the front and lots of riders went down or were held up.

Isaac del Toro was affected, Bruno Armirail (Visma-Lease a Bike), several Netcompany Ineos riders.

Everyone looks to be up and riding again, but that was a big hit for a lot of riders.

Armirail was the first so go down and slowest to start again. His shoe looks to be broken.

That crash has split and slowed things down in the bunch a bit I think. Those who got through unscathed are just taking the foot off the gas to allow things to come back together.

Armirail is at the medical car.

Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon CMA CGM) is also at the medical car, he's clearly been down too.

He is a very important domestique for Paul Seixas.

Up front, Javier Romo (Movistar) and Paret-Peintre are in the lead but not far in front of the bunch.

Back together at the front. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Movistar) is struggling out the back... not a great start to the Tour for him. He came here to target GC.

Paret-Peintre won max points at the top of the climb.

KoM results – Côte de Saint Feliu de Codines (cat. 3)

1. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep) – 2 pts
2. Javier Romo (Movistar) – 1 pt

On a quick descent now before the road kicks up again shortly.

George Bennett (NSN) is attacking off the front on his own, with the bunch stretched out behind him.

He's a local rider who has lived in Girona and Andorra so may well know these roads.

Van der Poel on the attack

Well look who it is... Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) is having a go on the front!

He said pre-race that he'd like to wear yellow again this Tour. He's at 1:26 right now, so if he got in a successful move today it could happen.

But it remains really tricky to get in a break. The pace is high and so many riders want to be involved – Egan Bernal is the next to put in a big push.

Jorgenson is on the front and flicking his elbow asking riders to give him some help. So that would suggest that he is trying to get in the break and work with attackers, rather than just police. Interesting!

170km to go

More than 25km of this breakaway battle already done. Everything's back together and it's starting again.

When the battle takes a while like this, it can eventually work against the break – they have less time to build a good gap, and those in the group end up more tired. Success is more likely when they go early-ish.

Prediction from cjrogers2002 in the comments:

Any advances on that? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

How do riders stay cool in the Tour de France?

It's been a very hot start to the race, with teams using all sorts of different methods to stay cool. My colleague Will has run through a few of them.

From alcohol sprays to forearm bathing: All the cooling strategies the pros use to beat the heat at the Tour de France

Here are some of the riders who have been involved in the battle for the break so far.

Still no break

But I think we are getting closer... A group of eight are out front now, including Bernal who is keen to get away today. Still riders trying to chase behind though so let's see if this group gets established.

And the Bernal group has been caught by the peloton.

Nearly 40km done! This is a long one. Brutal start given the heat, and indeed the climbing to come.

UAE vs Visma already?

Del Toro, Pogačar and Vingegaard are right on the front of the bunch keeping an eye on things.

The bunch settled for a moment just then on a narrow road but it's kicked off again as the road opened up.

I think part of the issue here and why things are taking so long is because Visma really want Jorgenson to get in the break and go for a stage win, but UAE do not want this to happen. The rivalry between these two teams has defined the Tour for years, and nothing is changing today.

It is hot, hot, hot.

Some riders who were dropped earlier, like Lenny Martinez, are getting back onto the bunch now as we head back onto the flat.

There's a good bit of respite from the climbing now.

Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) is pushing on now.

It's probably getting a bit desperate now. A break really needs to get well established before the next big climb if they're going to have any chance of surviving to the line.

140km to go

Bunch is all together as they head through a town. Lots of fans out, which is nice to see – reminder there shouldn't be fans on the road for the final 40km once we return to France.

New break – could this be the one?

A new group is up the road: Louis Vervaeke (Soudal-QuickStep), Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobliity), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies).

They only have a handful of seconds, but look pretty low-risk for the GC teams. Still riders trying to bridge across behind.

There are riders in between, but the leaders' gap is 22 seconds now, which is the biggest any gap has been all day.

Jayco duo of Schmid and Plapp are chasing, with Bennett.

Very important job today!

11 in the lead

Plapp, Schmid and Bennett have been joined by Pedersen and some more riders from the peloton.

And they have just joined the quartet in the front with a gap of 35 seconds to make a group of 11.

But is it settling down behind? No, it is not.

Six more riders chasing behind.

We have done 70km now. The break has to settle at some point, surely.

Radio message

Visma DS just told the riders but there's no one dangerous in the break, and that it's a good situation. So hopefully they will stop chasing now.

The break is gone

OK, riders are taking natural breaks, the peloton is slowing right down and the gap is going out over a minute very quickly. So I THINK that is the break of the day.

The six chasers will join the leaders soon, so there will be 17 in the lead by my calculations.

And the chasers have joined the leaders. Gap is out to nearly two minutes. And there are 19 of them, not 17 like I said.

Here's the composition of the break (reminder, you can check the live widgets at the top of this page for more details):

• Cort (Uno-X Mobility)
• Oliveira, García Pierna (Movistar)
• Plapp, Schmid (Jayco AlUla)
• Delbove, Vercher (TotalEnergie)
• Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
• Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost)
• Prodhomme (Decathlon CMA CGM)
• Bennett (NSN)
• Bernal (Netcompany Ineos)
• Van Mechelen (Bahrain Victorious)
• Aranburu (Cofidis)
• Storer (Tudor)
• Braz Afonso (Groupama-FDJ United)
• Vervaeke (Soudal-QuickStep)
• Tejada (XDS Astana)
• Balderstone (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

120km to go

Bernal has dropped out of the break actually. Not sure why that is, maybe just spent too much.

Visma are controlling the gap, just keeping it under control

Alright then, break is gone. Who is going to win? Let me know in the comments...

Here's most of the break from earlier, missing a few as this was before the other six riders joined them.

20km to go until the intermediate sprint. That's come around quickly.

Ah Bernal had a flat tyre. That's so unlucky after trying so hard to get in the break. Let's see if he can get back on, it's a tough ask on your own.

Fred Wright spoke to Eurosport at the start about today's stage, said he's expecting a strange finale with no fans, but of course there are more important things happening in southern France right now with 10,000 people evacuated amidst the fires.

Bernal is back in the peloton, by the way. Everyone else is having a drink and some lunch.

Just a quick update on what riders are dropped from the peloton:

Mainly sprinters, as you'd expect, with Kooij, Philipsen, Gaviria and Girmay all well down, but interestingly Matthew Riccitello is there too after his crash. Hopefully he's not too hurt as he has important job supporting Seixas in this race.

100km to go

Just about to reach the intermediate sprint. Mads Pedersen will be going for this – this is why he's in the break at all.

Sprint: Campdevànol

As expected, Pedersen wins the intermediate with ease. That's 25 points to his tally and he's virtually in the lead.

Delbove second, Baudin third.

95km to go

So that's 100km done.

The gap is sitting just shy of three minutes, with Red Bull, UAE and Lidl-Trek controlling the chase. Visma are sitting back, maybe they're serious about giving the jersey away.

Virtual GC

If the finish line were to come now, Alex Baudin would go into the yellow jersey. He started the day only 1:07 down.

He's had a really good summer actually, leading the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes for several days in June. The Frenchman's exploits have perhaps been a little overshadowed by the attention on his compatriots like Seixas, Vauquelin and Martinez, but he's waving the flag for the home nation.

Here's how things are looking in the bunch.

Hmm, the gap is coming down now, back to two minutes. The break are working relatively well together but not exactly storming on.

With so many GC teams behind clearly quite interested in another GC day, the chances don't look massive for our break. A shame after it took so long to get here!

The break seem to be waking up to the sense of urgency and the fact they need to ramp it up a bit if they want to stay away.

Pedersen meanwhile looks to be giving up. His job is done, he'd be fine to drop back to the peloton if he wanted

Ayuso has been having a bit of banter with his former team.

It's nice to see, considering how tense things got before he left. No bad blood after all.

A few kilometres away from the Col de Toses (9.5 km at 6.5%) starting officially, but the road is very much already heading up.

García Pierna is having a go on his own out front, just as the climb begins.

García Pierna in the lead

García Pierna has a little gap on the rest of the break.

The stronger climbers are trying to rejoin him, whilst Pedersen and Aranburu are dropping.

Van Mechelen and Vercher have joined García Pierna up front, so three riders are in the lead.

They have 20 seconds on a group containing Alex Baudin. Just under 3km to the top of the Col de Toses.

Issue for Politt in the peloton. He had to pull his foot out and fully stop in the middle of the road, it was fortunate no one crashed into him.

70km to go

The leaders have dragged out their lead over this climb, it's back up to nearly two minutes.

Six in the lead

Baudin, Bennett and Prodhomme have joined the front of the race to make it six just before the top of the climb.

Great crowds – sadly the last ones we'll see today.

Gap is around 1:45 over the top of the climb but the peloton are speeding up, it looks like.

We're heading towards the border with France now before the next climb.

KoM results: Col de Toses (cat. 1)

Baudin leads through the banner pretty much unchallenged to take maximum KoM points. That moves him into the virtual lead of the classification since that was the first cat. 1 KoM of the race.

1. Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) – 10 pts
2. Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon CMA CGM) – 8 pts
3. Raúl García Pierna (Movistar) – 6 pts
4. Vlad Van Mechelen (Bahrain Victorious) – 4pts
5. Mattéo Vercher (TotalEnergies) – 2 pts
6. George Bennett (NSN) – 1 pt

UAE are still working away in the bunch behind.

Remember, Pogačar started the day only six seconds off of Vingegaard's yellow jersey, so he could take it today. But does he want to do that so early?

60km to go

All the rest of the break have been caught by the peloton now, so it's just the six leaders vs the bunch.

I shouldn't be, because Pogačar never lets up, but I am surprised that this is looking like a GC day rather than a breakaway day. I wouldn't have thought anyone wanted to be in yellow this early.

Speeding down this descent, but soon they'll be going back up on the Col du Calvaire, which is 11.5km but a gentler gradient at a 4.2% average.

Visma are sitting back and staying calm, for now.

I think Pogačar is going to really test Vingegaard quite soon...

Is De Lie going to be time cut?

Oof, De Lie is nearly 26 minutes down now.

I can't quite tell you if that means he's at risk of missing the time cut, as we don't know the exact time limit until the stage concludes and the calculations are made.

But with the amount of climbing still left in the last 45km of the stage, it's certainly not looking grat.

Need to brush up on the time cut rules? Read this: How do time limits work in the Tour de France?

Race enters France

Bienvenue en France!

The Tour is back home, after a great Grand Départ in Barcelona and the Spanish part of Catalonia.

It feels a slightly sombre moment, though, with the race heading towards a part of France that has been ravaged by wildfires.

40km to go

Tim Wellens is spending himself on the front of the peloton right now. The gap is still 1:25 though and the leaders are working well together.

Politt has taken over leading the peloton now. UAE are using quite a lot of firepower chasing this down.

Climb: Col du Calvaire (11.4km at 4.1%) – cat. 3

Onto the penultimate climb we go.

Baudin is pushing on solo, he can secure the KoM jersey. He'll obviously be thinking about the stage win too but I'm not sure he can survive against UAE for 34km.

Prodhomme joins Baudin, the French pair are working together at the moment.

Not the team you want to be chasing you down on a Tour de France stage.

30km to go

5km of this climb left, and then it's up to the finish at Les Angles.

Peloton are closing in

The gap to the peloton has just dropped below a minute for the first time.

All of the chasing breakaway riders have been caught now, so it's just Baudin and Prodhomme left out front, about 55 seconds ahead of the peloton.

Despite the suggestion that fans shouldn't come and watch the final 44km of racing, there are still lots of spectators out on the road. Local fans are allowed to come out, so they might not all be breaking the rules. We'll see what the finish and final climb is like.

Prodhomme has just indicated to Baudin that he can go for the KoM points. Prodhomme just needed to grab a drink and didn't want to contest the climb.

KoM results: Col du Calvaire (cat. 3)

Baudin grabs the max points which will put him into the KoM jersey at the end of today.

1. Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) – 2 pts
2. Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon CMA CGM) – 1 pt

Baudin will be swapping pink for polka dots at the end of this stage.

20km to go

Prodhomme, meanwhile, has sat up to wait for Paul Seixas. He grabbed him a bottle too so he can give his teammate a drink.

Baudin's day will be over quite soon too I think, but he's achieved a jersey at least.

The gap is 30 seconds only now. The bunch has shrunk a lot under UAE's pacing.

15km to go

Baudin is just 20 seconds ahead now. Still UAE setting the pace, with Visma tucked in behind them.

Reminder of how the finish of the stage looks:

Baudin is caught

There we go, the peloton have caught Baudin.

GC action incoming! But will Vingegaard defend yellow or can Pogačar – or even Del Toro – rip it off him?

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!

10km to go

A couple of kilometres until the road kicks up again, though only the last 1,700m are categorised as the actual climb.

For the moment, UAE are setting a pace that is cancelling out any hopes of attacks.

There are fans on course despite wildfire warning

Clearly it's been hard to keep fans away, even with the threat of fines.

Image 1 of 3

Uphill we go. 7km to go. UAE's pace is still untouchable.

5km to go

Oof it's tense. Somebody do something!

Though of course the longer the attacks hold off, the smaller the time gaps will be, which may not be a bad thing, considering it's day 3. Let's keep some jeopardy alive please.

Pogačar is sat behind four teammates. Behind him is Jorgenson, with Vingegaard on his wheel.

So it's Großschartner, McNulty, Yates, Del Toro, Pogačar, Jorgenson, Vingegaard in the front of the bunch. Vingegaard's other teammates are around and behind him.

Lidl-Trek are moving up, putting Ayuso into position.

Soudal are coming up on the right too, I guess for Van Wilder or Paret-Peintre.

UAE are allowing other teams to come up and increase the pace a bit. Großschartner has pulled off and Visma have come to the front.

4km to go

The tension is winding up... No attacks yet but teams are getting into mountain lead-outs basically.

3km to go

Sepp Kuss and Jorgenson are winding it up, fighting with Yates as the road winds through town.

It's a real fight for position. The domestiques are trying their best to set up and try to launch their leaders.

2km to go

The official climb is starting now! It's going to be a sprint up to the top more or less.

Pogačar and Vingegaard are just stalking each other.

Jai Hindley leads into the climb for Red Bull, with Evenepoel, Pogačar and Vingegaard behind him. Del Toro is coming into position now.

Still the domestiques battling more than the leaders, but someone will go soon...

Final kilometre

Here we go.

Kuss still leading, Del Toro behind him, then it's the GC favourites ready to pounce.

Del Toro lights it up

The stage 2 winner is doing a job for Pogačar now. Vingegaard right behind, Seixas fourth wheel.

They're just waiting, waiting....

500m to go

They're leaving this late – will be mainly for the stage win more than time gaps, in that case.

Del Toro's pace is stopping anyone from attacking.

Could it even be back to back wins for him? Surely Pogačar wants some seconds.

Pogačar goes with 200m to go!

No one can match is speed

Tadej Pogačar wins stage 3!

And the world champion does it!

Jonas Vingegaard is second, looks close enough to hold onto yellow but let's see...

Pogačar takes 10 bonus seconds and Vingegaard six, so if there's judged to be a two-second gap on the road, then Pogačar will take yellow.

Super hard to tell what the timing forces will decide.

Your winner!

And hearing that he's taking yellow. Two-second gap declared on the finish line, so they're equal on time but Pogačar's stage win (and second place yesterday) earns him the yellow jersey.

Results

GC standings

And here's what the overall looks like.

Catch up with the full stage and results with our race report:

Tour de France: Tadej Pogačar blasts away from Jonas Vingegaard on final section of Les Angles ascent for stage 3 victory and yellow jersey

Here's a familiar sight, Pogačar in yellow.

With that stage win, Pogačar also takes the green jersey.

Here's what the standings look like in that classification:

1. Pogačar – 55 pts
2. Vingegaard – 44 pts
3. Del Toro – 39 pts
4. Pedersen – 37 pts
5. Evenepoel – 33 pts

Del Toro is still the best young rider so keeps the white jersey, and Baudin is in the polka dots.

Image 1 of 2

And here's a quick look at what's in store tomorrow.

Tour de France 2026 stage 4 preview