As it happened: Astonishing finale to a dramatic last stage of the Tour de France as Pogačar is crowned

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