Pogačar Dominates Queen Stage to Tighten Grip on Fifth Tour de France Title

Posted : 25 July 2026

Tadej Pogačar moved to the brink of another Tour de France triumph after producing a commanding ride to win Stage 20 on the legendary slopes of Alpe d'Huez on Saturday.

The penultimate stage of the 2026 Tour covered 170.9 kilometres from Le Bourg d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez and featured an exhausting 5,450 metres of climbing. Riders tackled four major ascents, including the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, and the Col de Sarenne before the final climb to Alpe d'Huez.

The stage was widely regarded as the Queen Stage of this year's race and proved decisive once again as Pogačar attacked on the final ascent. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader distanced the remaining breakaway riders to secure a solo victory, completing back-to-back wins on Alpe d'Huez after also claiming Stage 19.

The victory was Pogačar's sixth stage success of the 2026 Tour and further strengthened his grip on the Yellow Jersey. His overall lead extended to more than seven minutes and 30 seconds over closest challenger Remco Evenepoel, leaving the Slovenian on the verge of securing a fifth Tour de France title.

The race also produced important battles in the fight for the remaining jerseys. Richard Carapaz strengthened his position in the King of the Mountains competition after collecting valuable points on the Col de la Croix de Fer and Col du Télégraphe. His advantage in the polka dot standings increased significantly as his nearest rival lost ground on the mountain climbs.

Isaac Del Toro successfully defended third place in the general classification despite repeated pressure from French youngster Paul Seixas. Although Seixas launched several attacks during the mountainous stage, he was unable to close the gap and Del Toro maintained his podium position heading into the final day.

Mads Pedersen also confirmed his dominance in the points classification. The Danish rider secured enough points at the intermediate sprint to mathematically clinch the Green Jersey before finishing safely with the main contenders.

The demanding route also featured the Tour's highest point at the Col du Galibier, while the inclusion of the Col de Sarenne generated discussion before the stage because of recent mudslides and environmental concerns. Despite the challenging conditions, the peloton completed one of the toughest stages in recent Tour history.

Attention now shifts to the final Stage 21 from Thoiry to the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The traditional closing stage is expected to provide a ceremonial finish for the general classification contenders, with Pogačar requiring only a safe ride to seal another historic Tour de France crown and join the elite group of five-time winners.

Pogačar Dominates Queen Stage to Tighten Grip on Fifth Tour de France Title

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