Tour de France 2026 Favourites stage 10: Spectacular run to Le Lioran

fotobureau Cor VosWill Tadej Pogacar be out for revenge? Two years ago, Jonas Vingegaard edged him out in a photo finish in Le Lioran. However it unfolds, stage 10 offers plenty of material for a compelling battle, be it for the GC or just for the stage win. (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 29 June

Two years ago, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard delivered a thrilling finale. The two rivals engaged in a titanic battle over the last 30 kilometres, which ultimately ended in a sprint-à-deux, with the Dane pipping the Slovenian.

Will we see a similar scenario unfold? It is Bastille Day, and the French will opt for a different outcome. They are eyeing Paul Seixas as a potential stage winner, with Lenny Martinez ideally joining him on the podium.

The route has echoes of Liège–Bastogne–Liège. As in La Doyenne, the opening phase is relatively straightforward, with the first 65 kilometres covering rolling to flat terrain. The Côte Pailrehols (3 kilometres at 7.2%) provides the first uphill test, but the climbing action really ignites with the Côte de la Griffoul (5.9 kilometres at 6.7%). Shortly afterwards, the Col de Prat de Bouc (3.1 kilometres at 6.5%) adds further difficulty.

After the Côte de Murat (5.2 kilometres at 5.3%), the tension ramps up on the Puy Mary (7.8 kilometres at 6%), before the Col de Pertus (4.4 kilometres at 8.5%) delivers the hardest test of the day. A descent of just over 5 kilometres then leads onto the Col de Font de Cère (3.1 kilometres at 5.8%). From the summit, it is 2.7 kilometres to the finish in Le Lioran, mostly downhill before a final ramp of 7.4% inside the last 500 metres.

Will Pogacar be out for revenge? Two years ago, he had his team control the race before launching an attack on the Puy Mary, only for Vingegaard to bridge across on the Col de Pertus. The Slovenian won the sprint for bonus seconds at the summit, but at the line it was the other way around, with the Dane edging him out by the smallest of margins – more a psychological blow than anything else.

We’ll continue to update this article in the build-up to the Tour de France.

Favourites 10th stage - 2026 Tour de France

*** Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Paul Seixas, Juan Ayuso
** Ben Healy, Lennert Van Eetvelt, Tom Pidcock, Isaac del Toro
* Mattias Skjelmose, Maxim Van Gils, Lenny Martinez, Mathias Vacek

Another interesting read: route 10th stage 2026 Tour de France.

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