Tour de France 2026: Pogacar triumphs in Alpe d'Huez

fotobureau Cor VosAt the foot of the final climb to Alpe d'Huez, Tadej Pogacar attacks from the GC group. He is 3 minutes and 30 seconds behind the breakaway at that point. He catches Richard Carapaz and Lenny Martinez, then rides clear on his own in the final 800 metres to claim his fifth stage win of the year. Remco Evenepoel gains time on his podium rivals, further strengthening his hold on second place. (Slideshow route/profile)

Stage 19 Results – 2026 Tour de France

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo) 3:17:57
2. Lenny Martinez (fra) + 0:06
3. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 0:09
4. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 1:14
5. Tobias Halland Johannessen (nor) + 2:07
6. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 2:29
7. Isaac del Toro (mex) + 2:41
8. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 2:45
9. Paul Seixas (fra) s.t.
10. Harold Tejada (col) + 3:22

17. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 6:26
20. Tom Pidcock (gbr) + 8:22
22. Jordan Jegat (fra) + 9:07

GC after stage 19

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 7:11
3. Isaac del Toro (mex) + 9:42
4. Paul Seixas (fra) + 10:06
5. Lenny Martinez (fra) + 13:00
6. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 13:09
7. Juan Ayuso (spa) 15:58
8. Richard Carapaz (ecu) 21:15
9. Tom Pidcock (gbr) + 21:30
10. Jordan Jegat (fra) + 23:21

Race report
Valentin Paret-Peintre wins the sprint for mountain points atop the Col Bayard from a group of 43 riders, virtually taking the KOM lead from Tadej Pogacar. The Frenchman further extends his lead by winning the sprint for mountain points atop the Col du Noyer.

The breakaway builds a maximum lead of nearly 5 minutes before Mads Pedersen wins the intermediate sprint in Le Périer.

On the approach to the Col d'Ornon, virtual King of the Mountains Paret-Peintre is dropped, while many more riders lose contact on the climb itself. Richard Carapaz takes the maximum haul at the summit, cutting Paret-Peintre's lead to just 5 points.

As the riders hit the final climb, the breakaway consists of Lenny Martinez, Thymen Arensman, Sepp Kuss, Richard Carapaz, Bruno Armirail, Quinn Simmons, Tiesj Benoot, Tobias Foss, Matthew Riccitello, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Einer Rubio, Harold Tejada, Mattia Cattaneo and Javier Romo. At that point, the peloton is made up almost exclusively of GC contenders: Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, Isaac Del Toro, Mattias Skjelmose, Paul Seixas, Tom Pidcock, Juan Ayuso, Nicolas Prodhomme, Felix Großschartner, Maxim Van Gils and Jai Hindley.

Early on the final climb, Arensman accelerates and Martinez immediately follows his move. Kuss and Carapaz take a little longer to bridge across, while Ayuso is dropped from the GC group as early as at the foot of the climb.

Pogacar launches his attack not long afterwards and immediately goes clear. At almost the exact same moment, Kuss attacks from the breakaway, with Martinez and Carapaz on his wheel.

Within the final 9 kilometres, Carapaz launches a blistering attack. Martinez goes with him, while Kuss rides at his own pace and eventually rejoins them. Meanwhile Pogacar is closing in, metre by metre.

That scenario at the front repeats itself several times, with the same outcome each time: the three riders come back together. It is only when Pogacar is almost back with them, with 3 kilometres to go, that Carapaz manages to drop the other two.

At that point, Remco Evenepoel rides away from his rivals further down the mountain. Later, Isaac del Toro also manages to open a gap.

With just under 2 kilometres to go, the yellow jersey catches Carapaz. Martinez is on his wheel, and the three of them pass under the red kite together.

Then, with 800 metres to go, the world champion drops his companions and rides solo to his fifth Tour stage win of the year. Martinez finishes second to move up to fifth overall, while Carapaz takes third and knocks Paret-Peintre, the virtual leader of the mountains classification, out of the polka-dot jersey.

Another interesting read: route 19th stage 2026 Tour de France.