Pogacar’s Dominance on Col du Tourmalet
Tadej Pogacar secured an emphatic overall lead in the 2026 Tour de France by powering alone to victory on stage six to Gavarnie-Gèdre. This stage, considered the only “true” Pyrenean stage of the race, included the challenging Col du Tourmalet, a climb reaching 2,115 meters, making it the second-highest summit of this year’s Tour. Pogacar’s solo effort saw him extend his lead significantly, demonstrating a commanding performance in the mountains.
The pace set by Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates XRG at the base of the Tourmalet was intense, quickly reducing the peloton. The 17 kilometers of climbing on the Tourmalet proved to be a critical point, where many riders, including the then-race leader Torstein Traeen, struggled to maintain the pace. Pogacar launched his decisive attack with five kilometers remaining to the summit, pushing on alone after initially moving ahead with teammate Isaac del Toro.
His rival, Jonas Vingegaard, attempted to give chase but ultimately could not match Pogacar’s strength. Vingegaard, while fighting hard, acknowledged Pogacar’s superiority on the day. The Slovenian’s advantage, which was under half a minute at La Mongie ski station, grew to nearly three minutes by the time he reached Gavarnie-Gèdre, with Vingegaard ceding 2:38 to the leader at the finish line.
Impact on the General Classification
Pogacar’s performance on stage six has created both a physical and psychological advantage over his competitors. His relentless attack on the Tourmalet, followed by a strong descent, saw his lead expand kilometer by kilometer. This display of dominance has led many rivals to shift their focus towards securing a podium or top-five position, rather than directly challenging Pogacar for the overall win.
The stage was part of the feared and fabled Circle of Death, a tactically complex course profile. The summit of the Tourmalet was located almost 40 kilometers from the finish, with the final climb to Gavarnie-Gèdre being 18.7 kilometers long with a gentle average gradient of 3.7%. Despite the varied terrain after the main climb, Pogacar maintained and extended his lead.
For Vingegaard, the descent from the Tourmalet towards the final climb proved challenging, contributing to the time he lost. Team director Marc Reef noted that Vingegaard fought to limit the gap and keep the group behind him at a distance, despite not having a teammate in an early breakaway as planned. Vingegaard reflected on the day, stating it was not what he had hoped for and that he was disappointed.
Challenges and Withdrawals
The combination of Pogacar’s dominance, the demanding Pyrenean climbs, and stifling heat has begun to take its toll on the peloton. The number of abandonments has been steadily increasing day by day, indicating the severity of the race conditions. Among those who withdrew was Cian Uijtdebroeks of the Movistar team, who had been suffering from gastrointestinal problems and a fever since the start of the race.
Torstein Traeen, who had worn the yellow jersey, experienced a calamitous day. He fell behind the group of favorites with 11 kilometers remaining on the Tourmalet. Worse, he was involved in a crash on the descent, clipping the wheel of a rider in front of him. After receiving medical attention, he remounted and finished the stage almost 30 minutes behind Pogacar.
Pogacar has now secured 23 stage wins in the Tour de France, including 11 in the Pyrenees, making him the fifth most prolific stage winner in the history of the Tour. With two stages already won by him and one gifted to his teammate, he appears to be in full control of the race, which is scheduled to conclude in Paris on 26 July.
Read Also
Source: theguardian.com
