Tour de France 2026 | Stage 6 | Pau > Gavarnie-Gèdre
The first mountain showdown of the Tour de France 2026 led to an absolute masterclass by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG), perhaps the most impressive of his long list of feats in the event. The four-time winner of the race attacked on the slopes of the Col du Tourmalet to claim a 23rd stage win (one more than André Darrigade, previously fifth best scorer in history), his eleventh in the Pyrenees, his second in this edition. At the summit of the iconic climb, he already achieved a historic landmark, becoming the first reigning world champion to conquer the Tourmalet KOM. Pogacar kept pushing, covering the final 43 kilometres alone – a new personal best in the Tour – to open massive gaps at Gavarnie-Gèdre. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished second (+2’38’’), ahead of a small group led by Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG on the line (+2’57’’). Pogacar also takes the Maillot Jaune from Torstein Træen, who suffered a crash on the Tourmalet downhill but was able to complete the stage nonetheless.
A final stage in the Pyrenees, and what a stage! Starting from Pau, the riders face over 4,000 metres of elevation to reach Gavarnie-Gèdre past the iconic ascents up to Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet. At 2,115 metres of altitude, the latter is the second highest summit of the Tour de France 2026, only surpassed by Col du Galibier (2,642 m) on day 20. The day’s challenges promise thrilling action, chasing the polka-dot jersey, the Maillot Jaune, and battling for GC.
Pedersen leads the first battle of the day
Victor Campenaerts is the first attacker of the day, as soon as the flag drops. The Belgian’s move signals Visma-Lease a Bike’s ambitions to weigh tactically on the stage. He’s rapidly joined at the front by Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), whose eyes are set on the intermediate sprint of Pouzac (km 59.1). Huub Artz (Lotto Intermarché) briefly participates in the breakaway before dropping back to a bunch paced by Jasper Philipsen’s Alpecin-Premier Tech and Biniam Girmay’s NSN.
Pedersen takes the full 25 points in Pouzac, with a gap of just 15 seconds to the bunch, led by Max Kanter (XDS Astana) on the line. The Danish powerhouse immediately drops back to the bunch. And Campenaerts is rapidly reeled in.
UAE Emirates XRG launch Pogacar
Visma-Lease a Bike still want to race aggressively. Their moves create splits in the bunch, but Tadej Pogacar’s UAE Emirates XRG bring order. After a series of attacks and counter-attacks, Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) eventually manages to get away on the cat. 3 Côte de Mauvezin, after 78 kilometres of battle.
The Australian climber opens a gap of 1’15’’ en route to Col d’Aspin (the 2nd most featured ascent in the history of the Tour, behind Col du Tourmalet). But UAE Emirates-XRG up the ante. O’Connor is reeled in 5 kilometres away from the summit. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) narrowly edges Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) as the French climbers battle for the 10 KOM points at the summit.
UAE Emirates – XRG continue applying pressure with Tim Wellens, Felix Grossschartner, Brandon McNulty, Adam Yates, and eventually Isaac del Toro. The Mexican wonderkid launches Tadej Pogacar’s attack as they enter the last 5 kilometres of ascent up to the Col du Tourmalet. The Slovenian star flies away from everyone with 43 kilometres to go.
Pogacar flies away
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) tries to resist, but the gap gradually opens. It’s already up to 30 seconds at the summit (km 147.8), where Pogacar becomes the first reigning world champion to conquer the Tourmalet KOM.
The Slovenian keeps pushing and eventually claims his 23rd Tour stage win with a gap of 2’38’’ to Vingegaard. Behind the Dane, a small group gets together. Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG) is the first on the line (+3’57’’), ahead of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM), Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), and Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike).
Dropped on the ascent to Col du Tourmalet, overall leader Torstein Træen (Uno-X Mobility) crashes on the downhill. Pogacar takes the Maillot Jaune with a 2’38’’ margin on Vingegaard.
Stage 6
1 Tadej Pogacar UAE Team Emirates XRG 04h 32′ 07” – B : 10” –
2 Jonas Vingegaard Hansen Team Visma | Lease a Bike 04h 34′ 45” + 00h 02′ 38” B : 6” –
3 Isaac Del Toro Romero UAE Team Emirates XRG 04h 35′ 04” + 00h 02′ 57” B : 4” –
4 R. Evenepoel Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe 04h 35′ 04” + 00h 02′ 57” – –
5 P. Seixas Decathlon CMA CGM TEAM 04h 35′ 04” + 00h 02′ 57” – –
6 F. Lipowitz Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe 04h 35′ 04” + 00h 02′ 57” – –
7 J. Ayuso Lidl-Trek 04h 35′ 04” + 00h 02′ 57” – –
8 M. Skjelmose Lidl-Trek 04h 35′ 04” + 00h 02′ 57” – –
9 L. Martinez Bahrain Victorious 04h 35′ 09” + 00h 03′ 02” – –
10 S. Kuss Team Visma | Lease a Bike 04h 35′ 13” + 00h 03′ 06” – –
GC
1 Tadej Pogacar UAE Team Emirates XRG 21h 11′ 57” – B : 26” –
2 Jonas Vingegaard Hansen Team Visma | Lease a Bike 21h 14′ 39” + 00h 02′ 42” B : 12” –
3 Isaac Del Toro Romero UAE Team Emirates XRG 21h 15′ 24” + 00h 03′ 27” B : 14” –
4 R. Evenepoel Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe 21h 15′ 27” + 00h 03′ 30” B : 4” –
5 J. Ayuso Lidl-Trek 21h 15′ 31” + 00h 03′ 34” – –
6 P. Seixas Decathlon CMA CGM TEAM 21h 15′ 52” + 00h 03′ 55” – –
7 F. Lipowitz Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe 21h 15′ 57” + 00h 04′ 00” – –
8 L. Martinez Bahrain Victorious 21h 16′ 18” + 00h 04′ 21” – –
9 M. Skjelmose Lidl-Trek 21h 16′ 54” + 00h 04′ 57” – –
10 M. Vacek Lidl-Trek 21h 19′ 07” + 00h 07′ 10” – –
