Tadej Pogačar Dominates Stage 10 to Extend Tour de France Lead
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
LE LIORAN, France: Defending champion Tadej Pogačar delivered another commanding performance at the 2026 Tour de France, claiming victory in Stage 10 and extending his overall lead in the prestigious cycling race.
The Slovenian star secured his third stage win of this year’s Tour after launching a decisive attack on the Col de Pertus, leaving his closest rivals unable to match his pace.
Pogačar accelerated just before the summit of the penultimate climb, quickly distancing himself from defending rival Jonas Vingegaard before overtaking Richard Carapaz near the top. He maintained his momentum all the way to the finish line to seal another impressive victory.
Crossing the line 32 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel, Pogačar celebrated his 24th career Tour de France stage win and his third triumph on France’s Bastille Day. French rider Paul Seixas finished third, 34 seconds behind the race winner.
Vingegaard crossed the finish 44 seconds after Pogačar, allowing the race leader to stretch his advantage to 3 minutes and 36 seconds after 10 stages—his biggest lead at this stage of any Tour de France campaign.
UAE Team Sets Up Another Victory
Pogačar’s UAE Emirates-XRG teammates played a crucial role by controlling the race throughout the day, neutralizing early attacks from a large breakaway group that included former stage winner Mathieu van der Poel.
Although Javier Romo and later Richard Carapaz attempted to break clear, Pogačar’s team kept the gap under control before the Slovenian launched his decisive move on the final climb.
Pogačar Praises Team Effort
Following the victory, Pogačar credited his teammates for executing the race strategy perfectly.
“The team did a super good job. We targeted this stage a long time ago,” he said.
He also reflected on his previous experience at Le Lioran, recalling that Vingegaard had defeated him there two years ago.
Pogačar admitted he was exhausted during the closing kilometers and said the enthusiastic crowd made it difficult to hear instructions over his race radio.
Chasing Cycling History
At just 27 years old, Pogačar remains firmly on course to challenge cycling history. A fifth Tour de France title would see him join legends Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Jacques Anquetil, and Bernard Hinault as the only riders to win the race five times.
Despite his growing dominance, Pogačar remained humble after the stage victory.
“You never know how long it lasts. We just need to be grateful for this moment and for the opportunity to race in the biggest cycling event in the world,” he said.
With the race entering its decisive stages, Pogačar has strengthened his position as the favorite to claim another Tour de France crown, while his rivals face an increasingly difficult challenge in closing the gap.
