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By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies
Tadej Pogačar delivered another commanding performance at the 2026 Tour de France, claiming victory on Stage 14 with a decisive solo attack in the Vosges Mountains to strengthen his overall race lead and equal one of the sport’s most remarkable milestones.
The Slovenian star crossed the finish line alone after launching his winning move on the steep slopes of the Col du Haag, securing his 25th career Tour de France stage victory and matching one of the greatest stage-winning records in modern cycling. The triumph was also his fourth stage win of the 2026 edition and further reinforced his dominance in the race for the yellow jersey.
Pogačar attacks on the final climb
The 155.3-kilometre mountain stage from Mulhouse to Le Markstein-Fellering featured more than 3,800 metres of climbing and several demanding ascents across the Vosges Mountains.
Following an aggressive day of racing, Pogačar waited until the steepest section of the final Category 1 climb, the Col du Haag, before launching a devastating acceleration approximately 1.6 kilometres from the summit.
None of his rivals could respond.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader quickly opened a decisive gap before maintaining his advantage over the final kilometres to claim another memorable Tour victory.
One acceleration was all it took 💥
Tadej Pogačar attacked with just 1.4km of Col du Haag remaining on Stage 14 of the Tour de France, but on gradients averaging 10.4%, he still averaged 21.2km/h 🤯
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🇫🇷 #TDf2026 pic.twitter.com/oZQZW0IJP3— Velon Pro (@VelonCCPro) July 18, 2026
UAE celebrates one-two finish
Pogačar’s victory was complemented by an outstanding performance from teammate Isaac del Toro, who crossed the finish line in second place to complete a dominant one-two finish for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
French sensation Paul Seixas delighted home supporters by finishing third after another exceptional climbing display, while Jonas Vingegaard crossed the line shortly afterwards as the Danish rider once again struggled to match Pogačar’s explosive acceleration on the decisive climb.
Yellow jersey lead grows
The stage significantly strengthened Pogačar’s grip on the general classification.
After Stage 14, the Slovenian now leads Jonas Vingegaard by 4 minutes and 30 seconds, giving him a commanding advantage as the race heads deeper into the Alps.
Remco Evenepoel remains third overall, while Paul Seixas climbed into fourth place following his impressive mountain performance.
Isaac del Toro also moved higher in the standings after his runner-up finish, underlining the remarkable strength of UAE Team Emirates-XRG throughout the race.
Seixas takes the white jersey
One of the biggest stories of the day came from 19-year-old Paul Seixas.
The French rider’s third-place finish elevated him into fourth overall and earned him the white jersey as the Tour’s best young rider.
Seixas becomes one of the youngest cyclists in recent decades to challenge for a podium finish in the Tour de France, continuing an outstanding breakthrough season that has captured the attention of cycling fans across Europe.
Other classifications remain competitive
While Pogačar tightened his grip on both the yellow jersey and the mountains classification, other competitions remain closely contested.
Mads Pedersen successfully defended the green jersey despite the demanding mountain terrain, maintaining his advantage in the points classification.
Pogačar also strengthened his position in the King of the Mountains standings after collecting valuable points on the day’s major climbs, while the team classification continues to reflect UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s impressive consistency throughout the race.
Historic achievement
With his latest triumph, Pogačar reached 25 career Tour de France stage victories, placing him alongside some of the greatest stage winners in the history of the race.
Still only in the prime of his career, the Slovenian continues to rewrite modern cycling history through his combination of climbing ability, time trial strength and aggressive racing style.
His fourth stage victory of the 2026 Tour also keeps alive the possibility of adding several more wins before the race reaches Paris.
More mountains await
Despite extending his overall advantage, Pogačar cautioned that the Tour remains far from over.
Several decisive mountain stages still lie ahead, offering opportunities for rivals such as Vingegaard, Evenepoel and Lipowitz to launch attacks.
Nevertheless, with UAE Team Emirates-XRG demonstrating remarkable collective strength and Pogačar appearing increasingly comfortable in the yellow jersey, the defending champion remains firmly in control as the Tour enters its decisive final week.
If his current form continues, the Slovenian appears well positioned not only to secure another Tour de France title but also to add further chapters to an already extraordinary cycling legacy.