Image: from Kayishema Tity Thierry X @TityKayishema
By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies
Tadej Pogačar delivered another commanding performance at the 2026 Tour de France, claiming victory on the iconic climb to Alpe d’Huez in Stage 19 to secure his fifth stage win of this year’s race and strengthen his grip on the yellow jersey.
The Slovenian star from UAE Team Emirates XRG proved once again why he has been the dominant rider of this edition, attacking on the legendary ascent to finish ahead of his closest rivals and move within touching distance of an historic fifth Tour de France overall victory.
Pogačar dominates the Queen Stage
Stage 19, one of the most anticipated days of the race, featured a demanding Alpine route culminating with the famous 21 hairpin bends of Alpe d’Huez, one of cycling’s most celebrated summit finishes.
Following a fiercely contested stage through the Alps, the leading contenders remained together until the decisive final climb.
Pogačar launched his winning acceleration inside the final kilometres, quickly opening a gap over the remaining general classification favourites.
Despite determined efforts from his rivals, nobody could respond to the Slovenian’s explosive pace as he crossed the finish line alone to celebrate another prestigious mountain victory.
It marked his fifth stage success of the 2026 Tour, further underlining his dominance throughout the three-week race.
A ride for the ages 😮💨
Tadej Pogačar extended his Tour de France legacy by winning Stage 19 with the fastest-ever ascent of Alpe d’Huez, beating a 31-year-old record by 1:14 in a time of 35:36 🥵
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🇫🇷#TDF2026 pic.twitter.com/hSRkeabq8Q— Velon CC (@VelonCC) July 24, 2026
Fifth stage victory of the race
Pogačar has consistently controlled the Tour since reclaiming the yellow jersey in the mountains earlier in the race.
His victories across multiple terrains—including mountain finishes and high-altitude stages—have allowed him to steadily increase his advantage over the rest of the field.
Winning atop Alpe d’Huez, one of cycling’s most iconic climbs, adds another memorable achievement to an already remarkable Tour campaign.
The climb has long been regarded as one of the sport’s greatest stages, with legendary champions including Fausto Coppi, Bernard Hinault, Marco Pantani and Lance Armstrong all having written memorable chapters on its slopes.
Pogačar now joins the list of riders to have triumphed on one of professional cycling’s most famous finishing climbs.
General Classification remains firmly under control
Behind the Slovenian, the battle for the remaining podium positions remained intense.
While several riders attempted to distance one another during the final ascent, none managed to significantly reduce the gap to the race leader.
Pogačar extended his overall advantage and enters the final weekend with a commanding lead over his nearest challengers.
General Classification after Stage 19
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
- Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)
- Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek)
The race for the podium remains open, but the battle for the yellow jersey appears increasingly settled.
Carapaz continues impressive comeback
Following his victory on Stage 18, Richard Carapaz continued to ride aggressively in the Alps as he sought to improve his position in the General Classification.
The Ecuadorian Olympic champion remained among the strongest climbers during the final mountain stages and consolidated his return to the overall top ten.
His performances have been among the highlights of the final week after recovering from earlier time losses.
One step closer to Paris
With only two stages remaining before the traditional finish in Paris, Pogačar now stands on the verge of another Tour de France triumph.
Barring an unexpected incident, the Slovenian is expected to secure his fifth overall Tour de France title, further cementing his place among the greatest Grand Tour riders of his generation.
His combination of climbing ability, tactical intelligence, consistency and attacking style has left little opportunity for his rivals throughout the 2026 edition.
Final weekend awaits
Although the yellow jersey appears secure, important battles remain in the fight for the podium, the top ten and the remaining classification jerseys.
Teams will continue to pursue stage victories while the leading contenders attempt to defend or improve their overall positions before the race concludes on the Champs-Élysées.
For Pogačar, however, victory on Alpe d’Huez may prove to be the defining moment of another extraordinary Tour de France campaign—one that has seen him dominate the mountains, win five stages and move to the brink of cycling history.