Pogačar pips Vingegaard on Stage 3 to level the Tour de France

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) sprinted to a powerful victory on the uphill finish of Stage 3 of the 2026 Tour de France, powering away from his key rivals in the final metres. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), who started the day in the yellow jersey, finished two seconds behind in second place, with Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) taking third.

The win, coupled with 10 bonus seconds, sees Pogačar draw level on time with Vingegaard in the general classification. The result sets the stage for a thrilling battle in the mountains to come.

The 195.9 km stage from Granollers to Les Angles was billed as the first significant GC test of the Tour, and it delivered. The route through the Pyrenees culminated in the Category 1 Col de Toses before the final rise to the finish.

An early breakaway formed but was never allowed a significant advantage, as the contenders' teams controlled the pace. The peloton remained largely intact over the main climb, setting up a showdown on the final uphill drag to Les Angles.

As the finish approached, the high pace shattered the front group, leaving only the strongest to contest the victory. In the final few hundred metres, Pogačar unleashed a powerful acceleration, opening a small but decisive gap to cross the line for the win. Vingegaard led the chasers home two seconds later.

• Tadej Pogačar landed the first major blow, erasing his six-second deficit to Jonas Vingegaard with the stage win and bonus seconds. The GC is now tied, setting up a direct head-to-head.
• With Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) also in the top ten, UAE Team Emirates-XRG has a crucial tactical advantage. They can now pressure Team Visma | Lease a Bike with two highly placed riders.
• Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) lost four seconds to Pogačar. It's a minor gap, but on the first mountain test, he couldn't hold the wheel of his two main rivals.
• The revelation of the day was Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team). His fourth place among the world's best climbers is a breakout performance.
• Psychologically, the momentum has swung to Pogačar. He has proven his explosive finish is superior and has immediately put Vingegaard on the defensive.