Pogačar detonates the race on Col du Haag to take stage 14

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) delivered another masterclass, attacking with 1.6 km to go on the steep slopes of the Col du Haag to win Saturday's stage 14 of the Tour de France 2026. The yellow jersey rode solo to the finish at Le Markstein Fellerring, extending his overall lead with a crushing display.

In a show of team strength, his teammate Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) won the sprint for second place, 38 seconds behind, just ahead of French revelation Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team). Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) finished fourth at 44 seconds, while Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) limited his losses to 48 seconds in fifth.

The stage through the Vosges mountains was the first major test after the rest day. It featured several categorised climbs, culminating in the brutally steep Col du Haag, which set the stage for the GC showdown just before the finish.

The 14th stage delivered its promised GC battle. A powerful breakaway formed on the Grand Ballon, including Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), but the peloton, marshalled by UAE Team Emirates-XRG, kept them on a tight leash.

As the race hit the final climb, the Col du Haag, the race exploded. Decathlon CMA CGM Team took control with a ferocious pace that put riders like Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) into difficulty. The pace swallowed up the last of the breakaway, Carapaz and Halland Johannessen, inside the final 2 km of the ascent.

With the break caught, Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) took charge, his tempo distancing Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) with 3 km to the summit. But this was merely the warm-up. With 1.6 km to the crest, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) launched an explosive attack, immediately gaining a gap and soloing over the summit before descending to victory.

• Tadej Pogačar's authority is now absolute. He allowed his rival Jonas Vingegaard to set the pace on the final climb before delivering an unmatchable acceleration that extended his already imposing lead.
• UAE Team Emirates-XRG's 1-2 finish showcased their formidable depth. Isaac del Toro's recovery to take second place after being dropped by his leader's attack was a stunning demonstration of team strength.
• Decathlon CMA CGM Team's aggressive pace-setting was a tactical masterstroke. It blew the peloton apart and perfectly positioned Paul Seixas for a podium finish, delivering the young Frenchman the white jersey.
• Remco Evenepoel again showed his resilience. Though distanced on the steepest gradients, he fought to limit his losses and keep his podium hopes alive.
• Paul Seixas is the revelation of this Tour. His podium finish and move into the white jersey on home soil marks the arrival of a major French GC talent.