Pogacar wins Tour de France stage six on Tourmalet, reclaims yellow jersey

Tadej Pogacar reclaimed the yellow jersey by dominating the 17km Col du Tourmalet climb on stage six of the 2026 Tour de France.

With French president Emmanuel Macron watching from the roadside, Tadej Pogacar rode away from every rival on the Col du Tourmalet to win stage six of the 2026 Tour de France and return to the top of the general classification. The four-time Tour champion's performance on the iconic 17km climb was described as a demolition of the field, leaving no serious contender able to match his pace. Pogacar had previously worn the yellow jersey earlier in the race, winning stage three in Les Angles under unusual circumstances — wildfire restrictions had forced a finish in a deserted location, with organisers confirming the following stage from Carcassonne to Foix would still go ahead. He lost the jersey on stage four, when Danish sprinter Mads Pedersen outpaced breakaway rivals to win in Foix in temperatures exceeding 40°C, with Norwegian Torstein Træen taking over the yellow jersey as a result. Stage five brought a different kind of drama: Dutch debutant Olav Kooij won a chaotic sprint finish in Pau after a crash approximately five kilometres from the line disrupted the peloton. The race is unfolding against a broader backdrop that includes Chris Froome's retirement from professional cycling, announced on the eve of this year's Tour following a bad fall last summer. French hopes are meanwhile pinned on 19-year-old Paul Seixas, who has generated significant attention as France attempts to end more than four decades without a home Tour champion.

Why it matters

Pogacar's commanding display on one of cycling's most celebrated climbs suggests he is again the overwhelming favourite to win a fifth Tour de France title. The 2026 race is drawing wide attention both for the racing and for storylines including France's long pursuit of a home champion.

What's next

Attention now turns to whether any rival can find a way to challenge Pogacar in the mountain stages still to come.

Key facts

• Pogacar won stage six by dominating the 17km Col du Tourmalet climb
• French president Emmanuel Macron was present at stage six
• Pogacar also won stage three, finishing in a deserted Les Angles due to wildfire restrictions
• Mads Pedersen won stage four in Foix in temperatures above 40°C; Torstein Træen took yellow that day
• Dutch debutant Olav Kooij won stage five in Pau after a crash 5km from the finish
• Four-time Tour winner Chris Froome announced his retirement from professional cycling ahead of this year's race

Bias & framing notes

All sources are from The Guardian, which limits independent corroboration. Within those sources, the framing is consistent on facts but leans toward dramatic language — words like 'demolishes' and 'ominous' in headlines editorialize the margin of Pogacar's victory rather than quantifying it. Time gaps and precise finishing margins are not reported in the available excerpts.

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