Tadej Pogacar claimed his fourth stage win of the 2026 Tour de France on Saturday, powering to victory on stage 14 from Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fellering. The Slovenian rider attacked on the punishing Col du Haag, a new climb for the Tour, and held off his rivals to cross the line solo, raising both arms in celebration. This marked his 25th career Tour stage win.
Decisive Move on the Col du Haag
With 7.4 kilometers remaining, Pogacar launched his attack on the steep gradients of the Col du Haag, a resurfaced tractor path with sections reaching 13 percent. The race director described it as 'perhaps the hardest climb of the Vosges.' Jonas Vingegaard initially held on but quickly lost ground as Pogacar opened a gap. The yellow jersey rider timed his effort to perfection, building a 29-second lead by the summit and extending it on the descent to the finish.
Behind, a fierce battle for second place unfolded. Isaac Del Toro snatched the runner-up spot in a sprint, with Seixas third and Vingegaard fourth. Remco Evenepoel, Florian Lipowitz, and Juan Ayuso formed the next group, finishing 20 seconds behind Del Toro's group.
Early Breakaway and Mountain Points
The stage featured a strong breakaway that included Richard Carapaz, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Ben Healy, and the Johannessen brothers. Paret-Peintre took maximum mountain points on the early climbs, including the Col du Page and the Ballon d'Alsace, moving into the virtual lead in the King of the Mountains classification with 43 points, ahead of Pogacar's 42 and Carapaz's 38.
The breakaway's lead fluctuated but was gradually eroded by a determined peloton led by UAE Team Emirates and Jumbo-Visma. With 8 kilometers to go, the break was caught, setting the stage for Pogacar's winning move.
GC Implications and Key Moments
Pogacar's victory solidified his overall lead, while Vingegaard's fourth-place finish limited his losses. Tom Pidcock, who had been active in the breakaway the previous day, faded on the final climb and was dropped. A late puncture for Thymen Arensman ended his hopes of a strong result.
The stage was marked by challenging weather, with rain making descents treacherous. Crowds lined the roads, waving French tricolors and Alsatian flags, creating a vibrant atmosphere despite the conditions.
Pogacar's win was widely praised, with TNT Sports commentator Adam Blythe calling him 'our very own Tom Cruise' and predicting victory in all good action films. The Slovenian now eyes further success as the Tour continues into the Alps.
