Tadej Pogacar attacked on the steepest climb of the 2026 Tour de France to win Stage 19, his fourth stage victory of this year's race. The Slovenian rider broke away from the peloton on the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, a brutal 2.5km ascent with an average gradient of 11.5%, and soloed to the finish line in Liège.
Dominant Performance on the Ardennes Stage
Stage 19, a 210km route from Bastogne to Liège, featured seven categorized climbs, culminating in the punishing Côte de la Roche aux Faucons. Pogacar launched his attack 3.5km from the finish, quickly building a 30-second gap over the chasing group. He crossed the line 52 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Jonas Vingegaard, his main rival in the overall classification.
According to race commentators, Pogacar's attack was timed perfectly, exploiting the steepest section of the climb where gradients touched 18%. “He just exploded the race,” said former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas. “When he goes like that, there's no one who can follow.”
Extending the Overall Lead
With this victory, Pogacar extended his lead in the general classification to 3 minutes 21 seconds over Vingegaard. The win also solidified his grip on the yellow jersey, which he has held since Stage 6. Pogacar now has four stage wins in this Tour, adding to victories in Stages 2, 8, and 14.
“I felt really good today,” Pogacar said after the stage. “The team did an incredible job controlling the breakaway, and when I saw the opportunity on the climb, I just went for it. I'm happy to take another win and extend the lead.”
Challenges for Rivals
Vingegaard, who finished second, acknowledged Pogacar's superiority on the stage. “He was just too strong today,” the Dane said. “I tried to follow but couldn't match his pace. We still have two stages to go, and I will keep fighting.”
Third place went to Remco Evenepoel, who crossed the line 1 minute 12 seconds behind Pogacar. The Belgian rider moved up to third overall, displacing Primož Roglič, who struggled on the final climb and finished 2 minutes 30 seconds down.
Looking Ahead to the Final Stages
The Tour de France continues with Stage 20, a 133km individual time trial from Libramont to Bastogne, which could further shake up the standings. Pogacar is expected to perform strongly against the clock, having won the time trial in Stage 12. The race concludes on Sunday with the traditional Champs-Élysées stage in Paris.
Pogacar's performance in Stage 19 has been widely praised as one of the most dominant displays of climbing in recent Tour history. With a comfortable lead and only two stages remaining, he is poised to secure his fourth Tour de France title.
