Pogacar secures fourth Tour de France stage win at Le Markstein
Tadej Pogacar achieved his fourth stage victory in this year’s Tour de France at Le Markstein, demonstrating his consistent performance in the Vosges climbs on Saturday. The rider from UAE Team Emirates-XRG crossed the finish line 38 seconds ahead of his teammate Isaac del Toro. Paul Seixas of Decathlon CMA-CGM, a French rider, secured third place on the same stage, with Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike finishing fourth, 44 seconds behind.
Pogacar’s decisive attack occurred approximately 1.6km from the summit of the Col de Haag, the final climb, and 7.5km from the finish line. This move left competitors like Vingegaard, Seixas, and Remco Evenepoel behind. This win marks Pogacar’s 25th stage victory in the Tour. He acknowledged the difficulty of the mountain stage but emphasized the importance of seizing the opportunity.
Vingegaard, Pogacar’s main rival for the yellow jersey, now trails by four minutes 30 seconds in the overall standings. Despite this gap, Vingegaard maintains that the race is not yet decided, recalling past instances where significant time differences were overcome in a single day. Pogacar himself noted that his morale had improved after a call from his partner, Urska Zigart, a fellow professional rider.
Pogacar’s Dominance and Future Aspirations
Pogacar’s sustained power and high cadence have consistently proven superior to other riders throughout the race. He is currently aiming to become one of the most successful riders in the Tour’s history, targeting a fifth win to join the ranks of Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.
Speculation suggests that Pogacar might also compete in the Vuelta a España in August, a Grand Tour he has not yet won. Prince Albert of Monaco indicated Pogacar’s likely participation, stating that Pogacar himself had confirmed he would be at the start. A victory in the Vuelta would complete a grand slam of Europe’s three Grand Tours for the Slovene.
The mountainous stage 14 course was notable for the thousands of fans who lined the narrow roads up Le Markstein. Pogacar expressed gratitude for the crowd, describing the experience as unforgettable and noting the additional boost provided by their presence. Many observers close to the sport have commented on the unprecedented crowd numbers seen in 2026, with popular routes becoming almost inaccessible due to fan attendance.
Seixas’s Rise and Podium Battle
While Pogacar celebrated another victory, Tom Pidcock faced difficulties, experiencing the effects of his previous day’s efforts. The double Olympic champion’s challenge for a podium position faltered on the early slopes of the Col de Haag. Seixas’s team, Decathlon CMA CGM, set a demanding pace that fragmented the main peloton, causing Pidcock to drop from second overall to seventh at the finish.
The competition for the remaining podium spots is intensifying. Seixas, who has maintained a low profile since the opening weekend, matched Vingegaard on the descent to the finish line before out-sprinting him. This performance allowed Seixas to take the lead in the young rider classification, placing him fourth overall and just 15 seconds behind Evenepoel, who holds third place.
Luke Rowe, Seixas’s sports director and former Team Sky road captain, acknowledged the challenging situation, noting that one rider is significantly better than the rest of the general classification leaders. Rowe has been mentoring Seixas, particularly in adjusting his descending style after a high-speed crash in June. He emphasized the importance of patience and conservatism for a rider competing in the general classification.
Seixas’s third-place finish on stage 14 was a significant moment for French fans, who have been awaiting a French overall winner since Hinault’s last victory in 1985. The 19-year-old‘s performance highlights a strong showing for local talent in the race.
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Source: theguardian.com
