Tadej Pogacar dominates Col du Haag to claim 125th career win

**Tadej Pogacar** surged up the Col du Haag on July 18, 2026, to secure his 125th professional win and his 25th Tour de France stage triumph, finishing 38 seconds ahead of teammate Isaac Del Toro.

What happened?

The stage started in the Vosges mountains, with a breakaway forming after Jasper Philipsen edged out Mads Pedersen at the intermediate sprint. The escape group included Tom Pidcock and a sextet of riders from EF Education‑Easypost, Uno‑X, Movistar, and Soudal‑Quick Step. They built a solid gap before Pogacar’s UAE Team began to reel them in on the Ballon d’Alsace climb.

How did Pogacar win?

Pogacar’s squad caught the breakaway with 48 km left, and the decisive move came on the steep final ascent of the Col du Haag. With 1.5 km to go, Pogacar launched an attack, quickly opening a 15‑second gap. Jonas Vingegaard, Paul Seixas, and Del Toro chased, but none could close the distance. The yellow jersey powered over the plateau finish, confirming the win and extending his overall lead.

Why it matters for Pogacar’s campaign?

The victory pushes Pogacar’s lead to four minutes and thirty seconds, the largest margin at this point in the Tour in more than a decade. It also marks his 500th day as a professional rider, underscoring his consistency since turning pro. The result adds a 125th win to his résumé, reinforcing his status as the sport’s dominant force.

Who else featured on the day?

Nineteen‑year‑old Paul Seixas claimed third place, enough to take the white jersey from Juan Ayuso. The breakaway also saw Carapaz and Tobias Halland Johannessen caught after Florian Lipowitz, Seixas, and Vingegaard chased them down. Earlier, at the intermediate sprint, Philipsen’s sprint win over Pedersen secured him maximum points.

What’s next for the race?

With a comfortable lead, Pogacar can afford to conserve energy while his team controls the peloton. The next stage will likely test his rivals’ ability to chip away at the gap, especially on the upcoming mountain finishes. Fans will watch to see if Vingegaard or any other contender can launch a serious counter‑attack.

How did Pogacar respond to media pressure?

The day before, after stage 13 in Belfort, Pogacar was asked about comments from Florian Lipowitz regarding his dominance. He replied, “I don’t know how to respond to that. If you go for only second place, then it’s a pity. In a Grand Tour, when you have a strong team around you, there are so many possibilities; you have to hope for the best.”

The win on the Col du Haag confirms Pogacar’s intent to stay ahead, turning the Tour into a race he can largely dictate.