Tour de France 2026: Tadej Pogacar Wins Stage 19 To Extend Lead
Tadej Pogacar launched a stunning solo attack from the foot of the iconic Alpe d’Huez to win the 19th stage of the Tour de France and extend his overall lead on Friday. Even by the four-time Tour champion’s lofty standards, it was up there with his best wins as he was more than three minutes behind with 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles) remaining. Riding without a teammate for the last section, he caught Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz and Frenchman Lenny Martinez with 1.5 kilometers left and then surged ahead for his fifth stage win of this year’s race and 26th overall. Martinez finished six seconds behind and Carapaz — who won Thursday’s 18th stage with a brilliant breakaway win of his own — was nine seconds back. American Sepp Kuss, who faded in the closing stages, was 1 minute, 14 seconds adrift.
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Thibault Camus
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates on the podium after winning the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Ecuador's Richard Carapaz, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, celebrates on the podium after the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Mexico's Isaac Del Toro climbs Alpe d'Huez during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Colombia's Einer Rubio receives medical attention during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Britain's Adam Yates climbs Alpe d'Huez during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
The pack rides during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
The pack rides during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, rides in the pack during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
The pack rides during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
The pack rides during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Spectators wait for the riders in the Alpe d'Huez during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
The pack rides during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
The breakaway with Quinn Simmons of the U.S., center, rides during the nineteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race with start in Gap and finish in Alpe d'Huez, France, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy
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