Tadej Pogacar delivered a commanding performance on stage six of the 2026 Tour de France, firmly reestablishing himself as the race favorite with a record-breaking victory on the Col du Tourmalet climb. The Slovenian rider, aiming for a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title and third consecutive win, completed the 17.1-kilometer ascent in 43 minutes and 12 seconds, setting a new fastest time for the iconic mountain pass.

Pogacar launched his decisive attack with just over four kilometers remaining on the climb, quickly distancing himself from his main rival Jonas Vingegaard. He extended his lead over Vingegaard to two minutes and 38 seconds by the stage finish, with the final stretch including a descent and an additional climb to Gavarnie-Gedre. This stage marked the 17th occasion in which Pogacar and Vingegaard have finished as the top two riders on a Tour stage, underscoring their ongoing rivalry.

The day also saw the current Yellow Jersey holder, Torstein Traeen, lose his advantage after a crash during the descent from the Tourmalet. Traeen, who took the lead earlier in the race and began the day with a substantial lead of nearly eight minutes over the peloton, was unable to maintain his position on the climb, dropping behind the main contenders before his crash compounded his time deficit.

Speaking during the climb, Pogacar indicated his strong condition to his team via radio, stating, “I’m good guys, I’m good,” signaling the impending offensive that would separate him from his rivals. The rider expressed high confidence ahead of the stage, reflecting his excitement and focus on the day’s challenge. “I woke up at seven o’clock this morning and already my mind was going crazy, I was really, really excited for today,” Pogacar said after the stage. He credited teamwork and commitment for his victory, noting the all-or-nothing approach that paid off: “We just committed, like nothing to lose. If we explode we explode, but in the end we succeeded and I’m super proud, it was crazy teamwork.”

With this performance, Pogacar reclaimed the Yellow Jersey, positioning himself with a commanding lead early in the race. Unless unforeseen events such as crashes or health issues arise, his advantage after stage six suggests he is poised for a strong contention as the Tour moves into its second week.