Pogačar Strikes Again with Solo Victory in Stage 9
Tadej Pogačar claimed his second stage win of the 2026 Tour de France on Sunday, powering away from the peloton on the final climb of a hilly 190-kilometer route from Malemort to Ussel. The UAE Team Emirates rider crossed the line 47 seconds ahead of his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard, to extend his overall lead to 1 minute 32 seconds.
Decisive Attack on the Côte de la Faye
The decisive move came on the Côte de la Faye, a 4.2-kilometer climb averaging 6.8%. Pogačar accelerated with 15 kilometers remaining, and none of the other contenders could respond. Vingegaard, who finished second, admitted he was unable to match Pogačar's pace. "He was simply stronger today," Vingegaard said. "I gave everything, but he was on another level."
Breakaway Caught Early
Earlier in the stage, a breakaway of six riders formed after 30 kilometers, building a lead of over four minutes. However, UAE Team Emirates controlled the pace in the peloton, gradually reeling in the escapees. The last survivor, French rider Julian Alaphilippe, was caught with 20 kilometers to go.
Impact on General Classification
Pogačar's victory reshuffled the general classification. Behind the Slovenian, Vingegaard remains second, while Remco Evenepoel moved up to third overall after finishing third on the stage, 1 minute 12 seconds down. Primož Roglič slipped to fourth, losing 1 minute 45 seconds after a mechanical issue early in the stage.
Stage Statistics and Context
Stage 9 covered 190 kilometers with four categorized climbs. The average speed of the stage was 42.1 km/h, reflecting the aggressive racing. This win marks Pogačar's 13th career Tour de France stage victory. The race now heads into the first rest day before Stage 10, a flat stage from Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond.
