Tadej Pogačar further solidified his grip on the 2026 Tour de France by winning the 10th stage on Tuesday. The Slovenian rider launched a powerful solo attack on the Col de Pertus, roughly 15 kilometers from the finish line in Le Lioran, to secure his third stage victory of this year's race. This performance on France's Bastille Day national holiday extended his overall lead to three minutes and 36 seconds over his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard.
The stage, which wound through the challenging terrain of the Massif Central, featured seven categorized climbs and tested the endurance of the entire peloton. Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad controlled the pace throughout the day, effectively neutralizing threats from breakaway groups before setting the stage for their leader's decisive move. By the time Pogačar crossed the finish line, he had distanced the main group of general classification contenders by over 30 seconds.
For Pogačar, the win held personal significance as it served as a form of redemption. Two years ago, he was defeated in a sprint finish at the same location by Vingegaard. This time, the four-time champion left no room for doubt, powering away from the field to claim his 24th career Tour de France stage win. The result marks a significant blow to the morale of his competitors, who are now fighting to close a widening gap in the overall standings.
While Pogačar celebrated his victory, other riders faced a difficult day on the road. Remco Evenepoel managed a resilient recovery to finish second, while French teenager Paul Seixas impressed local fans by securing third place. As the race moves into a transitional week, the focus now shifts to whether any challenger can find a way to disrupt Pogačar’s momentum or if his current lead will prove insurmountable.