Tadej Pogacar showcased his dominance on stage six of the 2026 Tour de France, conquering the Col du Tourmalet and extending his overall lead to nearly three minutes. Racing towards Gavarnie-Gèdre, Pogacar left his competitors, including Jonas Vingegaard, in his wake, as Vingegaard struggled to keep pace and ultimately finished 2:38 behind.

In front of an audience that included President Macron, Pogacar's performance was described as imperious, with comparisons to legends such as Michael Jordan and Usain Bolt. After the stage, he reflected, “Seeing him being so dominant was crazy,” emphasizing his own exceptional form.

Key highlights from the stage include:

• Pogacar's lead grew from under half a minute at La Mongie to nearly three minutes by the finish.
• He claimed his 23rd career stage win, making him the fifth-most prolific in Tour history.
• The UAE Team Emirates XRG set a fierce pace at the base of the Tourmalet, contributing to the thinning of the peloton to just 16 riders.

The relentless heat and challenging climbs have already begun to take a toll, with several riders abandoning, including Cian Uijtdebroeks of the Movistar team due to illness.

Torsten Traeen, the overnight leader, had a disastrous day, losing touch with the favorites and suffering a crash that left him nearly 30 minutes behind Pogacar. With two stages won and a teammate taking another, Pogacar’s grip on the Tour appears unshakeable as the competition shifts from seeking victory to merely aiming for podium finishes.