Tadej Pogacar stormed to victory on Stage 9 of the Tour de France 2026, seizing the yellow jersey with a devastating solo attack on the final ascent to Ussel. The UAE Team Emirates rider crossed the line 1 minute 23 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Jonas Vingegaard, who now trails by 1:45 in the general classification.
Stage Profile and Key Moments
The 192-kilometer stage from Malemort to Ussel featured five categorized climbs, including the category-1 Cote de la Croix de Fer, which proved decisive. Pogacar launched his move with 15 kilometers remaining, quickly opening a gap that Vingegaard could not close. The Dane, riding for Jumbo-Visma, finished second ahead of Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe) at 1:34.
According to race director Christian Prudhomme, “Pogacar’s attack was perfectly timed. He showed he is the strongest climber in the race.” The victory marks Pogacar’s third stage win in this year’s Tour and his 15th career stage victory.
General Classification Shake-Up
Pogacar now leads Vingegaard by 1:45, with Roglic third at 2:12. Defending champion Vingegaard acknowledged the setback: “I couldn’t follow his pace today. We will have to try something different in the Alps.” The time gaps are the largest after nine stages since 2018.
Stage 9 also saw several crashes, including a high-speed fall involving Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), who lost over 10 minutes and dropped to 15th overall. The Ecuadorian was treated for road rash but is expected to continue.
Breakaway and Sprint Points
A five-rider breakaway formed early, including Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). They were caught with 30 kilometers to go as the pace intensified. The intermediate sprint at Montignac was won by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who retains the green jersey.
Stage 10 on Sunday heads into the Pyrenees with a summit finish at Pla d'Adet, where Pogacar could extend his lead. The Tour continues with three weeks of racing before the final Champs-Elysees stage.
