Stage 15 radically flipped the script laid out in the first GC battles of the Tour de France 2026. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates XRG) remains head and shoulders above his rivals: the 4-time winner of the race set the pace himself on the final climb of the day, to the unprecedented finish at Plateau de Solaison, trying not only to distance his rivals but also to favour the ambitions of his younger teammate Isaac del Toro. But after their 1-2s in Barcelona (stage 2) and at Le Markstein (stage 14), the UAE Emirates-XRG duo had to settle for second and third behind Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), the only rider to follow Pogacar’s pace. The Belgian produced a powerful sprint at the summit to take his third Tour stage win after two ITT successes in 2024 and 2025. This is Belgium’s 500th stage win in the Tour. Evenepoel is now second in the overall standings also because of the withdrawal of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), who crashed out of the race for the first time in six appearances. The Dane had reached the overall podium in his five previous Tours, notably winning it in 2022 and 2023.
A final mountain showdown ahead of the second rest day. After Tadej Pogacar’s victory at Le Markstein, the 169-man face the first HC finish of the Tour de France 2026, at Plateau de Solaison, after 183.9 km on demanding roads. The race starts in Champagnole, a pearl of the Jura on the banks of river Ain associated with success for Sylvère Maes (the first Tour stage winner here in 1937), the Johannessen twins (who achieved a 1-2 in a Tour de l’Avenir stage that started in Champagnole) or Justine Ghekiere (winner of a Tour de France Femmes avec Zwit stage that started in Champagnole).
Another huge battle for the break
Alpecin-Premier Tech control the first part of the day until Jasper Philipsen takes full points at the intermediate sprint in Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux (km 17.3). Second on the line, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) defends his green jersey and maintains an advantage of 31 points against his Belgian rival.
Then, the battle fort he breakaway begins. It pans out over half of the 183.9 km of the day, with EF Education-EasyPost proving particularly intent on launching Richard Carapaz. A group emerges at the front at km 87 and becomes consolidated with 24 members, including five riders from the GC top-20: Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5), on the move for a third consecutive day; as well as Egan Bernal (Netcompany Ineos), Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Yannis Voisard (Tudor), and Adam Yates (UAE Emirates XRG).
Vingegaard on the ground
There’s a lack of harmony within the breakaway. Brent Van Moer (Pinarello Q36.5) empties his tank to bring the gap up to 2’55’’ before the climb of Le Salève - Col de la Croisette (cat 1, summit at km 136). Tom Pidcock (Pinarello 36.5) and Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) accelerate on these brutal slopes (4.7 km at 11.2 %). Only five riders follow them: Adam Yates (UAE Emirates XRG), Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla), Einer Rubio (Movistar), Ewen Costiou (Groupama-FDJ United), and Yannis Voisard.
Behind them, Visma-Lease a Bike drive a strong chase until Jonas Vingegaard hits the deck with 24 kilometres to go. The race doctors put his right arm in a sling and the Dane gets into the ambulance, marking the end of his sixth Tour. He was first (2022, 2023) or second (2021, 2024, 2025) in his previous participations.
Evenepoel spoils the UAE show
Schmid accelerates ahead of the final ascent, the unprecedented climb to Plateau de Solaison, and faces the final 11.3 km at 9% with a lead of 25 seconds. Simmons distances everyone and passes the Swiss winner of Belfort (stage 13) as they enter the final 9 kilometres.
In the peloton, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe set a strong pace until Tadej Pogacar takes the reins of the bunch 8 kilometres from the summit. Rapidly, only two riders remain on his wheel: his young teammate Isaac del Toro and their rival Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). They get back to Yates, who closes the gap to Simmons before being dropped with 4.5 km to go.
Pogacar sets the pace again. Del Toro accelerates a couple of times inside the last kilometre. But Evenepoel reacts well and eventually powers to victory ahead of Pogacar and Del Toro. Fourth on the day, Seixas loses the white jersey to Del Toro, who moves up to 3rd place overall, 25 seconds ahead of the French wonderkid.
