Frustrated in the bunch sprints, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) reinvented himself to take an eleventh stage win on the roads of the Tour, his first this year. The Belgian sprinter matched the aggressive racing of Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) to make the front group and, with crucial support from Mathieu Van der Poel and his teammates, power to victory in Voiron, where he finished second last year at La Vuelta. At the finish, Philipsen got the better of Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) and Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM) and scored significant points in the battle for the green jersey. He is up to 445 points, just seven short of Pedersen’s tally. After Remco Evenepoel’s victories at Plateau de Solaison and in Thonon-les-Bains, Belgian riders take a third stage win in a row. The last time they achieved such a series was in 1981.
After the time trial ruled by Remco Evenepoel, the peloton return to action with a 174.7 km stage from Chambéry to Voiron on rolling terrain. Can sprinters resits baroudeurs? Or will attackers prevail? The stage packs 2,200 metres of elevation gain, but most of the uphill challenges are in the first part of the route.
Van der Poel leads the charge
Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché) attacks as soon as the 164-man peloton pass km 0. He’s followed by Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility). The two powerhouses lead the way en route to Aix-les-Bains (km 8), a classic venue of the Tour that notably saw Raymond Poulidor take his first stage win (in 1962), but they’re reeled in because of a flurry of attacks and counter-attacks.
The pace is relentless over the first summits of the day: two cat. 4 climbs to begin with, Côte de Bassa (summit at km 19.2), Côte de Rossillon (km 35.5); then a cat. 3 climb, Col des Prés (km 49.6); and eventually another cat. 4 climb, Côte de Saint-Jean d’Arvey (km 59.5). Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) proves especially intent on making the break.
Del Toro caught behind
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates XRG) is wary of the moves. Around 50 riders remain in the front group on the downhill from Col de Prés. The Maillot Jaune holder is here, as well as Remco Evenepoel (2nd overall), Paul Seixas (4th), Juan Ayuso (5th), and Mattias Skjelmose (6th). But Isaac del Toro (3rd), Tom Pidcock (8th), Jordan Jegat (9th) and Yannis Voisard (10th) are in a chase group.
At the bottom, the riders are back in Chambéry (km 68). Sixteen attackers emerge from the front group while the GC contenders wait for the stragglers. Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) and Daan Hoole (Decathlon CMA CGM) set the pace in the peloton.
Pedersen rides like a beast
With 65 kilometres to go, Adam Yates (UAE Emirates XRG) is distanced by the peloton. The British climber seems to be empty. On the contrary, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) finds the strength to close the small gap on his own. His move leads to further counter-attacks featuring rivals like Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech).
Pedersen demonstrates his strength and stamina by splitting the front group again 57 kilometres from the finish line. Only five riders accompany him at the front: Ben Healy (EF Edutacion-EasyPost), Michal Kwiatkowski (Netcompany Ineos), Felix Engelhardt (Jayco AlUla), Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step), and Ed Planckaert (Alpecin-Premier Tech).
Freed Philipsen delivers
Pedersen is first at the intermediate sprint in Colombe (km 147.5), where he secures 25 precious points for the green jersey. Right after the line, Stuyven attacks. The Belgian goes solo while the chase group with Philipsen get back to the Pedersen group with 15 kilometres to go. They are 45 seconds behind Stuyven.
With 38 riders in the chase group, there is no lack of manpower to chase him and eventually close the gap with just under 4 kilometres to go. Attackers try to get away in the finale, but Alpecin-Premier Tech stay in control and Van der Poel launches Philipsen to his first stage win of the Tour 2026, after previous victories in 2022 (2), 2023 (4), 2024 (3), and 2025 (1).
After Remco Evenepoel’s victories at Plateau de Solaison and in Thonon-les-Bains, Belgian riders take a third stage win in a row. The last time they achieved such a feat was in 1981, with four consecutive victories claimed by Daniel Willems, Freddy Maertens, Eddy Planckaert, and Maertens again on stages 1, 2, 3 and 4.
