Tour de France: Paret-Peintre in a leading group of six riders at Le Markstein

Le Markstein – 18 July 2026: The Vosges have broken up the Tour de France peloton. During the 14th stage between Mulhouse and Le Markstein, a leading group of six riders is riding ahead of the peloton on Saturday afternoon, including Valentin Paret-Peintre. No stage winner is known at this point; the official standings do not yet show any results for this stage.

For Paret-Peintre, the breakaway is an offensive on terrain that offers no respite. The stage is relatively short at 155.3 kilometres, but its succession of climbs makes it an intense test of endurance. The Grand Ballon, the Col du Page, the Ballon d’Alsace and the Col du Haag follow one another on a route where recovery is barely possible.

The leading group must solve two equations at once. It needs cooperation to defend its lead over the peloton against the power of the teams competing for the general classification. At the same time, none of the six riders must burn too many matches at the front, as the final climb will determine the pace, the standings and any potential attacks. In small groups in particular, every turn at the front becomes a tactical question.

The Col du Haag gives the finale particular intensity. This climb, used by the Tour for the first time, is 11.2 kilometres long and has an average gradient of 7.3%. Some ramps are significantly steeper. Only a few kilometres then remain to the finish at Markstein-Fellering. Whoever still has reserves will be able to launch the decisive attack from the breakaway or gain time in the general classification from the peloton.

Tadej Pogacar started this stage in the yellow jersey. The Slovenian therefore carries responsibility for his team at the back, while the breakaway riders compete at the front for visibility and the chance to win the stage. Jonas Vingegaard starts in the polka-dot jersey, Mads Pedersen wears the green jersey and Juan Ayuso the white jersey for the best young rider.

The profile explains why the race scenario can shift at any moment. On the narrow, winding roads of the Vosges, groups can break apart not only on the climbs but also on the descents. A team that accelerates early can isolate teammates and force a favourite into long solo efforts. Paret-Peintre’s breakaway therefore benefits from every moment of hesitation in the peloton.

The organisers had scheduled the finish at Le Markstein for around 5:38 p.m. Until then, the situation remains open: the six riders at the front have a genuine opportunity to fight for the stage, but the difficult kilometres leading to the Col du Haag and the final section do not allow any conclusion to be drawn about the outcome of the race. One thing is certain: in the Vosges, the Tour has lost its calm rhythm.