Tour de Suisse 2026: Tadej Pogačar wins the final stage and secures overall victory

Villars-sur-Ollon – 21 June 2026: Tadej Pogačar won the 89th Tour de Suisse with an impressive solo victory in the final stage at Villars-sur-Ollon, securing the overall classification victory. The Slovenian professional cyclist from UAE Team Emirates-XRG dominated the 144-kilometre course with 2,400 metres of elevation gain and extended his lead in the overall standings.

Right from the start of the race, Pogačar made an impression by winning the first stage with a 70-kilometre solo attack. He thus clearly distanced his competitors. Richard Carapaz (EFE) took second place, 2 minutes and 22 seconds behind, while Andrea Bagioli (Lidl-Trek) finished third on the day, 2 minutes and 39 seconds behind the winner.

On the second stage in Locarno, Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ United) prevailed over Pogačar in an exciting sprint. Nevertheless, Pogačar retained the yellow jersey and increased his overall lead over Carapaz to 2 minutes and 50 seconds.

Another highlight was the fourth stage, a 23.7-kilometre individual time trial in Aarburg. Pogačar won the time trial in 26 minutes and 37 seconds, narrowly beating Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) by just 31 hundredths of a second, who took second place.

The final stage took place on demanding mountain roads in Villars-sur-Ollon. Pogačar once again prevailed in an impressive solo ride, securing not only the stage victory but also the overall win with a comfortable lead.

The 2026 Tour de Suisse was held from 17 to 21 June and comprised five stages covering a total of 634.5 kilometres. The race was organized in a shortened format to promote interaction with fans through varied circuits and bring together renowned riders ahead of the Tour de France.

Pogačar’s triumph in Switzerland already marks his third major victory this season, after winning the Tour de Romandie. His impressive form during the preparation phase makes him the overwhelming favourite for the Tour de France, which begins in two weeks and is the most important stage race of the year.

Beyond his impressive individual performances, Pogačar once again demonstrated his versatility at the Tour de Suisse, from long solo attacks to time trials and mountain stages. His outstanding performance sends a clear signal to his rivals, especially those from the peloton of major races.

With his current dominance, Pogačar is setting new benchmarks and confirming his role as one of the best professional cyclists in the world. The coming weeks will show whether he can continue this success at the Tour de France and further strengthen his status as the leading favourite.