Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) wins the 2026 Tour de Suisse by a commanding margin. The Slovenian once again came out on top on the queen stage around Villars-sur-Ollon, celebrating his third stage win of the Tour. On the 150.7-kilometre stage with 4,226 metres elevation gain to contest, Pogačar finished ahead of Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) and Bart Lemmen (Team Visma | Lease a Bike).
An eleven-man breakaway led the final stage for a long time. Among them were Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla), Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team), Bart Lemmen, Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step), Paul Double (Team Jayco AlUla) and Lenny Martinez. Vervaeke used the breakaway to pick up further points on the Col de la Croix securing the KOM jersey.
UAE Team Emirates XRG controlled the peloton for much of the stage. As the racing heated up on the final lap, the peloton started to dissolve. Switzerland’s Marc Hirschi (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) was dropped on the final climb up the Col de la Croix. At the front, the second Swiss rider, Mauro Schmid, stayed in the lead group but was no longer able to contest for the stage on the closing climb.
Pogačar reels in Martinez in the finale
On the final climb to Villars-sur-Ollon, Bart Lemmen was the first to attack. Lenny Martinez and Nairo Quintana went with him, and shortly afterwards Martinez moved clear on his own. Pogačar attacked from the chase group around eight kilometres from the finish. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) was able to follow briefly but soon had to let the world champion go.
Pogačar caught rider after rider closing in on Martinez over the final kilometres. Not far from the finish he reeled in the Frenchman and proceeded to power past him to take the stage win. Martinez finished 7 seconds behind him with Lemmen completing the podium in third at 1:33.
Schmid on the offensive once again
Mauro Schmid showed strong legs on the queen stage and once again raced well. The Swiss champion was part of the early breakaway, staying out front for a long time. In the end he finished the stage as the best Swiss rider in 15th place, 3:26 down. The remaining Swiss riders were never in contention in the battle for the finale.
Pogačar left nothing to chance in the General Classification. He wins the Tour de Suisse with lead of 6:32 over Richard Carapaz. Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) completes the podium, claiming the young rider’s jersey as well. It is the first time since 1959 that the Tour de Suisse has been won by a margin of more than five minutes, proving the absolute domination of the Slovenian at the 2026 Tour de Suisse.
