Tadej Pogacar attacks to win Stage 3 and the Yellow Jersey at the 2026 Tour de France

The first Pyrenean stage of the 2026 Tour de France exploded into action under fierce heat in Granollers, with relentless attacks preventing the race from settling during a rugged opening phase. A crash on the first climb and early splits only intensified the chaos, and the peloton spent far longer than expected fighting over the composition of the breakaway.

 

When the move finally established itself, it carried enough GC danger to force a response: Alex Baudin briefly became the virtual yellow jersey, prompting Visma to keep the gap under control, while Mads Pedersen used the intermediate sprint to move into the virtual green jersey lead. As the race crossed from Spain into France, UAE Team Emirates – XRG took command, steadily increasing the pace and putting riders like Grégoire, Healy, O’Connor and Vauquelin into difficulty. With the break caught, the GC teams massed at the front: UAE surrounding Tadej Pogacar, Visma protecting Jonas Vingegaard, and EF positioning Richard Carapaz for the finale.

 

The final climb was short but explosive — 1.7 km at 6.5% — and the favourites lined up for a decisive showdown. Sepp Kuss set a fierce tempo with Del Toro, Pogacar and Vingegaard locked onto his wheel, while Evenepoel, Seixas and Ayuso remained in contention. Inside the final kilometre, Isaac Del Toro — winner of Stage 2 — delivered a perfect lead-out, launching Pogacar into position for the winning attack. Pogacar surged clear, Vingegaard responded immediately, and Carapaz fought to stay with them, but none could match the Slovenian’s acceleration. Pogacar powered away to win Stage 3 and pull on the yellow jersey, with Vingegaard and Carapaz finishing two seconds behind. The victory marked back-to-back UAE Team Emirates – XRG stage wins, with Del Toro’s support proving decisive. “It’s because of Isaac Del Toro’s win yesterday and the team that inspired me to go for the stage win,” Pogacar said. “It’s always special to pull on the yellow jersey again. A great start to the Tour for UAE Team Emirates – XRG.”

 

VIDEO: Tour de France Stage 3 REACTION: No mercy shown in Les Angles!

 

 

2026 Tour de France Stage 3 Top

 

1 POGACAR Tadej UAE Team Emirates - XRG 4:45:11.000

2 VINGEGAARD Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike 0:02.000

3 CARAPAZ Richard EF Education - EasyPost 0:02.000

4 SEIXAS Paul Decathlon CMA CGM Team 0:02.000

5 JOHANNESSEN Tobias Halland Uno-X Mobility 0:04.000

6 VAN EETVELT Lennert Lotto Intermarché 0:04.000

7 LIPOWITZ Florian Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe 0:04.000

8 EVENEPOEL Remco Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe 0:04.000

9 DEL TORO Isaac UAE Team Emirates - XRG 0:04.000

10 AYUSO Juan Lidl - Trek 0:04.000

 

2026 Tour de France GC after Stage 3

 

1 POGACAR Tadej UAE Team Emirates - XRG 8:46:55.000

2 VINGEGAARD Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike 0:00.000

3 EVENEPOEL Remco Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe 0:23.000

4 DEL TORO Isaac UAE Team Emirates - XRG 0:24.000

5 AYUSO Juan Lidl - Trek 0:27.000

6 SEIXAS Paul Decathlon CMA CGM Team 0:48.000

7 LIPOWITZ Florian Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe 0:53.000

8 MARTINEZ Lenny Bahrain - Victorious 1:09.000

9 JOHANNESSEN Tobias Halland Uno-X Mobility 1:11.000

10 VAN WILDER Ilan Soudal Quick-Step 1:17.000