Tadej Pogačar takes stage 3 victory and Yellow Jersey at the Tour de France

For the second time in as many days, UAE Team Emirates-XRG came out on top at the Tour de France, with Tadej Pogačar picking up his first victory of the race on Monday afternoon.

The four-time defending champion packed the biggest punch on the uphill finish to Les Angles, earning him the stage 3 victory. For UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Pogačar was finishing off an all-round team job, with the eight-man squad all contributing to the day’s success.

Earlier in the day, a strong and large breakaway had gone up the road, with the likes of Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) all involved. Tasked with setting up a shot at the day’s victory for Pogačar, his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates rallied to bring this breakaway under control.

One by one, the Emirati squad buried itself in pursuit of the break. Florian Vermeersch, Nils Politt, Tim Wellens, Felix Großschartner, Brandon McNulty, and Adam Yates – each to a man gave everything to guide Pogačar to the head of the race. As the Les Angles climb (1.7km at 6.7%) entered its final kilometre, it was time for the stage 2 winner, Isaac del Toro, to take charge.

Without hesitation, the Mexican stomped on the pedals and unleashed a vicious turn of pace at the front of proceedings. In his wheel, Pogačar simply bided his time as their rivals felt the pressure. Inside the final few hundred metres, the Slovenian responded to his cue and came around Del Toro in his burst for the line.

Almost immediately, a gap opened up behind Pogačar as the UAE Team Emirates-XRG man roared to his first stage victory of this year’s race. For the Slovenian, Monday’s success was the 22nd Tour de France stage win of his career. This latest victory also brings the sweet satisfaction of moving into the lead of the general classification.

With his 22nd Tour stage win came the 55th Yellow Jersey of his career, and the four-time Tour de France champion looks in fine condition to chase a record-equalling fifth crown. First, though, there is time for Pogačar and his teammates to celebrate a job well done. They will head into stage 4 with Pogačar at the top of the standings and Del Toro in fourth overall.

Pogačar: “It’s because of him, it’s because of Isaac today. I get some extra power in the final [because of him], he committed more than 100% in the final climb, and all the team, actually. In the middle of the stage we decided that it was possible to go for the stage win. I am really happy that we start the Tour like this. It was an incredible finish today.

“If we can win, like we did today, and the team feels super good, then we have to take the opportunity. We tried and we gave it our all, and we win.

“Of course, to take the Yellow Jersey is the dream for any cyclist of any age. So for me, every time I can get it again on my shoulders, it feels really special. I don’t know for how long this will last, but we will try to enjoy every moment.”

Tour de France 2026 stage 3 results:

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4:45:11

2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +2″

3. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) s.t

9. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +4″

Tour de France 2026 general classification after stage 3:

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 8:46:55

2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) s.t

3. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +23″

4. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +24″