Tour de France : épreuves sprint et montagne dans les Hautes-Pyrénées avec une arrivée inédite à Gavarnie – Hit FM Radio – L’esprit Sud Ouest !Tour de France 2026: Evenepoel, Del Toro, and Seixas Vie for Second Place
The 2026 Tour de France has entered its second rest day, with Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG maintaining a commanding lead. Pogačar’s dominance is evident, having secured four stage victories, bringing his total to 25 in the Tour, and 17 this season in just 31 days of racing. UAE Team Emirates-XRG has amassed 57 stage wins, widening the gap over their competitors.
Vingegaard’s Departure
A significant turning point occurred with the withdrawal of Jonas Vingegaard. The Danish rider, who had been a consistent podium contender alongside Pogačar since 2021, crashed on a seemingly innocuous curve, fracturing his collarbone and ending his Tour campaign. (nbcsports.com)
Battle for Second Place Intensifies
With Vingegaard out, the focus shifts to the battle for second place. Remco Evenepoel’s victory on Plateau de Solaison was a breakthrough, especially on longer, challenging climbs where he had previously struggled. This win propels him into second place overall, 5 minutes behind Pogačar. (repubblica.it)
Isaac Del Toro, Evenepoel’s teammate at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, has also risen in the standings. Despite a fall during the stage, Del Toro finished third, moving into third place overall, 5 minutes and 58 seconds behind Pogačar. He also claimed the white jersey as the best young rider, overtaking Paul Seixas. (cyclingweekly.com)
Paul Seixas, the 19-year-old French rider, remains a strong contender. Although he lost the white jersey to Del Toro, Seixas holds fourth place overall, 6 minutes and 23 seconds behind Pogačar. His performance suggests he could still challenge for a podium finish. (info.fr)
Upcoming Challenges
The race resumes with a 26.1 km individual time trial, featuring 500 meters of elevation gain. This stage is expected to be pivotal for the general classification, with Evenepoel aiming to consolidate his second-place position. The final week promises further challenges, including stages suited for sprinters and demanding mountain finishes at Orcières-Merlette and the double ascent of Alpe d’Huez. (repubblica.it)
As the Tour progresses, the competition for second place remains open, with Evenepoel, Del Toro, and Seixas all vying for the coveted position behind Pogačar.
Highlights:
- Tour de France GC standings – Dramatic stage 15 delivers changes in top three, Published on Sunday, July 19
- Who is leading the Tour de France 2026 after stage 15?, Published on Sunday, July 19
- ‘Either I crash myself, or I go into Tadej’ – Isaac del Toro takes a tumble for his leader but gets instant payback as ‘insane’ Pogačar works for him on Tour de France summit finish, Published on Sunday, July 19