Vingegaard crash paves way for Pogačar to keep yellow jersey

The 2026 Tour de France was reshaped by a dramatic crash and a powerful performance on the mountain roads to the Plateau de Solaison on Sunday, July 19, as race leader Tadej Pogačar solidified his grip on the yellow jersey while his closest rival was forced to abandon. Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel won the stage with a late sprint, moving into second place overall after Jonas Vingegaard crashed out with a fractured collarbone.

Vingegaard’s exit occurred approximately 20 kilometers from the finish in Bonneville, removing the rider considered Pogačar’s primary challenger. The incident also caught Pogačar’s teammate, Isaac Del Toro, who went down but was able to continue. With his main rival gone and Del Toro still in contention for the podium and the white jersey for best young rider, Pogačar altered his tactics on the final climb, working to support his teammate rather than chase the stage win himself.

Evenepoel capitalized, outsprinting Pogačar and Del Toro at the summit to claim his first Tour de France road stage victory. The result moved Evenepoel into second place overall, though he remains five minutes behind Pogačar. Del Toro finished third on the stage and leaped from...