Pogacar Wins Third Stage of 2026 Tour de France, Takes Yellow Jersey

Tadej Pogacar won the third stage of the 2026 Tour de France on Monday and took the yellow jersey from Jonas Vingegaard. The UAE Emirates-XRG rider sprinted clear of his rivals about 200 metres from the finish on the climb to Les Angles in the French Pyrenees. He crossed the line two seconds ahead of Vingegaard, Richard Carapaz and Paul Seixas.

Pogacar collected 10 bonus seconds for the victory while Vingegaard received six seconds for second place. The pair sit level on overall time after three stages, yet Pogacar leads the general classification because of superior stage-finishing positions across the opening days. The 196-kilometre stage began in Granollers, Spain, and concluded with a short uphill finish.

Organisers cancelled the publicity caravan for the final 40 kilometres after a wildfire burned roughly 60 kilometres from the finish line. Pogacar recorded his 22nd career Tour de France stage victory and his 14th win of the 2026 season. He held his arms out in triumph and clenched his fists at the summit as he crossed the line.

Vingegaard had taken the yellow jersey on Saturday after his Visma-Lease a Bike team won the opening time trial around Barcelona. The Danish rider won the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023.