Stage 6 Recap: Pogacar’s Solo Triumph on the Col du Tourmalet
On Thursday, Tadej Pogacar delivered a breathtaking solo performance on the formidable Col du Tourmalet, securing stage‑six victory and reclaiming the overall lead of the 2024 Tour de France. The Slovenian’s attack on the 17.1 km ascent left his rivals scrambling and highlighted why he remains a favorite for a third consecutive Tour title.
The Ascent to Tourmalet
The stage began in Pau and covered 186.2 km of rolling terrain before reaching the legendary climb. By the time the peloton approached the foot of the Tourmalet, UAE Team Emirates‑XRG had already positioned several riders at the front, conserving energy for the decisive effort.
As the gradient increased, a select group broke away. Pogacar’s teammate Isaac del Toro helped set a relentless pace, while two‑time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard struggled to match the Slovenian’s rhythm. Vingegaard finished the climb in second place, 2 minutes 42 seconds behind Pogacar.
Several riders fell off the lead group during the ascent, including Decathlon‑AG2R La Mondiale members Tom Pidcock, Paul Seixas, Aurelien Paret‑Peintre and Matthew Riccitello.
Descent Drama and Overall Standings
After cresting the Tourmalet, Pogacar held a 30‑second advantage over Vingegaard. The Norwegian’s lead over the Slovenian at the start of the stage had been 7 minutes 53 seconds, but a crash on the descent erased much of that buffer. While navigating a technical section, Torstein Traeen touched wheels with Uno‑X Mobility’s Anders Johannessen, went down, and required medical attention before rejoining the race.
Despite the setback, Traeen resumed riding and finished the stage well behind the leaders. Pogacar’s advantage over Vingegaard grew to 1 minute 15 seconds by the time the final climb to Gavarnie‑Gedre began, and the gap continued to widen as the Slovenian pushed solo to the finish line.
“A truly incredible victory, certainly one of the sweetest,” said Pogacar, who at 27 became the first reigning world champion to conquer the Tourmalet.
Vingegaard, reflecting on his effort, acknowledged the disappointment but kept his resolve:
“It wasn’t my best day. Of course I’m disappointed, I have to be, but it’s life, I can’t change it. I still believe in myself, I still believe my legs would get better as the race progressed. The fight isn’t over yet.”
The Tour now heads into a 175.1 km flat stage from Hagetmau to Bordeaux on Friday, where sprinters will have a chance to rebound and the general classification contenders will look to limit further losses.
Key Statistics from Stage 6
- Stage distance: 186.2 km
- Col du Tourmalet climb: 17.1 km, average gradient 7.4 %
- Pogacar’s winning time: 4 h 12 m 03 s (stage)
- Time gap to Vingegaard at summit: +0 min 30 s
- Overall lead after stage: Pogacar +1 min 15 s over Vingegaard
- Crash involvement: Torstein Traeen (descent) – resumed after medical treatment
All figures are sourced from the official Tour de France website and race timing reports published by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
