Pogacar crushes his rivals in Switzerland: victory in the overall and in the queen stage

Tadej Pogacar closed the 2026 Tour de Switzerland the same way he started it: winning. The world champion claimed the fifth and final stage in Villars-sur-Ollon after neutralizing Lenny Martinez in the last kilometers of the grueling final climb, thus securing a convincing victory in the general classification.

Pogacar wins the queen stage and conquers the 2026 Tour de Switzerland with another display in the mountains

The leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG completed a practically perfect week with three stage wins in five days and added a race to his palmarès that had previously eluded him.

A queen stage under extreme heat

The final day featured a route worthy of a grand tour. More than 4,000 meters of accumulated elevation gain and three ascents to the demanding Col de la Croix were set to decide the final podium positions and offer the last opportunity to challenge the leader.

Temperatures close to 36 degrees made an already tough stage even harder, causing numerous withdrawals even before the start. Among the riders who did not start were Julian Alaphilippe, Matthew Brennan, Alec Segaert, Lucas Hamilton, and Sjoerd Bax.

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From the first kilometers, a large breakaway formed with important names like Lenny Martinez, Bart Lemmen, Nairo Quintana, Mauro Schmid, Louis Vervaeke, Finn Fisher-Black, Bauke Mollema, and Andrew August.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG allowed some freedom to the breakaway, always keeping the gap under control while Tim Wellens and his teammates set the pace in the main group.

The race definitively broke apart on the last ascent to the Col de la Croix. The breakaway lost members until it was reduced to three riders at the front: Lenny Martinez, Bart Lemmen, and Nairo Quintana. The Frenchman from Bahrain Victorious was the most ambitious and attacked his breakaway companions with several kilometers still to go.

Martinez managed to open a gap of nearly a minute over Pogacar, and for a moment it seemed he could contest the stage win against the Slovenian.

Behind, UAE continued to impose a devastating pace before Pogacar himself decided to attack. With eight kilometers to go, the expected move came. Pogacar accelerated violently, and only Richard Carapaz initially tried to follow his wheel. The Ecuadorian held on for just a few seconds before giving way.

From that moment on, an unrelenting chase began. First, he caught Quintana, then left Bart Lemmen behind, and finally set his sights on Lenny Martinez.

Kilometer by kilometer, the gap was reduced. With four kilometers to go, the Frenchman still had just over half a minute of advantage, but the outcome seemed inevitable.

The catch occurred within the last kilometer. Pogacar reached Martinez, passed him without the need for an explosive attack, and continued solo to the finish line to secure his third stage victory of the week.

Martinez had to settle for second place, seven seconds behind, while Bart Lemmen completed the podium of the day.

Top 10 of stage 5

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 4:12:24
2. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) +7”
3. Bart Lemmen (Visma | Lease a Bike) +1:33
4. Jarno Widar (Lotto Intermarché) +1:53
5. Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon CMA CGM) +1:53
6. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) +1:53
7. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) +2:00
8. Tobias Foss (INEOS Grenadiers) +2:05

Pogacar wins the 2026 Tour de Switzerland uncontested

Beyond the stage win, the big news was the confirmation of Pogacar's final victory in the general classification.

The Slovenian dominated the race from the first stage, also won the time trial, and capped off his performance with another display in the mountains. His final margin over Richard Carapaz was more than six minutes, a difference that reflects the enormous dominance shown throughout the week.

With this victory, Pogacar completes a practically perfect preparation for the Tour de France and adds one of the few week-long stage races that were still missing from his impressive palmarès.

Top 5 final general classification Tour de Switzerland 2026

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 15:08:43
2. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) +6:32
3. Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) +6:53
4. Tobias Foss (INEOS Grenadiers) +7:34
5. Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) +7:51

The 2026 Tour de Switzerland already has an owner. And once again, that owner is Tadej Pogacar.