Pogačar wins Tour de France Stage 14; Ullrich returns as spectator after 20 years

Jan Ullrich visited the 14th stage of the Tour de France. Source: Felix Schröder/dpa

Tadej Pogačar outclasses his competition on the 14th stage of the Tour de France, securing another unchallenged victory. Jan Ullrich, attending the race live for the first time in 20 years, was waiting at the finish.

When Florian Lipowitz reached the ski station in Le Markstein after the climbing spectacle in the Vosges, the cheers among German cycling fans and celebrity spectator Jan Ullrich were loud. The German hopeful delivered a strong performance on his home turf near the border, finishing seventh — though it was not enough for the top spot. The seemingly invincible defending champion Tadej Pogačar rode, once again, in a league of his own on the 14th stage.

Pogačar secured his fourth stage win of the 2026 Tour after 155.3 kilometers and 3,800 meters of elevation gain, riding solo, and solidified his hold on the Yellow Jersey. The Slovenian world champion finished 38 seconds ahead of his second-placed teammate Isaac del Toro and French young star Paul Seixas. He is now almost certain to claim his fifth overall victory.

Tadej Pogačar dominates the Tour at will. Source: AP Photo/Thibault Camus

Lipowitz reached the finish at an altitude of 1,192 meters, 50 seconds behind Pogačar. This improved the third-place finisher from the previous year to sixth place in the overall standings. Behind Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard follows in second place, 4:30 minutes back, and third is Lipowitz's teammate Remco Evenepoel with a deficit of 5:04 minutes.

"In the end, my legs weren't quite enough," says Lipowitz

"It was just a super hard stage from the start. In the end, my legs weren't quite enough. We can still be happy," said Lipowitz on ARD, already looking ahead to the next tough mountain stages. "We have to take it day by day and see how it goes. I hope I can recover quickly. Then it's time to attack again."

The 14th stage was a grueling one. Tens of thousands of fans created a cauldron-like atmosphere on the steep ramps of the Col du Haag — a forest path converted into a bike path. The spectators were treated to great sport.

11.5 kilometers from the finish, Lipowitz launched an attack from the group of favorites together with Seixas. However, Pogačar was hardly unsettled. Shortly after — 7.5 kilometers from the finish — the world champion himself went on the offensive. This time, no one could follow him to the finish.

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With this victory, Pogačar secured the 25th stage win of his career, tying him in the record list with fourth-placed André Leducq (France/25). The most Tour stages have been won by former world champion Mark Cavendish (Great Britain/35).

Evenepoel had trouble following the rival at times. However, the double Olympic champion fought his way back, which also benefited Lipowitz. As a result, both lost little time to the rivals behind Pogačar.

For Lipowitz, it was a bit of a home game. Numerous German fans had made their way to France just across the border. On Friday, many German flags were seen on the stage to Belfort. "I have to say a huge thank you to all the fans. It was incredible. I heard my name so many times," said the 25-year-old.

Ullrich back at the Tour after 20 years

A prominent fan was also standing at the roadside in the finish area. Twenty years after his Tour expulsion due to connections to doping doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, former German cycling star Jan Ullrich returned to the Tour de France as a spectator.

"I am really extremely happy. So, this is truly my first visit ever as a guest, as a fan so to speak, at the Tour de France. And then of course such an epic stage as today in the Vosges," said Ullrich in an interview with dpa.