Tadej Pogačar delivered a masterclass in dominance on Sunday, securing the overall victory at the Tour de Suisse with the largest margin of any winner in 67 years and stamping his authority as the undisputed pre-Tour de France favourite. The 27-year-old Slovenian, making his debut at the Swiss stage race, claimed his third stage win of the week on the queen stage to seal a commanding overall lead, underscoring his preparation for the July Grand Départ in Florence.

Pogačar’s triumph in the 85th edition of the Tour de Suisse was achieved with a margin that has not been seen since 1959, according to German daily *Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung* . His performance on the decisive stage, where he distanced all rivals, was described by *Der Tagesspiegel* as confirmation of his superiority ahead of the Tour de France, a race he has now won twice consecutively . The victory marked his 12th stage win of the season and his 120th and 121st career victories, as reported by *Slovenia Times* .

Czech rider Mathias Vacek, competing in his first WorldTour race since joining the Bora-Hansgrohe team, finished 12th on the final stage to secure third place overall, a result that also signalled his strong form ahead of the Tour de France . Portuguese outlet *Observador* similarly highlighted Pogačar’s dominance, noting his fifth-stage victory and overall triumph as the 12th stage win of his 2026 season .

The Tour de Suisse, often regarded as the final major preparation race before the Tour de France, served as a statement of intent from Pogačar, who has now won cycling’s most prestigious event in 2024 and 2025. His performance in Switzerland, a country where he has previously struggled, suggests a rider in peak condition and with renewed tactical acumen. Analysts point to his ability to control the race from the front, his climbing prowess on decisive stages, and his consistency across all terrains as key factors in his sustained success.

With the Tour de France just 16 days away, Pogačar’s victory in the Swiss Alps has shifted the narrative from speculation to expectation. The question now is not whether he will start as favourite, but by how much he will extend his lead in the opening stages of cycling’s most gruelling three-week race.

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Articles

Sieg bei der Tour de Suisse: Pogacar ist bereit für die Tour Mit dem größten Vorsprung seit 67 Jahren gewinnt Pogacar die Generalprobe für die Tour. Bei der Königsetappe zieht der Slowene allen davon.

faz · about 4 hours ago

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the slovenia times · about 4 hours ago

Vacek má před Tour de France formu. V závodě Kolem Švýcarska udržel třetí místo, dominoval Pogačar Český cyklista Mathias Vacek dojel dvanáctý v závěrečné královské etapě závodu Kolem Švýcarska a udržel celkové třetí místo. Dalším etapovým prvenstvím potvrdil v generálce na Tour de France skvělou formu Slovinec Tadej Pogačar a náročný závod kategorie WorldTour vyhrál hned při svém debutu.

irozhlas.cz · about 4 hours ago

Pogacar domina e conquista a Volta à Suíça Ciclista esloveno Tadej Pogacar venceu a quinta e última etapa da Volta à Suíça. Torna-se assim o vencedor da prova e assinala a 12.ª vitória de etapa nesta temporada.

observador · about 4 hours ago

Radsport: Pogacar gewinnt Tour de Suisse - Sieg auf der Königsetappe Nur 16 Renntage, aber schon 13 Siege: Pogacar zeigt bei der Tour de Suisse, warum er als Favorit zur Frankreich-Rundfahrt reist. Was macht ihn so überlegen?

tagesspiegel · about 4 hours ago

Pogačar wins key test ahead of Tour de France Slovenias cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar underlined his status as top favourite for next months Tour de France by securing a dominant overall victory at the Tour de Suisse after claiming his third stage win of the week. The triumph at his debut at the Swiss race marked the 120th and 121st ...

the slovenia times · about 4 hours ago

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tagesspiegel · about 5 hours ago