thecyclingdane

The 2026 Tour de France is over, and it's time to rank every team that battled across three weeks of racing. From Tadej Pogačar’s dominant UAE Team Emirates-XRG to Visma–Lease a Bike’s fight for glory, we break down which squads exceeded expectations, which disappointed, and who truly made the biggest impact on the race.
We rank every Tour de France 2026 team based on victories, GC performance, stage wins, tactics, support for their leaders, and overall impact on the biggest race in cycling.
Who belongs in S-tier? Which teams underperformed? And was anyone capable of stopping Pogačar and UAE?

The 2026 Tour de France ended with one of the most dramatic finales in recent history as Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar went head-to-head on the streets of Paris. With the new Montmartre finishing circuit creating chaos on the final stage, the two superstars battled for one last victory before the Champs-Élysées celebration.
Van der Poel used his explosive power and classics experience to fight for the stage win, while Pogačar showed once again why he is one of the most complete riders in cycling history by joining the action even with the yellow jersey already secured. We break down the final stage, the Montmartre battle, Van der Poel’s victory, and Pogačar’s incredible fifth Tour de France triumph.

Richard Carapaz capped off an incredible Tour de France with a second consecutive mountain stage victory, conquering Alpe d'Huez after a dramatic final mountain stage. The Ecuadorian produced another unforgettable ride to secure the stage win and wrap up the King of the Mountains classification, while heartbreak struck Sepp Kuss after two crashes cost him what looked set to be a famous victory.
In this episode, we break down Carapaz's sensational performance, the devastating misfortune for Kuss, and how Remco Evenepoel capitalised to finish second on the stage. We also analyse Tadej Pogačar's measured ride as he chose to protect Isaac del Toro's podium position rather than chase another stage victory, effectively sealing his fifth Tour de France title ahead of the final stage in Paris.
We also discuss the final general classification battle, Del Toro's impressive ride to secure the white jersey, Paul Seixas' fight for fourth overall, and what to expect on the final stage as the 2026 Tour de France reaches its conclusion.

Tadej Pogačar delivered one of the greatest performances of his career on Stage 19 of the Tour de France 2026, producing a breathtaking ride to victory on the legendary Alpe d'Huez. Launching a devastating attack before the final climb, the Slovenian reeled in the breakaway before powering clear to claim the stage win in record-breaking fashion, eclipsing Marco Pantani's iconic ascent.
In this episode, we analyse Pogačar's historic performance, how he dismantled the race on one of cycling's most famous climbs, and what it means for the battle for the yellow jersey. We also discuss Lenny Martinez's impressive ride, Richard Carapaz's aggressive racing, Remco Evenepoel's response, and the latest changes in the general classification.
With just two stages remaining, has Pogačar officially put the 2026 Tour de France beyond doubt, or is there one final twist still to come? Join us for our full Stage 19 recap and analysis from an unforgettable day on Alpe d'Huez.

Richard Carapaz produced one of the rides of the Tour de France 2026, launching a perfectly timed solo attack on the final climb to Orcières-Merlette to claim an unforgettable Stage 18 victory. The Ecuadorian judged his effort to perfection, holding off the chasing group to secure his ninth Grand Tour stage win and move into the top 10 on general classification.
In this episode, we break down Carapaz's brilliant tactical ride, Mauro Schmid's impressive second-place finish, and Matteo Jorgenson's strong performance after another aggressive day in the mountains. We also analyse why Tadej Pogačar was happy to let the breakaway fight for victory as he safely defended the yellow jersey, while Remco Evenepoel and the other GC contenders chose not to attack ahead of the final two decisive stages.
We also discuss the battle for the green jersey, where Mads Pedersen extended his advantage over Jasper Philipsen, the latest general classification standings, and what today's result means as the Tour heads towards the iconic climb of Alpe d'Huez.