Gewinnt der schwerste Fahrer der Tour, Tadej Pogačar: "Ich habe in meine Hosen gefickt".

On July 15, 2026, Norwegian cyclist Søren Wærenskjold secured his first stage victory on the 113th edition of the Tour de France, delivering a decisive sprint finish that stunned the field. The 11th stage, which stretched from Vichy to Nevers, saw Wærenskjold overcome a late surge from Dutch rider Olav Kooij and Belgian Jasper Philipsen, who was later disqualified for dangerous riding. The race, known for its flat profile, reached an average speed of 50.91 kilometers per hour, setting a new record for the fastest stage in the history of the Tour. Wærenskjold’s win came just days after his teammate Torstein Træen had claimed the yellow jersey during the opening stages of the race, marking a historic achievement for the Norwegian-Danish team Uno-X Mobility. The stage unfolded with high tension as the peloton entered the final kilometers. Wærenskjold, riding for Uno-X Mobility, capitalized on a tactical move orchestrated by fellow Norwegian Cees Bol of Decathlon CMA CGM, who had initially aimed to set up Kooij. However, Wærenskjold used the gap created by Bol’s sudden acceleration to launch a surprise attack from the back of the pack. His aggressive move caught the main contenders off guard, allowing him to take control of the sprint. “It felt like my first major victory at the Omloop,” Wærenskjold recalled afterward. “I was too far back, then suddenly ahead. It was incredible.” This marked the second stage victory for the Uno-X team this year, following their success on the 11th stage last year. Wærenskjold, 26 years old, described the moment as one of pure joy and disbelief. “This means everything to me. When I arrived at the Tour, I knew there were two or three riders faster than me, but I believed I could make a difference on a good day. Today, it happened.” He admitted he had doubted himself throughout the day, especially after crashing early in the stage. “At times I believe in myself, other times I feel exhausted and think it's impossible. But today, I didn’t believe. After the fall, I felt terrible, but my body woke up. Adrenaline took over, and I was happy to celebrate this victory with my team.” Meanwhile, Slovenian star Tadej Pogačar, riding for UAE Team Emirates, navigated the challenging conditions with precision. Despite a near-miss involving a bottle collision that nearly sent him to the ground, Pogačar managed to stay upright and maintain his position in the peloton. “The stage wasn’t easy, but it was short. We just had to watch ourselves,” he explained. “I almost fell when I hit a bottle, and I thought I’d be on the ground. I had already changed into my racing clothes, but somehow I kept hold of the handlebars.” Pogačar, who leads the overall standings by more than three minutes and 36 seconds over Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard, emphasized the importance of staying focused. “Every day has to be careful. Having such days is great, but you have to remain focused on every inch of the road.” In the sprint classification, the competition remained tight. Dutch rider Mads Pedersen holds a narrow lead over Ethiopian Biniam Girmay, while Frenchman Tim Merlier trails further behind. The final stage of the race, scheduled for the following day, will once again offer a chance for sprinters to claim glory. With the weather forecast predicting favorable conditions, the race is poised for another thrilling conclusion. The results of the 11th stage placed Wærenskjold in first place, followed by Kooij, Belgian rider Milan Fretin, and Dutchman Henri Artz. In the overall standings, Pogačar continues to lead, maintaining his advantage over Vingegaard and Belgian Remco Evenepoel. As the race moves forward, both teams will look to capitalize on their momentum, with the final stages offering crucial opportunities to secure victory. The Tour de France continues to deliver dramatic moments, with each stage bringing new challenges and unexpected outcomes.