Tadej Pogacar closed out the 2016 Tour de Suisse the same way he started it: with a win. The world champion took the fifth and final stage in Villars-sur-Ollon after reeling in Lenny Martinez in the final kilometers of the grueling final climb, securing a resounding victory in the general classification.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader completed a near-perfect week with three stage wins in five days and added a race that had previously eluded him to his palmarès for the first time.
A queen stage in extreme heat
The final day featured a route worthy of a Grand Tour. More than 4,000 meters of elevation gain and three ascents of the demanding Col de la Croix were set to decide the final podium positions and offer the last chance to challenge the leader.
Temperatures nearing 36 degrees Celsius made the stage even tougher, causing numerous riders to abandon it even before the start. Among those who didn’t start were Julian Alaphilippe, Matthew Brennan, Alec Segaert, Lucas Hamilton, and Sjoerd Bax.
From the first few kilometers, a large breakaway formed, featuring big 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 the breakaway riders some freedom, always keeping the gap under control while Tim Wellens and his teammates set the pace in the peloton.
The race definitively broke apart on the final climb of the Col de la Croix. The breakaway gradually dwindled 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 up a lead of nearly a minute over Pogacar, and for a few moments it seemed he could challenge the Slovenian for the stage win.
Behind them, UAE Team Emirates continued to set a blistering pace before Pogacar himself decided to launch an attack. With eight kilometers to go, the expected move arrived. Pogacar accelerated fiercely, and only Richard Carapaz initially tried to stay with him. The Ecuadorian held on for just a few seconds before dropping back.
From that moment on, a relentless chase began. First, he caught Quintana, then he left Bart Lemmen behind, and finally he set his sights on Lenny Martinez.
Kilometer by kilometer, the gap narrowed. With four kilometers to go, the Frenchman still held a lead of just over half a minute, but the outcome seemed inevitable.
The catch came within the final kilometer. Pogacar caught Martinez, overtook him without needing 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 day’s podium.
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 2016 Tour de Suisse in a dominant fashion
Beyond the stage win, the big news was the confirmation of Pogacar’s overall victory. The Slovenian dominated the race from the first stage, also winning the time trial and He capped off his performance with another dominant display in the mountains. His final margin over Richard Carapaz was more than six minutes, a difference that reflects the enormous control he displayed throughout the week.
With this victory, Pogacar completes a virtually perfect preparation for the Tour de France and adds one of the few week-long stage races still missing from his impressive palmarès.
Top 5 final general classification Tour de Suisse 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 Suisse already has a winner. And once again, that winner is Tadej Pogacar.