Pogacar edges Van der Poel by 0.31 seconds to win Tour de Suisse time trial

Stage 4 time trial

Tadej Pogacar claimed victory in the individual time trial on Saturday, the fourth stage of the Tour de Suisse, beating Mathieu van der Poel by just 31 hundredths of a second. The Slovenian world champion covered the flat 23.7 km loop around Aarburg in 26 minutes 37 seconds, averaging 53.4 km/h. Van der Poel, returning to competition after a fourth place at Paris-Roubaix, had set the benchmark time and came agonisingly close, but Pogacar, starting last as race leader, pushed right to the line to snatch the win.

I felt super good. I didn't know I was fighting for the victory. I knew it was close. I just gave everything to the line and I'm really happy with this victory.

Tobias Foss completed the podium, 6 to 7 seconds behind Pogacar according to varying reports. Mathias Vacek took fourth, around 10 or 11 seconds back, and Tim Wellens rounded out the top five, roughly 12 or 13 seconds down. The narrow margins kept the top five within a handful of seconds.

It was really hot. And the course was very fast. I was feeling super good. I had good legs, but I didn't suspect I was fighting for the win. I knew I was close, but after the intermediate point I was no longer aware of the times. I just wanted to give everything to the finish. It worked well, I'm super happy to have taken the victory.

Overall standings

With his second stage win of the race, after a solo breakaway on stage one, Pogacar reinforced his grip on the general classification. His lead over Ecuador's Richard Carapaz grew by more than a minute and a half to 4 minutes 22 seconds. Czech rider Mathias Vacek moved up to third, just 5 seconds behind Carapaz. Italian Andrea Bagioli sits fourth at 4:46, and American Brandon McNulty completes the top five at 5:16.

Season so far

The victory in Aarburg is Pogacar's sixth of the 2026 season, adding to his triumphs at Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Tour de Romandie. It is his 119th career win and his ninth in an individual time trial. He is using the Swiss tour to fine-tune his form before defending his Tour de France title in July.

Final mountain stage

Sunday's decisive stage departs from Villars-sur-Ollon and covers 150 km with 4,451 metres of positive elevation gain. The peloton will tackle the Col de la Croix twice in full and twice partially. An attack from Carapaz or Vacek on the climbs could unsettle the overall podium, but Pogacar's cushion looks comfortable. The mountainous finale will crown the successor of Portugal's Joao Almeida.