Pogacar Wins Tour de Suisse Time Trial as Van der Poel Fined for Dress Violation

Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar claimed victory in the stage‑4 individual time trial of the 2026 Tour de Suisse, edging Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel by 0.31 seconds. The win extended Pogacar’s overall lead to 4 minutes 22 seconds ahead of Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz and solidified his position atop the general classification.

After posting the fastest time, van der Poel spent an extended period in the “hot seat” and removed his race jersey down to the waist, exposing his torso. The UCI deemed the attire “inappropriate” and imposed a fine of 500 Swiss francs (about €540). Van der Poel reacted on social media with disbelief, saying he “couldn’t believe it” and noting the fine compounded the disappointment of missing the stage win.

Pogacar, speaking after his victory, said he felt “good sensations” and was eager to see how his legs would respond in the decisive mountain stage scheduled for Sunday, describing it as “one of the biggest mountain stages ever.”