France, Italy, Spain all shut out of Tour stage wins for first time

The 2026 Tour de France concluded on Sunday in Paris with Tadej Pogačar claiming a record-tying fifth overall title, but the race also produced a striking historical footnote: for the first time in the event's 113-year history, no rider from France, Italy, or Spain won a single stage across the three-week race.wikipedia+1

A Shutout of Cycling's Traditional Powers

The 21 stages were shared among riders from Slovenia, Mexico, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, and Ecuador. Pogačar won five stages himself, while Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier claimed three, Dutch riders Mathieu van der Poel and Olav Kooij combined for three more, and Belgian Remco Evenepoel took two including the time trial. Ecuador's Richard Carapaz won two mountain stages in the Alps, and Norway's Søren Wærenskjold and Switzerland's Mauro Schmid each took one.wikipedia

France had not been shut out of the stage winners' list since 1999. The combined failure of all three nations — which together have won the majority of stages throughout Tour history — to produce even a single victor had never previously occurred.cyclingweekly+1

Martinez's Near Miss on Alpe d'Huez

Lenny Martinez of Team Bahrain Victorious came closest for France, finishing second on stage 19 to Alpe d'Huez, just six seconds behind Pogačar. The 23-year-old had been part of a breakaway group that appeared poised to contest the victory before Pogačar launched a devastating acceleration inside the final kilometer, setting a new climbing record for the ascent in the process. Martinez parlayed his effort into fifth place overall in the general classification.youtube+3

Spain's best-placed rider was Juan Ayuso in seventh overall, while Italy's highest finisher was Davide Piganzoli in 14th. Julian Alaphilippe, who indicated this would likely be his final Tour, finished well down the standings.wikipedia+1

A Changing of the Guard

The result underscores a broader shift in professional cycling's competitive landscape. The podium featured a Slovenian, a Belgian, and a Mexican — with Isaac del Toro becoming the first rider from Mexico to finish on the Tour podium. Four French riders finished in the top 10 of the general classification, including Paul Seixas in fourth, suggesting the host nation's depth remains strong even as stage victories proved elusive.cyclingweekly+1