'Madman on a mission' Tadej Pogacar doing what he wants at 2026 Tour de France - but 'believe the hype' with white jersey holder Paul Seixas

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Tadej Pogacar blasted clear of his rivals with his latest blistering attack during Saturday's Stage 14, leaving the Breakaway team describing him as a "madman" who is "doing whatever he wants" at the 2026 Tour de France.

Why 'unstoppable' Pogacar is like a 'madman on a mission' at Tour de France

Video credit: TNT Sports

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG star is bidding for his fifth yellow jersey triumph and third in a row, and is the runaway favourite to do just that after racking up a 4'30" lead over closest rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) over 14 stages.

Pogacar made a statement in Stage 14 when he burst clear of a group of his closest general classification rivals - including Vingegaard - on the final Category 1 climb to claim his fourth stage win of this year's Tour and 25th overall.

"He's just a madman on a mission," Adam Blythe told The Breakaway on TNT Sports. "It is just incredible, the way that he performs, the way that his team commit to him.

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"It was obvious from as soon as that breakaway went what was going to happen today. We knew, maybe not the outcome, but we all predicted that would happen, and it did.

"He's just an absolute beast of a human, and especially when he rides a bike. The attack that he did today - he surprisingly didn't take that much on the climb, only 15/20 seconds by the top, but it's the power that he held over the top and just kept increasing to the finish.

"For me, the easiest part for Pog to take time on is the climb. He took even more time on the flat and the little rolly downhills to the finish. He's just unstoppable."

TNT Sports pundit Robbie McEwen was intrigued by the timing of Pogacar's attack, coming less than two kilometres from the top of the Col du Haag.

He considered whether it showed the Slovenian superstar was capable of having the best of both worlds by taking the stage win for himself, while also helping team-mate Isaac Del Toro in his bid for the white jersey (for best young rider) and a podium finish.

"It was really interesting to watch the way he went about it," McEwen said. "He let others set the pace, Jonas Vingegaard did a lot of pace-making as well.

Highlights: Pogacar storms to Stage 14 glory with unstoppable attack as Seixas takes white

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It looked like Pogacar had a front-row seat spectating on the battle for second, third, fourth and fifth. He was often looking behind.

"He seemed to maybe be looking at Isaac del Toro. I wonder if his tactic today was a bit of: 'Yes I want to win, but I want to look after Isaac, because he can finish on the podium too', and attack later. Because he's in contention for white.

"He's doing whatever he wants."

'Believe the hype' with Seixas

Del Toro went on to cross the line in second behind his team-mate, but it was not enough for him to claim the white jersey thanks to the efforts of another rider who caught plenty of admiring glances on Saturday.

Paul Seixas came into his maiden Tour facing sky-high expectations thanks to his impressive form in a breakout year and with French fans hoping to see one of their own compete for the yellow jersey.

While the 19-year-old Decathlon-CMA CGM rider is yet to claim a stage win, his performance on Stage 14 saw him climb to fourth in the GC standings, 15 seconds behind Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

He also claimed the white jersey from Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) by three seconds, but the manner of his ride - which saw him catch Vingegaard at the top of the final climb before leaving the decorated Dane behind him in the final few kilometres - left Blythe impressed.

Dominant Pogacar surges to another stage win - 'When he attacks, there is no answer'

Video credit: TNT Sports

"He's the real deal alright - today's ride showed that," Blythe explained. "Riding across to Jonas at the top of that climb, just getting onto him before the top. The kid has got legs, he's got hunger, and he's so young.

"With good legs, you get confidence, because you can keep backing it up. Catching Jonas today, arguably one of the greatest Grand Tour riders of our generation, to catch him on a climb in the Tour de France, he must be absolutely buzzing.

"Believe all the hype because what we're seeing is completely real. He is very, very good."