The battle for the green jersey is getting more and more exciting

Tadej Pogačar may dominate the 2026 Tour de France general classification unchallenged, but the race provided a tactical spectacle of rare intensity on Wednesday, on stage 17 from Chambéry to Voiron. The star of the show? Not the yellow jersey, but the battle for the green jersey , which ignited spirits, legs, and strategies along the 175-kilometer route.

The rules for the points classification were changed this year precisely to prevent Pogačar from monopolizing that classification as well. The result is a continuous, unpredictable battle, full of twists and turns: more points available on designated flat stages, and intermediate sprints often placed early in the stages. A revolution that has transformed every stage into an open duel.

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) is the star of this challenge. The Dane has worn the green jersey practically from the start, ever since he took the stage victory in Foix on the fourth stage. Before stage 17, he had a 31-point lead over Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech). A considerable advantage, but not enough to sleep soundly.

Pedersen had planned the stage to Voiron as a day to win with tactics and aggression. And so he did: repeated attacks, joining a large breakaway, and winning the intermediate sprint. Everything seemed perfect, at least on the surface. The problem? The group with Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel managed to rejoin before the finish line. And after so much energy expended, Pedersen didn't have the legs to match the Dutchman's final acceleration. Philipsen earned 50 points for the stage win and another 6 for the intermediate sprint. Pedersen ended up with 35 points total: 25 for the intermediate sprint and 10 for the finish. The Dane's advantage had shrunk dramatically.

Pedersen didn't hide his disappointment: "It was a bad day, very costly. I'm disappointed. It's a huge loss of points. This battle will go all the way to Paris." These words speak volumes about how open this challenge is.

Looking ahead to the next stages, the situation is getting more complicated for both riders. Reaching the intermediate sprints in the mountain stages will be a real feat. On stage 18, the intermediate sprint arrives after 129 rolling kilometers and three categorized climbs. On stage 19, there are two climbs before the sprint at km 89.4, finishing on Alpe d'Huez. Stage 20, however, seems almost impossible for the sprinters: the legendary Col de la Croix de Fer (hors-category) precedes the sprint at km 66.5.

The real showdown will likely be on the Champs-Élysées , on the final stage to Paris. The intermediate sprint comes after just 71 kilometers, on the third pass over the finish line, before the three-lap climb up Montmartre. There, everything will be decided. Philipsen is faster in a pure sprint, and could be the favorite to take the green jersey. But he'll first have to survive the Alps. A detail that's far from insignificant.