Tour de France Stage 4: Century Mark as Pogačar’s Calculated Strike Sets Up Time Trial Showdown

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ROUEN, France (8 July 2025) — In the shadow of Rouen’s gothic cathedral, Tadej Pogačar delivered a masterclass in tactical racing that announced his arrival as the dominant force of the 2025 Tour de France. The Slovenian world champion’s perfectly timed attack on the Rampe Saint-Hilaire not only secured his 100th professional victory but also served notice that his rivalry with Mathieu van der Poel has reached a new level of intensity.

 
The 174.2-kilometer stage from Amiens Métropole to Rouen was always going to be a day of reckoning, with its punchy finale featuring five categorized climbs packed into the final 50 kilometers. What unfolded was a chess match between two of cycling’s most explosive talents, with Pogačar ultimately proving that his rainbow jersey carries the weight of championship form.

08/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 4 – Amiens Métropole / Rouen (174,2 km) – Lenny MARTINEZ (BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS) – Photo © A.S.O.

The Tactical Buildup

The stage began with familiar patterns as Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) launched an early attack immediately after kilometer zero, clearly motivated to salvage something from what had been a difficult opening to his Tour. Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) was quick to respond, with Thomas Gachignard (Total Energies) joining at kilometer five and Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost) completing the quartet at kilometer 19.

08/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 4 – Amiens Métropole / Rouen (174,2 km) – Jonas ABRAHAMSEN (UNO-X MOBILITY) – Photo © A.S.O.

Behind, the yellow jersey’s Alpecin-Deceuninck team, led by the tireless Silvan Dillier, maintained a controlled tempo that kept the break on a tight leash. The tailwind in the opening two hours pushed the escapees to an impressive 46.2 km/h average, but their maximum advantage never exceeded 2’10” – a clear indication that the peloton had no intention of allowing a breakaway victory.

08/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 4 – Amiens Métropole / Rouen (174,2 km) – Thomas GACHIGNARD (TOTALENERGIES) – Photo © A.S.O.

Martinez’s pursuit of King of the Mountains points added an intriguing subplot to the stage. The Spaniard, clearly sensing an opportunity to add to his polka-dot jersey aspirations, dropped his companions on the Côte de Belbeuf to claim maximum points. His solo effort represented the kind of calculated risk-taking that defines Grand Tour racing, though his fate was sealed when Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) led the peloton’s relentless chase on the Côte de Bonsecours.

08/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 4 – Amiens Métropole / Rouen (174,2 km) – Thomas GACHIGNARD (TOTALENERGIES), Jonas ABRAHAMSEN (UNO-X MOBILITY), Kasper ASGREEN (EF EDUCATION – EASYPOST) – Photo © A.S.O.

The Decisive Moment

The real drama began as Visma-Lease a Bike took control heading into the final sequence of climbs. The Dutch team’s positioning of Jonas Vingegaard spoke volumes about their tactical awareness – they understood that the Rampe Saint-Hilaire, with its punishing gradients exceeding 10%, would be where the stage was won or lost.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s response was swift and brutal. João Almeida, serving as the perfect lead-out man, set a blistering pace that immediately shattered the peloton. Then, with 5.5 kilometers remaining and just 300 meters from the summit, Pogačar made his move – a calculated explosion of power that only Vingegaard could initially match.

08/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 4 – Amiens Métropole / Rouen (174,2 km) – Mathieu VAN DER POEL (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) – Photo © A.S.O.

The technical precision of the attack was striking. Pogačar had clearly studied the gradient profiles meticulously, timing his acceleration to coincide with the steepest section where pure power would be the determining factor. Van der Poel, despite his reputation for explosive finishes, found himself momentarily caught off guard by the sheer intensity of the acceleration.

“I didn’t know exactly how long it would be so maybe I could have put in a little bit more towards the top but I think Jonas [Vingegaard] would have been with me anyway, I expected him to follow,” Pogačar explained post-stage. “In a way, it was perfect, because everyone’s legs were tired and the next attacks were not as strong as they would have been.”

The Sprint to History

The regrouping on the descent to the uphill finish created a fascinating dynamic. Eight riders had managed to reconnect with the Pogačar-Vingegaard duo, setting up a reduced sprint that would test different skill sets. Van der Poel, true to his reputation, opened the sprint early, but this time his explosive power wasn’t enough to hold off the world champion’s finishing kick.

The moment captured the essence of what makes Pogačar so formidable – his ability to deliver maximum power when it matters most, regardless of the circumstances. His 18th Tour stage victory and 100th professional win represented more than just statistical milestones; they demonstrated his evolution into a complete rider capable of winning in multiple scenarios.

08/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 4 – Amiens Métropole / Rouen (174,2 km) – Tadej POGAČAR (UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG) – Photo © A.S.O.

“I couldn’t dream for a better finish than today’s,” Pogačar reflected. “To beat one of the best of the world in road cycling, especially in this kind of finishes, and to reach 100 victories, in the Tour de France, with the rainbow jersey, it’s incredible.”

Van der Poel’s post-stage assessment was telling: “On the last climb, he attacked and put me in the red. I could feel my legs burning. We managed to come back, but I was a bit exhausted coming into the finale. I did try to sprint, but I was on my limit and Tadej was simply stronger than everyone.”

Time Trial Implications

The stage result creates a fascinating scenario heading into tomorrow’s individual time trial. While Pogačar and Van der Poel are level on time, the Dutchman retains the yellow jersey due to his superior placings in the opening stages (54 points versus Pogačar’s 92 under the Tour’s placement-based tiebreaker system).

This mathematical quirk adds psychological intrigue to tomorrow’s race against the clock. Van der Poel, realistic about his time trial capabilities against Pogačar, acknowledged the likelihood of losing the yellow jersey: “If I am realistic, I know that I will probably lose it in tomorrow’s ITT, yet it will be a pleasure to ride a time trial in yellow as I did in 2021.”

The tactical implications extend beyond the yellow jersey battle. Pogačar’s demonstration of current form sends a clear message to his rivals that he’s peaking at the right moment. His ability to follow attacks, control the finale, and deliver a decisive sprint suggests a level of completeness that will be difficult to counter in the mountains ahead.

Vingegaard’s third-place finish, eight seconds behind the leading duo, positions him perfectly for the time trial. The Danish champion’s time trial capabilities are well-documented, and his current deficit suggests he could emerge from tomorrow’s test as a genuine contender for the overall victory.

Supporting Cast Delivers

The stage also highlighted the importance of tactical support in modern Grand Tour racing. Almeida’s lead-out work for Pogačar was exemplary, demonstrating the Portuguese climber’s willingness to sacrifice personal ambitions for team success. Similarly, the work of Wellens in the chase phase showed how UAE Team Emirates-XRG has built a support structure capable of controlling races at the highest level.

Jonathan Milan’s intermediate sprint victory and retention of the green jersey provided another tactical subplot. The Italian’s pragmatic approach – “Our goal today was to score as many points as possible in the Intermediate Sprint in order to keep the green jersey, as we knew that the final was a bit too hard for me” – exemplified professional racing’s blend of ambition and realism.

The revelation that Kévin Vauquelin retained the white jersey added a home crowd element to the proceedings. The young Frenchman’s emotional response – “It’s just a dream” – reminded observers that the Tour de France remains cycling’s most emotionally charged competition.

Looking Forward

Tomorrow’s time trial will provide the first major GC shake-up of the 2025 Tour. Pogačar’s current form suggests he’s likely to assume the yellow jersey, but the margins remain tight enough that tactical miscalculations could prove costly. Van der Poel’s acknowledgment that he’ll “try to win again at Mûr-de-Bretagne on Friday” indicates that the battle for stage victories will continue regardless of GC positioning.

The stage served as a reminder that the modern Tour de France rewards versatility above all else. Pogačar’s ability to win in multiple scenarios – from bunch sprints to mountain stages to time trials – makes him the most complete rider in the current peloton. His 100th victory, achieved in the rainbow jersey on French soil, represents a symbolic passing of the torch to a new generation of cycling excellence.

As the peloton prepares for tomorrow’s individual test, the tactical landscape of the 2025 Tour has been fundamentally altered. Pogačar’s calculated strike in Rouen has set up what promises to be a compelling battle for cycling’s greatest prize.

By the Numbers

18: POGAČAR, THE AGE OF MAJORITY
Tadej Pogačar wins his 18th Tour de France stage. He overtakes Jean Alavoine (17) to become the 8th most successful rider. Just ahead of him are Luxembourg’s François Faber (7th, 19 wins) and Nicolas Frantz (6th, 20 wins).

6: ALWAYS A WINNER SINCE 2020
This is the 6th consecutive Tour de France with at least one victory for Tadej Pogačar: three in 2020, 2021, and 2022, two in 2023, six in 2024, and one in 2025. The Slovenian has won in each of his first six Tours. Something previously achieved by André Leducq, Bernard Hinault, Walter Godefroot, Nicolas Frantz, André Greipel, and Eddy Merckx.

100: THE CENTENARY OF POGAČAR
Tadej Pogačar claims his 100th professional victory in Rouen. He is the most victorious rider of the 2025 Tour peloton, ahead of Arnaud Démare (97), Primož Roglič (91), Dylan Groenewegen (77), and Remco Evenepoel (63).

1: FIRST PRIZE FOR MARTINEZ
Present in the breakaway, Lenny Martinez won the combativity award for the first time in his young career. This is his first individual award in the Tour. The Bahrain Victorious team hadn’t won this award since stage 19 of the 2021 edition, with Matej Mohorič.
Lenny Martinez finished first in the Côte de Belbeuf (1.3 km / 9.1%) with an average speed of 22.7 km/h.

9: VAN DER POEL STILL IN YELLOW
Mathieu Van der Poel wins his 9th Yellow Jersey and is 62nd in the standings, along with Jean Majerus, Fiorenzo Magni, and Herman Van Springel, among others. It is also the 84th Yellow Jersey for the Netherlands, the same number as Germany.

2/3: THE GOLDEN TRIO
This is the second time in three days that Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu Van der Poel, and Jonas Vingegaard have finished in the top-3 of a stage, something that had never happened before 2025. Today is the first time that Van der Poel has finished on the podium of a stage without winning it! The two previous times, he won in Mûr-de-Bretagne (2021) and Boulogne-sur-Mer (2025).

18: (ALMOST) ALWAYS TOGETHER
Jonas Vingegaard finishes on the podium of a stage for the 20th time. Guess who was also in that top-3 with him, 18 times? His rival Tadej Pogačar!

17: THE POLKA DOT JERSEY FOR POGAČAR
Tadej Pogačar reclaims the polka dot jersey, which he lost yesterday to his teammate Tim Wellens. This is the 17th time he has won the jersey, making him the 9th best historical performer, along with Peter de Clercq, Laurent Jalabert, and Chris Froome.

24: POGAČAR FOR SLOVENIA
Slovenia records its 24th Tour de France victory. The 12th most victorious country of the race owes this statistic to Tadej Pogačar (18), Matej Mohorič (3), and Primož Roglič (3), who took the first one in 2017.

4: FROM ALAPHILIPPE TO POGAČAR
Tadej Pogačar is the first reigning road race World Champion to win a stage of the Tour de France since Julian Alaphilippe in 2021, four years ago. The Frenchman won the first stage between Brest and Landerneau, his most recent success.


Stage 4 Results (Amiens Métropole > Rouen, 174.2km):

    1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
    2. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 
    3. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) 
    4. Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL)
    5. Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ)
    6. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
    7. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) +3″
    8. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a bike) +3″
    9. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) +7″
    10. Kévan Vauquelin (Arkea – B&B Hotels) +10″

General Classification after Stage 4:

    1. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
    2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +0″ (2nd on countback)
    3. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +8″
    4. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +19″
    5. Kévan Vauquelin (Arkéa -B&B Hotels) +26″
    6. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) +48″
    7. Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) +55″
    8. João Almeida (UEA Team Emirates-XRG) s.t.
    9. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) +58″
    10. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) +1:02″

Current Jersey Holders after Stage 4:

    • Yellow Jersey (Overall Leader): Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
    • Green Jersey (Points Classification): Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
    • Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
    • White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels)

 

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