Tour de France Stage 7: Pogačar’s Tactical Masterclass at Mûr-de-Bretagne

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MÛR-DE-BRETAGNE GUERLÉDAN, France (11 July 2025) — On cycling’s most storied climbs, legends are forged through suffering and tactical brilliance. Stage 7 of the 2025 Tour de France delivered both in abundance as Tadej Pogačar orchestrated a masterful performance to claim his second stage victory of this year’s race, reasserting his dominance with a display that left rivals gasping in his wake on the brutal 15% gradients that have defined careers and destroyed dreams.

The 179-rider peloton departed Saint-Malo under scorching conditions, with temperatures and aggressive racing creating a cauldron of intensity befitting the iconic Breton finale. From the opening kilometers, the tempo was blistering—an early indicator of the tactical chess match that would unfold on the legendary slopes where Bernard Hinault once ruled supreme.

The Early Skirmishes

The day’s narrative began with characteristic aggression as Wout van Aert, sensing an opportunity to add to his palmarès, launched an immediate sortie alongside Mauro Schmid. The Belgian’s powerful diesel engine and Schmid’s climbing pedigree seemed a formidable combination, but the peloton’s collective intelligence quickly recognized the threat. After just 20 kilometers of freedom, the duo found themselves swallowed by a pack unwilling to grant easy passage to riders of their caliber.

11/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 7 – Saint-Malo / Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (197 km) – Wout VAN AERT (TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE), Mauro SCHMID (TEAM JAYCO ALULA) – Photo © A.S.O.

What followed was a masterclass in controlled aggression, with UAE Team Emirates-XRG dictating terms while allowing just enough rope for a select group to establish themselves. The early pace was nothing short of ferocious—commissaires noted that after one hour, the peloton had already covered 53.7 kilometers, a blistering average that would ultimately favor the strongest climbers when the road tilted skyward.

Neilson Powless, the American climbing specialist, and Valentin Madouas, riding with the weight of French expectations, repeatedly probed the peloton’s defenses. Their attacks, while ultimately unsuccessful, served to fracture the field and elevate the heart rates of riders who would need every ounce of energy for the finale.

The Breakaway Ballet

The eventual breakaway quintet—featuring the experienced Geraint Thomas alongside Alex Baudin, Marco Haller, Ewen Costiou, and Iván García Cortina—represented a carefully curated selection of climbing talent and tactical nous. Thomas, the former Tour winner, brought gravitas and experience; Baudin offered American grit; Haller provided Austrian precision; while García Cortina added Spanish flair to the mix.

11/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 7 – Saint-Malo / Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (197 km) – Geraint THOMAS (INEOS GRENADIERS) – Photo © A.S.O.
11/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 7 – Saint-Malo / Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (197 km) – Ivan GARCIA CORTINA (MOVISTAR TEAM) – Photo © A.S.O.

Yet UAE’s tactical discipline kept the race firmly under control, never allowing the gap to exceed 1’40”. Marc Soler and his teammates rode with the methodical precision of a Swiss timepiece, their tempo calculated to maintain contact while allowing the breakaway riders their moment in the spotlight.

“The peloton didn’t give us much leeway, but we managed our effort well and accelerated when we had to,” reflected one of the escapees later, acknowledging the delicate balance between hope and reality that defines breakaway racing.

Breton Hero’s Moment

As the race approached its climactic finale, the landscape transformed from the rolling countryside of Brittany to the unforgiving slopes that would separate contenders from pretenders. Local hero Ewen Costiou, riding for Arkéa-B&B Hotels, provided the day’s emotional crescendo as he distanced his breakaway companions on the first ascent of Mûr-de-Bretagne.

11/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 7 – Saint-Malo / Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (197 km) – Alex BAUDIN (EF EDUCATION – EASYPOST), Ewen COSTIOU (ARKEA-B&B HOTELS) – Photo © A.S.O.

The sight of Costiou, one of seven Breton riders in the race, powering clear on home soil stirred the thousands of spectators lining the climb. His solo effort, stretching across the summit and into the descent, represented everything beautiful about cycling—a local rider seizing his moment on the sport’s biggest stage.

“Nothing better could have happened to me,” Costiou reflected afterward, his voice thick with emotion. “It was an incredible climb, especially in front of my family, my girlfriend and my friends. I’ll definitely remember it for the rest of my life. I climbed Mûr-de-Bretagne a few years ago with some other young riders at the start of the stage, and now I’ve ridden it at the front of the race!”

The Breton’s advantage proved short-lived—caught with 12 kilometers remaining—but his effort had served its purpose, softening the field and setting the stage for the climactic battle that would follow.

The Crash That Changed Everything

With tension building toward the inevitable explosion, disaster struck with brutal timing. A crash involving João Almeida and Santiago Buitrago with six kilometers remaining sent shockwaves through the peloton, disrupting UAE’s perfect setup and forcing an immediate tactical recalibration.

Almeida, riding in exceptional form and positioned as Pogačar’s key lieutenant for the finale, found himself sprawled on the tarmac, his race potentially over. The Portuguese climber’s absence left a gaping hole in UAE’s strategy, forcing Tim Wellens to assume road captain duties in the most critical phase of the stage.

“Of course, it’s beautiful to be in yellow and win the stage but like Tim just told me, it was a luxury to have João so close in GC,” Pogačar acknowledged later. “It was a good opportunity for him as well. He’s in great shape so I really hope it’s nothing broken and he can continue.”

The crash served as a stark reminder of racing’s cruel unpredictability—one moment of inattention capable of destroying months of preparation and dreams of glory.

The Final Ascent: Tactical Perfection

The decisive moment arrived with devastating simplicity. Despite the disruption caused by Almeida’s crash, UAE’s tactical depth proved decisive. Wellens, the Belgian veteran, seamlessly assumed leadership duties, delivering Pogačar to the base of the final climb with surgical precision.

11/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 7 – Saint-Malo / Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (197 km) – Tim WELLENS (UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG) – Photo © A.S.O.

The atmosphere was electric as the reduced peloton—now just 35 riders—approached the base of the legendary ascent. Visma-lease a Bike had taken control, their distinctive yellow and black jerseys setting a pace designed to splinter the field before their leader, Jonas Vingegaard, could launch his own assault.

“Tim led me out to the bottom of the final climb,” Pogačar explained with characteristic precision. “Normally, João should have been there but I could follow Remco’s slipstream. And then Narváez did a superb job to keep things under control until the sprint.”

The climb itself—2 kilometers at 6.9% average gradient with ramps reaching 15%—represented cycling’s purest form of suffering. As the gradient bit hardest, the pretenders fell away one by one, leaving only the sport’s elite to contest the stage victory.

Pogačar’s acceleration was both predictable and unstoppable. The Slovenian’s rainbow jersey, earned through his world championship triumph, seemed to glow in the afternoon sun as he unleashed his finishing kick. Nine riders remained in contention as the steepest sections approached, but when Pogačar shifted into his highest gear, the outcome was never in doubt.

11/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 7 – Saint-Malo / Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (197 km) – Tadej POGAČAR (UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG) – Photo © A.S.O.
11/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 7 – Saint-Malo / Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (197 km) – Tadej POGAČAR (UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG) – Photo © A.S.O.

Vingegaard, the defending champion, managed to match the initial acceleration but couldn’t sustain Pogačar’s relentless pace. Oscar Onley, the young Briton riding for Picnic PostNL, rounded out the podium with a performance that announced his arrival among cycling’s elite.

Evenepoel’s Honest Assessment

Remco Evenepoel’s performance, finishing sixth on the stage but maintaining second place overall, came with characteristic analytical precision. The Belgian’s tactical intelligence and physical gifts were evident, but the final kilometer exposed the cruel mathematics of elite climbing.

“I wouldn’t say my performance was disappointing, but I would have liked to have fresher legs in the final kilometer—I wish the race had finished under the flamme rouge!” Evenepoel admitted with typical honesty. “It was a great effort by UAE Team Emirates to set up the climb and Tadej’s attack. Just Jonas and I were able to cope with his pace, and that’s one of the many positives to take from today: that I was able to stay with the two best climbers in the world on a very steep hill.”

The Belgian’s pragmatic outlook reflected the tactical patience required in three-week racing. “Afterwards, once we entered the final kilometer, I could feel my legs were full of lactic acid. I lost 12 seconds, bonus included, to Tadej today—yet I don’t care, because next week gaps will be measured in minutes. I’m happy with how things are going.”

Evenepoel’s assessment of the broader tactical picture proved equally insightful. “It’s pretty bad to lose Mattia Cattaneo, because he is my number one bodyguard both in the flat and in the mountains. He made the right call by quitting the race, because he had crashed hard and was feeling some headache. Losing him is yet another reason for us to just follow the super teams, without taking matters in our own hands. Visma and UAE are the ones that decide how the race unfolds. If they want to create chaos, they do. If they want to bring the break back, they can do too. They are just super powerful.”

Van der Poel’s Struggles

Notably absent from the finale was Mathieu van der Poel, the Dutch superstar who had entered the stage in second place overall. The Alpecin-Deceuninck leader, typically explosive on short, punchy climbs, found himself distanced on the steepest sections, eventually finishing 22nd and dropping to fifth overall.

11/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 7 – Saint-Malo / Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (197 km) – Mathieu VAN DER POEL (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) – Photo © A.S.O.

Pogačar’s post-race analysis was telling: “Mathieu and I both know this finish very well, with some nice memories. We wanted the same thing, to win on that iconic climb but I think maybe he left too much energy on the road yesterday to be up there today.”

The observation highlighted cycling’s unforgiving nature—a moment’s tactical misjudgment or physical overreach can cost dearly in the sport’s biggest races.

The Bigger Picture

Pogačar’s victory marked his 19th Tour de France stage win and his 42nd day in the maillot jaune, equaling Jacques Anquetil’s historic tally and placing him fifth in the all-time rankings. More significantly, it demonstrated the Slovenian’s ability to deliver when the race reaches its critical junctures.

“The day went like we planned,” Pogačar noted with characteristic understatement. “We did an amazing job, all the teammates were perfect. It was a hot day, super fast… We spent a lot of energy but we had a plan, we stuck to it, and we won. I can be confident in my sprint, especially with a teammate to set me up.”

The stage also highlighted the ongoing tactical battle between the race’s superpowers. Pogačar’s pointed observation about his rivals proved particularly revealing: “The last two days, it was some strange racing from Visma. Let’s see their approach in the next days. The weekend will be easier and then stage 10 will be a proper hard day of suffering with hot temperatures and lots of climbs all day. There can be some movements but we’ll see then.”

Looking Forward

As the race prepares for the upcoming challenges, Pogačar’s commanding performance at Mûr-de-Bretagne sends an unmistakable message. The rainbow jersey bearer remains the man to beat, combining tactical acumen with an explosive finishing kick that continues to define Tour de France racing at its highest level.

The psychological impact of his victory cannot be understated. By regaining the yellow jersey on the eve of a stage to Laval—where he first claimed the overall lead in 2021—Pogačar has established a narrative of dominance that will weigh heavily on his rivals’ minds in the crucial stages ahead.

By the Numbers

13: POGAČAR 10-3 VINGEGAARD
For the 13th time, Pogačar and Vingegaard finished 1-2 in a Tour stage (in either order). They extend their all-time record. The Slovenian has won 10 of these 13 stages.

19: POGAČAR EQUALS FABER
Tadej Pogačar raises his arms for the 19th time on the Tour. He equals Luxembourg’s François Faber with the 7th most victories. One more and he will move up to 6th place alongside Nicolas Frantz, another Luxembourger and a 20-time winner.

2: KEEP AN EYE ON(LEY)
At just 22 years, 8 months and 28 days, Oscar Onley is the 2nd-youngest British rider to finish in the top-3 of a Tour stage. Only Tom Simpson did it earlier, being 3rd in Malo-les-Bains in 1960 at 22 years, 6 months and 28 days. Tom Pidcock is the youngest British winner at 22 years, 11 months and 14 days (stage 12 of the Tour 2020 in Alpe d’Huez). Onley will beat him if he wins by the end of this edition.

5: A NEW WINNER IN BRITTANY
The 5th finish and 5th different winner at Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan, while the previous winner (Mathieu Van der Poel) was racing. Tadej Pogačar succeeds Cadel Evans (2011), Alexis Vuillermoz (2015), Dan Martin (2018), and Van der Poel (2021). Of these five, only the Australian has gone on to win the Tour after raising his arms here.

2: YOUNGSTERS SHOW THEIR GRIT
After Lenny Martinez in Rouen, Ewen Costiou is the 2nd U23 rider to win the Combative award in this first week of the Tour. The two French youngsters follow the likes of Romain Grégoire (stage 17 in 2024), Quinn Simmons (stage 19 in 2022) and Marc Hirschi (stages 9, 12 and 18, and Super Combative of the Tour 2020) to already make the 2020s the decade where U23 riders have been the most combative. In the 1980s, Philippe Chevallier, Paulo Ferreira, Miguel Indurain, Soren Lilholt and Christophe Lavainne won one combative award each before their 23rd birthday.

2/6: POGAČAR, HIGHER AND HIGHER
Tadej Pogačar is only the third rider to win at least two stages in each of his first six Tours. The other two are Nicolas Frantz (1924-1929) and Eddy Merckx (1969-1975, except in 1973 when he was absent). The Slovenian is also the first reigning road World Champion to win more than one stage since Peter Sagan in 2018 (stages 2, 5, and 13).

4: VINGEGAARD OUT OF THE PODIUM
Jonas Vingegaard sits 4th in the general classification, 1’17” behind Tadej Pogačar, an unusual position after 7 stages. This had only happened to him once before, 4 years ago, in 2021, during his first Tour. The Dane was 11th. His other rankings after 7 stages were 2nd in 2022, leader in 2023, and 3rd last year.

22: COSTIOU SHINES
At 22 years, 8 months and 1 day, Ewen Costiou is the youngest rider to be leading at the summit of the Mûr-de-Bretagne, which he achieved on the first of the day’s two passes, before being caught by the peloton. He beat Laurent Desbiens’ record, who did so at 23 years, 9 months and 20 days (stage 3 in 1993).

7: CHASING VICTORY
Since his last success at Le Lioran on July 10, 2024, Jonas Vingegaard has finished on a stage podium 7 times, without ever raising his arms as the winner! The riders who have won these 7 stages are Tadej Pogačar (6) and Mathieu Van der Poel (1). The Dane has now secured his 21st podium finish in the Tour (4 wins, 11 second-place finishes, and 6 third-place finishes).

62: A SLOVENE RECORD EQUALLED
Primož Roglič has worn the leader’s jersey 62 times in a Grand Tour (11 times in the Tour de France, 9 times in the Giro d’Italia, and 42 times in the Vuelta a España), making him the record holder for Slovenia. A statistic now equaled by his compatriot Tadej Pogačar: 42 times Tour Yellow Jersey, 20 times Giro pink jersey. The absolute record belongs to Eddy Merckx with 200.

53.7: FULL SPEED
The first hour of racing out of Saint-Malo was completed at 53.7 km/h. The highest average speed during the beginning of a stage since the start of this Tour!


Stage 7 Results – Saint-Malo > Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan (178.5km)

    1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 4h 05′ 39”
    2. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-lease a Bike) – s.t.
    3. Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) – +2”
    4. Florian Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) – +2”
    5. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma-lease a Bike) – +2”
    6. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – +2”
    7. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – +2”
    8. Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – +7”
    9. Aurélien Laurance (Ineos Grenadiers) – +15”
    10. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) – +21”

General Classification After Stage 7

    1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 25h 58′ 04”
    2. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – +54”
    3. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – +1’11”
    4. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-lease a Bike) – +1’17”
    5. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – +1’29”
    6. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma-lease a Bike) – +1’34”
    7. Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) – +2’49”
    8. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) – +3’02”
    9. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) – +3’06”
    10. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) – +3’43”

Jersey Holders After Stage 7

    • Maillot Jaune (Overall Leader): Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 25h 58′ 04”
    • Maillot Vert (Points Classification): Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 156 pts
    • Maillot à Pois (King of the Mountains): Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 8 pts
    • Maillot Blanc (Best Young Rider): Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – 25h 58′ 58”
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