PONTARLIER, France (26 July 2025) — The morning air in Nantua crackled with anticipation as 160 riders prepared for Stage 20, a 175-kilometer journey through the Jura Mountains to Pontarlier. With the general classification largely settled and only two stages remaining, this was the day for opportunists, attackers, and those still hunting their moment of Tour de France glory.
A Huge Battle for the Breakaway
The race exploded into action the moment the flag dropped at 12:17, with a ferocious battle that raged for over 60 kilometers before any semblance of order emerged. “Today was full gas racing, especially during the first hour – up and down, left and right, under heavy rain,” Tadej Pogačar later described the chaotic opening. “It was pretty dangerous and even the Yellow Jersey could have been at risk at some point.”
Kasper Asgreen of EF Education-EasyPost fired the opening salvo, immediately establishing himself at the front as rain began to fall across the peloton. The Danish rouleur knew these roads intimately, having pulled off a masterful breakaway victory in Bourg-en-Bresse during stage 18 of the 2023 Tour, just 30 kilometers west of today’s start in Nantua. His experience showed as he drove hard through the early kilometers, but the nervous energy in the bunch meant every attack met fierce counter-attacks.
EF Education-EasyPost had clearly identified this stage as a major opportunity. Ben Healy, the Irish climber who had already tasted stage victory earlier in this Tour, launched attack after attack in support of his team’s ambitions. “I spent a lot of this Tour helping Ben [Healy] and I knew last night that today would be one of my chances,” Harry Sweeny later explained about his team’s tactical approach.
Wave after wave of attacks crashed against the front of the peloton. Wout van Aert tried his luck, Julian Alaphilippe surged repeatedly, and riders from across the classification spectrum threw everything into gaining those precious early meters of freedom. Tim Wellens, the former mountains jersey wearer, featured prominently in the action, while young guns and veterans alike sensed opportunity in the chaotic opening hour.
Finally, at kilometer 65, after 60 minutes of relentless combat, the decisive move crystallized. Harry Sweeny, Asgreen’s EF teammate, managed to bridge across to a promising trio of Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike), and Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-B&B Hotels). Nine more chasers successfully made the junction in the chaos that followed, forming a formidable 13-man breakaway.
The final composition read like a perfect blend of climbing specialists, tactical nous, and raw ambition: Pascal Eenkhoorn (Soudal-Quick Step), local hero Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ), the versatile Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), veteran Matteo Trentin (Tudor), Ivan Romeo (Movistar), Simone Velasco (XDS-Astana), French climber Jordan Jegat (Total Energies), Frank van den Broek (Picnic-PostNL), and Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech).
Sweeny Tries His Luck
Behind the newly formed breakaway, Mauro Schmid of Jayco-AlUla found himself with a crucial responsibility. Jordan Jegat’s presence among the escapees posed a direct threat to Ben O’Connor’s 10th place in the overall standings, with just 4’08” separating the two riders. The Swiss national champion took to the front of the peloton, his distinctive jersey visible as he began the delicate task of controlling the gap.
The chase wasn’t without drama. Around kilometer 65, both Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) and Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) found themselves momentarily distanced from the main group, their Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale teammates immediately mobilizing to bring them back. The situation eventually stabilized, but it highlighted the nervous energy still crackling through the peloton.
Schmid’s task became more complicated at kilometer 71 when he crashed on a slippery section of road. The Swiss rider quickly remounted, but the incident briefly disrupted the chase effort. Despite this setback, he regained control and managed to stabilize the gap at 2’30” as the race approached the day’s main challenge: the fearsome Côte de Thésy.
The climb immediately shattered the breakaway’s unity. Jordan Jegat launched a fierce acceleration as soon as the road pitched upward through the 3.6 kilometers averaging 8.9%. The French climber’s attack immediately put pressure on his companions, but Harry Sweeny proved equal to the challenge, grinding his way back to the TotalEnergies rider as they approached the summit.
“When Jegat went on the climb, I thought that he would be very strong but I got to him and he didn’t really have anything to go with,” Sweeny later reflected on this crucial moment. “I sort of knew at that moment it was probably the wrong move.”
At the top of Côte de Thésy, with 54 kilometers remaining to the finish in Pontarlier, Sweeny made his decisive move. The EF Education-EasyPost rider, sensing his moment, dropped Jegat and went solo into the descent. Within minutes, he had opened a gap of 40 seconds to his former breakaway companions, his rainbow bands of Australian national champion clearly visible as he carved through the twisting descent.
For several kilometers, Sweeny’s solo effort looked like it might stick. The Australian maintained his advantage through the technical descent and onto the flatter roads leading toward the final climb. “I did everything that I could to try and make it work,” he later said about his bold move. But cycling’s eternal truth—that one rider rarely beats many for long—began to assert itself. Behind him, the remnants of the breakaway had regrouped and worked systematically to reel him in.
The catch came as the race hit the bottom of the Côte de Longeville, the day’s final categorized climb sitting just 24.1 kilometers from the finish. Ten riders came back together in a dramatic regrouping, though the earlier pace had cost them three casualties: Costiou, Wellens, and Jorgenson had fallen behind and now fought a losing battle to rejoin.
A Dramatic Finale
The Côte de Longeville, despite its modest category 4 classification, proved to be the stage’s decisive battlefield. The racing became increasingly aggressive as the regrouped leaders hit the 2.5-kilometer climb averaging 5.5%. Over the summit, just six riders emerged clear: local hero Romain Grégoire, Ivan Romeo, Simone Velasco, Kaden Groves, Jake Stewart, and Frank van den Broek.
The sense of opportunity felt palpable as this elite group crested the climb with just over 20 kilometers remaining. Grégoire, riding on home roads with thousands of supporters lining the route, immediately accelerated on the technical descent. The Groupama-FDJ rider had waited all day for this moment, and the roar from the crowd reached deafening levels as he opened a small gap.
But the others weren’t finished. Ivan Romeo, the Spanish climber, sensed his own opportunity and launched a counter-attack in pursuit of Grégoire. For a brief moment, it looked like the Movistar rider might bridge across and form a winning duo. Then disaster struck.
With 22 kilometers to go, Romeo hit a slippery corner at speed and went down hard. The crash looked spectacular and immediately ended his stage hopes. Worse still, the incident caught both Grégoire and Velasco in its aftermath, forcing all three riders to scramble back to their feet as precious seconds ticked away.
Through the chaos, three riders had kept their composure and their momentum: Kaden Groves, Jake Stewart, and Frank van den Broek. The trio quickly established themselves at the front as their rivals dealt with the crash aftermath, but the real racing had just begun.
“After the crash [with 22 km to go], there was gap, and Van den Broek went full. I closed that,” Groves later described the pivotal moment. “And then him and Stewart look at each other.”
With 16.5 kilometers to go, the psychological battle began. Stewart and van den Broek, both experienced professionals, began the familiar dance of marking each other. Each rider knew the other was dangerous, each waited for the other to make the first move. Neither wanted to lead out a sprint for the other’s benefit.
“In the finale, I knew Jorgenson and Wellens would look each other so I distanced myself from them,” Groves explained his tactical thinking. The Australian had watched and learned all day, and now he saw his moment. While his two companions continued their tactical standoff, Groves simply rode away.
“I went full for the last 16 km,” he said of his winning move.
The Solo Masterpiece
What followed ranked as one of the most impressive solo performances of the 2025 Tour de France. Groves, drawing on the accumulated experience of six Vuelta stage wins and two Giro victories, began building an advantage that would only grow. Behind him, van den Broek finally realized the danger and began a desperate chase, but the damage was already done.
Stewart, perhaps realizing his tactical error too late, also gave chase, but he was already out of contention for victory. Van den Broek’s pursuit proved valiant but ultimately futile—the gap continued to grow with each passing kilometer as Groves displayed a masterclass in time trialing.
“I didn’t enjoy the final kilometres as much as I would like to,” Groves admitted about the pressure of his solo effort. “I’ve never been in this situation before and with the noise of the crowds, it was quite difficult to hear in the radio. I knew I had about 30, 40 seconds and I just wanted to go to the finish line as quick as possible.”
The final 16 kilometers became a procession toward history. Groves maintained a pace that his pursuers simply couldn’t match, his advantage growing from seconds to nearly a minute. As he entered the final five kilometers, the emotion of the moment began to show on his face. This wasn’t just any stage win—this was his first Tour de France victory, the final piece in a Grand Tour puzzle that would make him only the 114th rider in cycling history to win stages at all three Grand Tours.
Meanwhile, behind the leaders, Pascal Eenkhoorn had ridden a quiet but effective race. The Soudal-Quick Step rider had managed to distance himself from the crash-affected group and steadily made up ground on the fading Stewart.
Emotional Victory
Kaden Groves crossed the line in Pontarlier with arms raised high, tears streaming down his face as the magnitude of his achievement hit home. “Winning in all three Grand Tours is a dream of every rider, and especially in the Tour,” he said through his emotions after the finish. “It’s also my first solo victory, and to do it in the Tour makes it even more special. It’s so many emotions.”
The victory capped a challenging season for the Australian. “It’s been an up and down year, missing the Classics, and that’s why bouncing back in the Giro was super important for me,” he reflected on his path to this moment.
Frank van den Broek rolled in 54 seconds later, his second place a just reward for the strongest chase of the day. Pascal Eenkhoorn claimed the final podium spot at 59 seconds, having timed his effort perfectly to overhaul the fading Jake Stewart in the final kilometers.
For Harry Sweeny, the day ended in disappointment despite his brave solo effort. “I have to say I am very disappointed,” he admitted. “In the end, it’s not what I wanted. If it had been the right moment, with the right rider, then that move would have worked. You never know until you try.”
But the EF rider showed his class in defeat, celebrating his friend’s success: “Kaden [Groves] is one of my best mates so I think tomorrow night in Paris is gonna be good fun. You could see the emotion, Kaden had tears in his eyes crossing the finish line and it’s the opposite for me…”
Despite the disappointment, Sweeny remained philosophical about his Tour performance: “This Tour, I’ve showed people a lot of what I’m capable, but it leaves me hungry for more, for sure.”
Romain Grégoire, the local hero who had animated the finale before his crash, had to settle for fifth place on his home roads—a bitter disappointment but still a result that showcased his fighting spirit. The peloton eventually crossed the line with a gap of over seven minutes, having conceded the stage early in the proceedings.
Team Success and Gratitude
For Alpecin-Deceuninck, Groves’ victory represented perfect tactical flexibility. “I came here to support Jasper [Philipsen] and then we lose him, so we shifted focus to Mathieu [van der Poel],” Groves explained the team’s evolving strategy throughout the Tour. “We had some incredible success at the start of the Tour and the team gave me the opportunity to win a third stage with a third rider, which is something unique also.”
The gratitude in his voice was unmistakable: “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to start the Tour and now I repay them with a win.”
Championship Implications
In the overall standings, Jordan Jegat’s brave ride paid unexpected dividends. The TotalEnergies climber’s presence in the early break and strong finishing kick were enough to leapfrog Ben O’Connor into 10th place overall—a significant achievement for both rider and team.
For the main classification contenders, the stage passed without major incident. Tadej Pogačar maintained his commanding lead, though he remained cautious about claiming victory prematurely. “I am more or less sure of my overall victory, but I still don’t want to say anything about it,” the Slovenian said. “I want to stay focused, along with my team, until I have crossed the last finish line in Paris.”
Florian Lipowitz successfully defended his third place overall and white jersey, describing the day as “a big relief” after expecting “a super hard day.” The German already looked ahead with some concern: “I don’t know how it will be tomorrow but it will be a hard day. I don’t expect it to be a sprint, there will be fireworks on the climb.”
Looking to Paris
As the Tour prepared for its traditional finale on the Champs-Élysées, the green jersey competition remained tantalizingly close to resolution. Jonathan Milan, despite holding a commanding lead, showed the superstition common among athletes: “Call me superstitious, but I prefer to wait until tomorrow before saying that I have won the green jersey.”
The Italian sprinter savored the moment: “This has been a big goal since the beginning of the year, both for me and for my team. I want the achievement to sink in slowly. These last few days have been beautiful for me. I have actually enjoyed them.”
Pogačar, meanwhile, already looked forward to the spectacle of racing through Paris: “It is always a pleasure to ride in such a big, beautiful city like Paris is. That’s one of the most beautiful parts of this sport. We are 180 guys who spend weeks riding in the mountains and in the end, all of a sudden, we come to the streets of one of the biggest cities in the world.”
However, he warned that the final stage might not follow the traditional script: “I am unsure of how the final stage will pan out. It won’t be a Classic, because we come after 20 stages and the course is relatively short, and that will make for a rather punchy effort. We will make plans depending on how we feel after entering the final circuit and assessing the risks we may take. We have guys like me or Jhonatan Narvaez who can go for the win.”
The Perfect Stage
Stage 20 provided the perfect reminder of why the Tour de France captivates millions worldwide. From the hour-long battle for the breakaway in the opening kilometers to Groves’ emotional victory in Pontarlier, it showcased everything that makes cycling’s greatest race so compelling: tactical warfare, individual brilliance, heartbreak, triumph, and the pure unpredictability that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
For Groves, as he prepared to celebrate his achievement, the words said it all: “I’m gonna celebrate this one and enjoy the Champs Élysées tomorrow.” It was a perfect ending to a perfect day—cycling at its finest, with a worthy winner whose tears of joy embodied everything the Tour de France represents.
For the Tour de France, another chapter had been written in its rich history of unforgettable stage victories, one that would be remembered not just for the tactical brilliance of the racing, but for the raw emotion of a dream finally realized.
By the Numbers
114: WINNER IN ALL THREE GRAND TOURS!
Winning a Tour de France stage for the first time, Kaden Groves becomes the 114th rider to have raises his arms in all three Grand Tours. The Australian has won seven Vuelta stages, two Giro stages, and one Tour stage. The 113th to join this list was Tim Wellens thanks to his victory in Carcassone six days ago.
4: ANOTHER “NEO” WINNER
After Jonathan Milan (stages 8 and 17), Thymen Arensman (stages 14 and 19), and Valentin Paret-Peintre (stage 16), Kaden Groves is the 4th Tour newcomer to win this year. Four “neo” becoming Tour winners, like in 2023 (Jai Hindley, Carlos Rodriguez, Félix Gall, Jordi Meeus). He is the 863rd rider to win a Tour stage.
2002: TWO DUTCHMEN ON THE PODIUM
The Dutch riders Frank Van den Broek (2nd) and Pascal Eenkhoorn (3rd) both achieved their 2nd Tour stage podiums. Frank finished 2nd in Rimini last year, Pascal 2nd in Bourg-en-Bresse in 2023. This is the first time there have been two Dutch riders in the top-3 since Plouay 2002, 23 years ago, and the hat-trick of Karsten Kroon, Servais Knaven, and Erik Dekker!
40: AUSTRALIA WINS, AGAIN!
Kaden Groves gives Australia its 40th victory, two days after Ben O’Connor’s triumph at the Col de la Loze. Two wins in three days, a first since 2006, when Robbie McEwen won in Esch-sur-Alzette (July 3), Saint-Quentin (July 5), and Vitré (July 7). The last Tour with two Australian victories was the 2022 edition (Simon Clarke in Arenberg; Michael Matthews in Mende).
14: A NEW WINNER FOR ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK
Alpecin-Deceuninck claimed its 14th Tour victory, but Kaden Groves is only the 4th different rider to lead the team to victory. He joins a list that includes Jasper Philipsen (10 wins with the team), Mathieu van der Poel (2), and Tim Merlier (1). This is the 3rd Alpecin-Deceuninck victory in this Tour – and with 3 different riders – after stages 1 (Philipsen) and 2 (van der Poel).
3: BRAVE AUSTRALIANS
Present in the breakaway and leading the Côte de Thésy, the toughest climb of the stage (category 2), Harry Sweeny received his first combativity award. He’s the third Australian to do it after his compatriots Michael Storer (stage 15) and Ben O’Connor (stage 18). It makes Australia the second country with the most combativity awards, behind France (9).
3: POLKA-DOT JERSEY FOR POGAČAR
There are only 5 points left for the moutains classification. Leader Tadej Pogačar has a 13-point lead over second-place Jonas Vingegaard. By reaching the finish line tomorrow, the Slovenian will win his 3rd polka dot jersey after 2020 and 2021, as many as Eddy Merckx and Julio Jimenez. Richard Virenque (7), Federico Bahamontes (6), and Lucien Van Impe (6) are the only riders to have won this classification more than three times.
80: GREEN JERSEY SECURED FOR MILAN
With an 80-point lead over Tadej Pogacar and 70 points remaining tomorrow, Jonathan Milan is mathematically guaranteed to win the points classification. The Italian still needs to cross the finish line on Sunday to confirm his first green jersey triumph. He would be the 7th different winner in the last seven years (2019-2025), a streak not seen since 2006-2012. Milan can become the first “néo” to win the points classification since Peter Sagan in 2012.
Stage 20 Results
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- Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 4h06’09”
- Frank van den Broek (Team Picnic PostNL) – +54″
- Pascal Eenkhoorn (Soudal Quick-Step) – +59″
- Santiago Velasco (XDS Astana Team) – +1’04”
- Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ) – +1’04”
- Jake Stewart (Israel – Premier Tech) – +1’04”
- Julien Jegat (TotalEnergies) – +1’04”
- Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – +1’04”
- Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +1’04”
- Harry Sweeny (EF Education-EasyPost) – +1’04”
General Classification After Stage 20
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- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – 73h54’59”
- Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) – +4’24”
- Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +11’09”
- Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) – +12’12”
- Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) – +17’12”
- Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) – +20’14”
- Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – +22’35”
- Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +25’30”
- Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) – +28’02”
- Julien Jegat (TotalEnergies) – +32’42”
Jersey Leaders after Stage 20
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- Yellow Jersey (Overall Leader) – Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Green Jersey (Points Classification) – Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
- Polka Dot Jersey (King Of The Mountains) – Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- White Jersey (Best Young Rider) – Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
