CARCASSONNE, France (20 July 2025) — After three grueling days in the Pyrenees that had left the Tour de France peloton battered and stretched, the rolling hills between Muret and Carcassonne promised respite for some and opportunity for others. It was here, on this deceptively difficult 169.3-kilometer stage, that Tim Wellens would finally step out of Tadej Pogačar’s considerable shadow to claim the finest victory of his career.

The Belgian had spent years as one of cycling’s most dependable domestiques, a man whose calendar revolved around ensuring others crossed finish lines first. But with his yellow jersey-wearing leader safely positioned in the bunch, Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) seized his moment with both hands, becoming the 113th rider in Tour history to claim stage victories in all three Grand Tours.

From the moment the flag dropped in Muret, it was clear this would be no ordinary transitional stage. The baroudeurs—those eternal optimists who live for days like these—sensed opportunity in the air. Mauro Schmid of Jayco AlUla and Jonas Abrahamsen of Uno-X Mobility, fresh from their stunning assault on Toulouse just four days earlier, launched the opening gambit. But they were merely the first notes in what would become a symphony of attacks.

Early Drama Sets the Tone

The opening kilometers delivered immediate drama when chaos struck at kilometer 17. A crash in the bunch sent bodies tumbling across the asphalt, and among the fallen were two riders with everything to lose: Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), sitting second overall, and Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), the surprising young German occupying third place.

“The start was super hard, with a lot of stress, and then there was a small crash and I was involved,” Lipowitz would later reflect. “I went down but it’s nothing. I was super happy that the team gave everything to bring me back.”

The sight of Vingegaard and Lipowitz chasing desperately behind a fractured peloton created immediate tension. Twenty-one kilometers behind, and with attackers launching salvos at the front, their Tour ambitions hung in the balance. It would take until kilometer 38—a nerve-shredding 21 kilometers of maximum effort—before they regained contact with the main field.

Meanwhile, at the front, the battle for breakaway inclusion reached fever pitch. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), ever the opportunist, launched himself clear at kilometer 27, immediately drawing a select group of companions. Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike), Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious), and others bridged across, but the selection was far from final. Wave after wave of attacks followed, each threatening to be the decisive move.

The Break Takes Shape

By kilometer 34, fifteen riders had established themselves at the front, but even this configuration proved temporary. The group swelled and contracted like a living organism as riders fought desperately for inclusion. Ineos Grenadiers, determined not to be left out of the day’s action, continued pushing men forward.

“The plan was for any of us to go in the breakaway,” Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) would explain later. “We talked a little bit about me going in but it’s about feeling the race, go with your sensations, depending on what’s happening. It was a really tricky day, especially with the crash in the peloton. That really changed the dynamics of the race.”

The Côte de Saint-Ferréol at kilometer 72.8 provided the first real test, allowing Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), and Storer himself to bridge across. But it was the Sorèze climb at kilometer 86.6 that truly began to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Here, a breakaway within the breakaway emerged as Campenaerts, Wellens, Mohorič, Alexey Lutsenko (Israel Premier Tech), Powless, Simmons, and Storer pushed clear. Behind them, a massive chasing group of 28 riders formed, including such luminaries as Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), and van der Poel—riders whose presence transformed what might have been a straightforward break into something far more complex and dangerous.

The tactical chess match intensified as the kilometers ticked by. Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) managed to bridge from the chase group at kilometer 86, followed by Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) at kilometer 110, and then Alexandr Vlasov (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Warren Barguil (Picnic PostNL) at kilometer 113. Each junction changed the dynamics, each arrival shifted the balance of power in the lead group.

The Decisive Move

The Pas du Sant, cresting with 44 kilometers remaining, would prove to be the stage’s defining climb. Storer, sensing his moment, exploded from the front group on the early slopes. “I needed to go solo on that hard climb,” he would later admit. “It didn’t work out unfortunately. It was quite surprising because I did a really big effort from the bottom.”

Simmons responded first, then Wellens and Campenaerts. The four reached the summit together, their gap over the chasers hovering around the one-minute mark. In the brief valley that followed, they were joined by Vlasov, Lutsenko, Barguil, and Rodríguez, creating an eight-man group that looked destined for a tactical finale.

But Wellens had other plans. The moment the junction was complete, the Belgian struck. It was a move of devastating simplicity—no hesitation, no looking back, just pure acceleration that left his companions floundering in his wake.

“I had to make a decision because I knew I wouldn’t win if I finished in a small group,” Wellens explained. “I think Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) knew that we were the two strongest riders, so it was better to attack him on a section that was still climbing a little.”

A Leader’s Pride

Back in the peloton, Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) watched his domestique’s escape unfold with barely contained pride. The Slovenian had entered this Tour with singular focus—to defend his yellow jersey at all costs. Seeing one of his most loyal servants finally claim his moment in the sun stirred emotions that even stage victories of his own rarely evoked.

“I am so happy that Tim has won,” Pogačar said, his voice carrying genuine warmth. “He’s one of my best domestiques throughout the year. He works so hard in the classics, and during the training camps, and this month too for me to keep the Yellow Jersey. It was amazing to follow the last 45 kilometers of stage over the team radio as he was gaining time on his chasers. I am happier with his win than I feel when it’s me winning.”

The yellow jersey wearer also offered insight into the tactical nuances that had played out behind the early crash. “I knew Jonas had been caught behind, so both me and Tim tried to calm things down for him and the rest of the guys to bridge back,” he revealed. “The breakaway was being set up, and there were three Visma guys at the front. I was happy for one or two of them to go clear, but not all three of them—so I decided to always chase down the third guy.”

It was a telling admission of the psychological warfare that operates even within supposedly straightforward breakaway stages. Pogačar’s tactical acumen extended far beyond the mountains, encompassing every aspect of race control.

The Final Kilometers

As Wellens powered toward Carcassonne, his advantage grew steadily. Behind him, the chase group had reformed, but internal politics and tactical considerations prevented any coordinated pursuit. With two kilometers remaining, Campenaerts launched a desperate bid for second place, his late attack earning him a 28-second gap over the field sprint that would determine the final podium positions.

Alaphilippe, the eternal showman, timed his effort perfectly to claim third, ahead of van Aert and a host of other disappointed opportunists. The main peloton, led home by the sprinters’ teams, crossed the line six minutes later—a gap that spoke to both the commitment of the early break and the calculated disinterest of the overall contenders.

For Wellens, the victory represented the culmination of years of selfless service and tactical patience. “Obviously, it’s my best victory,” he said, the Belgian champion’s jersey on his shoulders adding extra significance to his triumph. “There’s nothing better than winning a stage of the Tour de France, and it means even more with the Belgian champion’s jersey.”

Looking Ahead

As the Tour de France headed into its final rest day, the complexion of the race remained largely unchanged. Pogačar’s grip on yellow remained secure, his 4:13 advantage over Vingegaard providing a comfortable buffer heading into the final week’s Alpine challenges.

“The second week usually features the easier mountains, and is prone for breakaways to succeed,” Pogačar reflected. “This year’s, though, has been the toughest I’ve ever ridden because of the conditions and the terrain. I’m happy with how things stand and the gaps are already big, but we can’t relax—there are seven days to go.”

Lipowitz, despite his early crash scare, maintained his hold on third place and the white jersey of best young rider. “For sure I’m surprised. I came here without any goal and being up there is incredible,” the German said. “I’m super happy and I hope I’ll have the same legs for the third week.”

In the points classification, Jonathan Milan retained his green jersey despite a difficult day. “I took the start with the goal of claiming as many points as possible for the green jersey,” the Italian explained. “I tried and followed many attacks, but it was too much for me. The terrain was pretty tough and the temperature didn’t help either.”

Meanwhile, Lenny Martínez clung to his polka-dot jersey as King of the Mountains, though his eight-point advantage felt precarious with Mont Ventoux looming on the horizon. “Now my biggest dream is to bring the polka dot jersey back to Paris,” he said. “I have an eight-point lead, which isn’t much, and I think Pogačar will win quite a few more stages, so I’ll need to score points in the breakaways.”

As the riders dispersed to their hotels for a well-earned rest, Wellens’ victory served as a reminder that even in an era of supreme Grand Tour dominance, cycling’s capacity for surprise and emotion endures. Sometimes the most meaningful victories come not from the superstars, but from those who serve them—loyal soldiers who, when their moment arrives, prove they were champions all along.

By the Numbers

113: VICTORIOUS AT ALL THREE GRAND TOURS
By winning a Tour de France stage for the first time, Tim Wellens becomes the 113th rider to have won at all three Grand Tours. The Belgian has twice triumphed at the Giro (stage 6 in 2016, stage 4 in 2018) and the Vuelta (stages 5 and 14 in 2020). The 112th to join this list was another Belgian, Wout van Aert, after winning a Giro stage last May.

109: EXPERIENCE MADE THE DIFFERENCE
At 34 years, 2 months, and 10 days, Tim Wellens is the 861st different Tour winner, and more importantly, the 17th oldest rider to win for the first time. He was participating in his 109th stage today, and had never achieved a single top-10 finish. His best result was a 13th place in 2017 (stage 3). Having joined the Tour in 2015 with the Lotto-Soudal team, before joining UAE Emirates XRG, Wellens has showed his attacker skills during his six participations.

55: FIRST FRENCH PODIUM WITH “ALAF”
In third place, Julian Alaphilippe is the first Frenchman on a stage podium this year. He also achieved his first podium finish since the first stage of the Tour 2021, won in Landerneau. A long wait of 55 stages, or 4 years and 24 days (1,485 days).

43: TIM THE ATTACKER
Tim Wellens launched his attack with 43 kilometers to go. One kilometer further than Ben Healy’s run to Vire-Normandie (stage 6), making it the longest solo victory of this Tour. Specific to this rider, who had also escaped with 41 kilometers to go when he won his Belgian national title in Binche on June 29.

3/4: THE LORDS OF CARCASSONNE
Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe (3rd) prevented Belgium from achieving a hat-trick. With Tim Wellens (1st), Victor Campenaerts (2nd), and Wout van Aert (4th), three Belgians finished in the top-4. Unprecedented since the 9th stage of the Tour 2018 in Roubaix (Greg Van Avermaet 2nd, Yves Lampaert 3rd, Philippe Gilbert 4th). The Belgian Wellens-Campenaerts 1-2 isn’t the first in Carcassonne: when the Tour last came here in 2022, Jasper Philipsen won ahead of Wout van Aert!

5/10: YOUNG ANG STRONG
With Florian Lipowitz (3rd), Oscar Onley (4th), Kévin Vauquelin (5th), Carlos Rodriguez (9th), and Ben Healy (10th), five riders of the young classification are in the top 10 of the general classification before the second rest day. Last year, four young riders finished the Tour in the top 10 (Remco Evenepoel 3rd, Carlos Rodriguez 7th, Matteo Jorgenson 8th, Santiago Buitrago 10th). It was a first!

33: VETERANS’ RESISTANCE
Tim Wellens, Victor Campenaerts and Julian Alaphilippe have a combined average age of 33 years and 255 days. This is the 9th oldest stage podium in history. A fact that contrasts with the one cited just above!

8: KEEP AN EYE ON JEGAT
Of all the riders who emerged from the peloton today, Jordan Jégat was the highest-placed in the general classification (11th). The Frenchman has made a good impression over the first two weeks. Finishing 8th, he earned his first top-10 finish in 2025 and improved on his previous best Tour result (9th, stage 17 in 2024).

1: STORER THE FIGHTER
Michael Storer is awarded his first combativity prize, which is also the first for the Tudor team, a newcomer to the Tour peloton. The Australian had already given the team its first stage podium by finishing 3rd in Vire Normandie (Stage 6) ten days ago.

5: BELGIAN PARTY
Tim Wellens took Belgium’s 5th victory in this Tour, as many as in 2021, 2023, and 2024. There have also been 6 in 2022. This makes 5 consecutive Tours in which Belgium has won at least 5 times. It’s the most victorious country over the last 5 years (26, compared to 21 for Slovenia), for a total of 495 victories. 

Stage 15 Results

1. 1. Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 3:34:09
   2. Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +1:28
   3. Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – +1:36
   4. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +1:36
   5. Axel Laurance (Ineos Grenadiers) – +1:36
   6. Alexandr Vlasov (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +1:36
   7. Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) – +1:36
   8. Julien Jégat (TotalEnergies) – +1:36
   9. Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost) – +1:36
   10. Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) – +1:36

General Classification After Stage 15

1. 1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 54:20:44
   2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +4:13
   3. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +7:53
   4. Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) – +9:18
   5. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – +10:21
   6. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +10:34
   7. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) – +12:00
   8. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) – +12:33
   9. Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) – +18:26
   10. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) – +18:41

Jersey Standings after Stage 15

• • 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) – Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
  • White Jersey (Best Young Rider) – Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
  •  

Dutch climber holds off yellow jersey in stunning solo raid through the Pyrenees

LUCHON-SUPERBAGNÈRES, France (19 July 2025) — In the theatre of the Pyrenees, where legends are forged and dreams are shattered, Thymen Arensman wrote himself into Tour de France folklore with a performance of breathtaking audacity and tactical perfection. The 24-year-old Dutchman, riding his maiden Tour for Ineos Grenadiers, held off the mightiest mountain train in professional cycling for 37 kilometers of pure suffering to claim victory atop Superbagnères.

Behind him, the script unfolded as expected: Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard trading vicious attacks in the rarified air of the final climb, the Slovenian ultimately prevailing by four precious seconds to extend his yellow jersey advantage. But on a day when cycling’s two titans were expected to deliver the decisive blow, it was Arensman who authored the most compelling chapter.

The final Pyrenean stage arrived with the weight of expectation. Four major cols—Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde, and the summit finish at Superbagnères—promised 4,950 meters of elevation and 182 kilometers of unforgiving terrain. With 170 riders remaining after Bryan Coquard’s withdrawal due to a hand injury, the peloton assembled in Pau under threatening skies.

The drizzle that greeted the riders seemed an ominous portent. This was terrain that could reshape the entire Tour, and every team knew it. UAE Team Emirates-XRG controlled proceedings early, content to let the break form while keeping Pogačar safely positioned. Visma-Lease a Bike and Lidl-Trek also showed their hands early, the latter keen to position Jonathan Milan for the intermediate sprint despite the mountainous profile.

The first cracks appeared even before the mountains proper. At kilometer 53, Mattias Skjelmose of Lidl-Trek suffered a heavy fall that would end his Tour, the Danish climber forced to abandon his hopes on the roadside. It was an early reminder of cycling’s cruel lottery, where months of preparation can evaporate in a single moment of misfortune.

More shocking still was the sight of Remco Evenepoel dropping from the yellow jersey group on the opening slopes of the Tourmalet. The Belgian, third overall and considered a genuine podium threat, simply couldn’t match the pace set by UAE Team Emirates-XRG. His Tour would end in abandonment, another reminder of the ruthless arithmetic of Grand Tour racing.

“It’s sad that Remco Evenepoel had to quit the Tour,” Pogačar would reflect later. “I don’t know what happened exactly to him, but we were talking yesterday about how he shouldn’t get carried away by all the media surrounding him and focus on the moment instead. In cycling, you never know how you are going to wake up—or, as a matter of fact, when you will be fighting for the Tour de France podium again. I send him my best regards and hope he will recover quickly.”

The Break Takes Shape

As the Tourmalet’s slopes began to bite, the race’s narrative crystallized. A strong group featuring Arensman, Lenny Martínez in the polka dot jersey, Ben O’Connor, and several others had escaped, followed by a larger chase group containing dangerous names like Sepp Kuss and Simon Yates.

Martínez, the young Spaniard who had made the mountains classification his own, seized his moment with characteristic aggression. The Bahrain Victorious rider went solo for the final six kilometers of the Tourmalet, cresting with a lead of 1’45” over his closest pursuers and 3’30” over the yellow jersey group. The roar from the roadside crowds was deafening as the polka dot jersey disappeared into the mist, but behind him, the UAE locomotive was beginning to stir.

“In the Tourmalet, I managed not to go into the red, and it was incredible to do that climb alone with the polka dot jersey and all those people cheering me on,” Martínez would later explain. “We had a plan at the start this morning and we achieved it almost 100%. I wanted to take all the points except for the finish, and in the end I didn’t manage to get through at the front at Peyresourde, but I still took second place because Arensman managed to break away on his own. I didn’t have much left in my legs. I would have loved to win this stage, but I can see that there are more experienced riders who manage to be stronger at the end than at the start of the stage.”

But the Tourmalet was merely the opening act. On the descent and over the Col d’Aspin, the race’s dynamics shifted constantly. Martínez maintained his lead initially, but the pursuit from Kuss and Valentin Paret-Peintre materialized exactly as feared. The mathematics were brutal: every second counted, and the chasers had numbers. By the bottom of the descent to Arreau, the polka dot jersey had been caught, swallowed by the inevitable logic of pursuit racing.

The regrouping was swift and decisive. Eight riders entered the Col de Peyresourde together, but tensions were rising. Everyone knew this was the crucial moment—the last chance to gain time before the brutal finale at Superbagnères. The group eyed each other warily, calculating odds and measuring reserves.

Arensman’s Masterstroke

It was here that Arensman made his defining move. With 4.5 kilometers to the summit, the Dutchman attacked with the kind of explosive acceleration that separates the very good from the great. No words, no warning—just pure, devastating pace that split the breakaway like a thunderclap.

“When I heard the gap with the GC group on Peyresourde, I thought 3 minutes against Tadej [Pogačar] and Jonas [Vingegaard] was not enough, so I had to move,” Arensman explained. “Maybe it would prove to be suicide but I had to try. I can’t believe I pulled it off.”

Crossing the Col de Peyresourde with a 1’20” advantage over his breakaway companions and 3’30” over the yellow jersey group, Arensman faced the most daunting 37 kilometers of his professional career. Behind him, UAE Team Emirates-XRG had finally roused themselves for the chase, the distinctive white and black jerseys stringing out the peloton as they sought to limit the damage. The sight was terrifying: cycling’s most efficient machine in full pursuit mode.

The mathematics were brutal. Arensman, talented as he was, would have to maintain his advantage over two of the greatest Grand Tour riders of the modern era across terrain that had destroyed countless dreams before. The final climb to Superbagnères rose 1,804 meters, with sections touching 10% gradient—a merciless judge of condition and character.

Radio chatter filled the airwaves. Time gaps fluctuated wildly. The lone leader’s advantage began to erode as the chase intensified behind him. Three minutes became two and a half. Two and a half became two. The pressure was suffocating.

“I was fading on the second part of the climb but the spectators gave me extra watts,” Arensman would admit, his honesty as refreshing as his performance was remarkable.

The Titans Collide

Behind the lone leader, the GC battle unfolded with predictable intensity. Felix Gall launched the first significant attack with eight kilometers remaining, a move that served notice of the Austrian’s ambitions but failed to gain meaningful distance. The temperature rose immediately. This was the moment everyone had waited for.

The real fireworks began when Vingegaard made his bid four kilometers later, the Dane finally showing the form that had made him a two-time Tour winner. His acceleration was violent, sudden—the kind of move that has decided Tours. For a moment, it seemed the race might explode.

Pogačar’s response was immediate and emphatic. The Slovenian covered every move, his poker face betraying nothing of the effort required to match his rival’s accelerations. When Vingegaard attacked again, Pogačar was there. When the Dane surged once more, the yellow jersey held firm. It was a masterclass in tactical racing, but the tension was unbearable.

“Jonas [Vingegaard] tried today, and he was really good indeed. Actually, I was expecting him to attack a bit earlier,” Pogačar reflected. “Once I shut down his two moves, I realized I didn’t have the firepower to counterattack and go all in to the finish. This is why I chose to control the stage, stay on his wheel and then sprint at the finish. We have had a few mountain stages already, and this is probably the strongest I’ve seen him in the Pyrenees. I’m sure he will keep attacking me in the Alps.”

The final acceleration came in the closing meters, Pogačar finding that extra gear that has defined his career. The gap was small—just four seconds—but decisive. More importantly, the psychological impact was enormous. Once again, when the moment demanded it most, Pogačar had found a way to win.

“We came close to a stage win, but Thymen Arensman was really strong today and he fully deserved this victory – hats off to him,” Pogačar admitted. “We can be happy and satisfied with the Pyrenees. Today we did a super stage, riding at our own pace all day long with an incredible Nils Politt. It was a super hard day because of the weather and the climbs. Furthermore, the break didn’t go until the Tourmalet, and that meant the first 70 kilometers were super fast. Later on, the downhills were a bit scary – especially the Tourmalet.”

A changing classification brought new stories. Florian Lipowitz, the young German climbing sensation, rode himself into third place overall and claimed the white jersey in the process. The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider finished fifth on the stage, but his consistent high-level performance has positioned him as a genuine podium contender.

“When I came to the Tour, I never thought about being on the podium or fighting for the podium,” Lipowitz admitted. “I knew I am in a good shape and now I’m third and I have the white jersey, I can only be happy. We are a team and we discuss things together. So far, I’ve showed that I’m in a good shape but Primož [Roglič] is the leader. We are super close. He will tell me what to do and what’s the plan for the coming days. He showed yesterday in the TT that he can perform really good and I believe that he is a guy for the third week and for sure we’ll see something great from him. It was sad to hear [about Remco Evenepoel retiring from the Tour]. He was one of the main favourites for the podium. I feel sorry for him but we need to focus on our ambitions. The team’s goal is to be on the podium of the Tour, and we have to see who will be fighting for it, Primož or me. Two weeks are almost done but everyone knows the third week is the hardest. The stages look very tough with a lot of climbing. We have to see how the legs are. I hope they stay the same.”

The Dream Realized

For Arensman, crossing the line at Superbagnères represented the culmination of a lifetime’s work. His maiden Tour participation had already exceeded expectations with second place at Le Mont-Dore, but this victory elevated him to an entirely different level. The emotion was overwhelming—tears mixed with sweat as the magnitude of his achievement sank in.

“I can’t really believe it. To be honest, I just wanted to experience the Tour, the biggest race in the world, after some good results in the Giro and the Vuelta,” he reflected. “Now, to win a stage in my first Tour, and to do it this way, it’s unbelievable, crazy. I was already at the Giro this year, and I got sick after the race. I still had a good preparation for the Tour. I had to be patient in the first week, waiting for the mountains. And on the first opportunity, I was 2nd at Le Mont-Dore, which was already an amazing experience in my first Tour, but this is unbelievable. I just had amazing legs. I have the shape of my life.”

The victory was built on patience and precision, but delivered with breathtaking courage when the moment demanded it.

As the Tour prepares to leave the Pyrenees and enter its final, decisive week, the battle lines have been clearly drawn. Pogačar holds a commanding 4’13” advantage over Vingegaard, but the Alps remain—and cycling history is littered with races that changed dramatically in the final week. The Slovenian’s dominance has been impressive but not overwhelming, and the hunger in Vingegaard’s eyes suggests this fight is far from over.

For riders like Arensman, moments like these justify every sacrifice, every training camp, every moment of suffering that brought them to this point. In a sport often dominated by predictable outcomes, the unexpected can still triumph, and dreams can still become reality on the mountains of France. But the question remains: can anyone truly resist Pogačar’s rule, or was this simply a beautiful anomaly in an inevitable coronation?

By the Numbers

1: ARENSMAN NEW WINNER
After finishing 2nd at Puy de Sancy five days earlier, Thymen Arensman finally triumphed in Superbagnères, claiming his first Tour victory and his 4th professional victory. He is the 68th Dutchman to win and gave the Netherlands their 169th victory, their second of the year after Mathieu van der Poel’s in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

41: INEOS ENDS ITS LONGEST DROUGHT!
Winning for the 22nd time, the Ineos Grenadiers team had not won a Tour stage since July 15, 2023, when Carlos Rodriguez conquered stage 14 in Morzine. A drought of two years and 41 stages, the team’s longest period without a victory. Before that, the previous “record” was 35 stages without winning: from stage 17 of the Tour 2020 to stage 11 of the Tour 2022, before Tom Pidcock’s success at L’Alpe d’Huez.

5: LIPOWITZ DOESN’T STOP
Ranked 3rd in Hautacam, 4th in Peyragudes, and 5th today, Florian Lipowitz has achieved a third consecutive top-5 finish. He is the first German to do so since sprinter André Greipel in 2012, 13 years ago! At 24, Lipowitz is also the first German to lead the young rider classification since Marcel Kittel in 2013 (stage 1).

3: A GENERAL CLASSIFICATION TOP-3 RETIRING
The leader of the young rider classification before the stage, Remco Evenepoel, is the first white jersey to abandon the race since Tom Dumoulin in 2015 (stage 3). The Belgian was also 3rd in the general classification, and this is the first time a podium rider has to leave the Tour since 2017. At that time, Geraint Thomas, who was second, crashed and abandoned on the road to Chambéry (stage 9).

22: THE “GIANT” FOR A YOUNG RIDER
At 22 years and 8 days, Lenny Martinez is the second youngest rider in history to conquer the Col du Tourmalet, after René Vietto in 1934 (20 years, 5 months, and 6 days). This achievement contributed to his reconquest of the polka dot jersey, which he won for the third time.

8: FRENCH FIGHTERS
Leading the race for over 70 kilometers, Lenny Martinez received the combativity award for the second time after winning it on stage 4. This is the 8th time a French rider has been awarded this year (Mattéo Vercher x2, Bruno Armirail x2, Lenny Martinez x2, Ewen Costiou, Mathieu Burgaudeau). The last time it happened was in 2013 (Jérome Cousin x2, Blel Kadri, Romain Bardet, Julien Simon, Sylvain Chavanel, Christophe Riblon, Pierre Rolland).

88: LEGENDARY PEAKS
Three peaks on today’s stage are among the four most climbed in the Tour history: the Col du Tourmalet (1st, 88th times today), the Col d’Aspin (2nd, 77 times), and the Col de Peyresourde (4th, 72 times). Frenchman Lenny Martinez dominated the first two, before Thymen Arensman became the second Dutchman to lead at Peyresourde. The first was Steven Rooks in 1988, 11 years before the day’s winner was born.

10: THE GREENEST OF THE ITALIANS
Still leading the points classification after winning the intermediate sprint at Esquièze-Sère, Jonathan Milan took his 10th green jersey. This is a new record for an Italian rider, although Italians have already won this classification: Franco Bitossi in 1968, Alessandro Petacchi in 2010.

1-2: THAT AVENIR PODIUM
This isn’t the first time that Thymen Arensman and Tadej Pogacar have shared the top-2 places in a ranking. They also finished 1st and 2nd in the Tour de l’Avenir 2018. A quite representative name for the race, as “Avenir” means “Future”!

163: DOWN TO THE DAY
Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Florian Lipowitz, Oscar Onley, are Kévin Vauquelin: the general classification top-5 has an average age of 25 years and 163 days. Last year, the general classification top-5 after stage 14 had… exactly the same average age! The five riders were Pogacar, Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, Joao Almeida, and Carlos Rodriguez. Lipowitz, Onley, and Vauquelin are also the three riders of the best young rider podium.

Stage 14 Results

1. 1. Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) 4h53’35”
   2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) +1’08”
   3. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +1’12”
   4. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +1’19”
   5. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +1’25”
   6. Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) +2’09”
   7. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) +2’46”
   8. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +2’46”
   9. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) +2’59”
   10. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) +3’08”

General Classification After Stage 14

1. 1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) 50h40’28”
   2. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +4’13”
   3. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +7’53”
   4. Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) +9’18”
   5. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) +10’21”
   6. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +10’34”
   7. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +12’00”
   8. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) +12’33”
   9. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) +18’41”
   10. Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) +22’57”

Jersey Leaders after Stage 14

• • 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) – Lenny Martínez (Bahrain Victorious)
  • White Jersey (Best Young Rider) – Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)

PEYRAGUDES, France  (18 July 2025) – In the rarefied air of the Pyrenees, where legends are forged and dreams shattered, Tadej Pogačar delivered another masterclass in mountain dominance. The Slovenian champion’s victory in Stage 13’s uphill time trial to Peyragudes wasn’t just a win—it was a statement of intent that may have sealed the fate of this year’s Tour de France.

Twenty-four hours after his commanding performance at Hautacam, Pogačar returned to familiar terrain at Peyragudes, where he had claimed victory in 2022. This time, however, the 26.2-kilometer uphill time trial would test not just his climbing prowess but his ability to suffer alone against the clock. The answer came emphatically: 23 minutes flat, averaging an astonishing 28.4 km/h up gradients that would humble most mortals.

“I’m super happy,” Pogačar said, still catching his breath after dismounting from his road bike—a tactical decision that would prove crucial. “This time trial was quite a big question mark already in December for me. I wanted everything to be perfect and the team delivered.”

The stage began with the usual suspects fighting elimination, their primary concern surviving the 40% time cut—mercifully extended from the originally planned 33%. Matteo Vercher set the early benchmark at 30:01, quickly bettered by Jordi Meeus (29:32) and Roel van Sintmaartensdijk (29:12). Young climber Lennert Van Eetvelt became the first to break the 28-minute barrier with 27:49, but it was Luke Plapp who truly seized control.

The Australian champion’s combination of rouleur power and climbing ability—qualities he had showcased with his sixth-place finish at Paris-Nice in 2024—proved formidable. His time of 24:58 represented a quantum leap in performance, setting a mark that seemed untouchable as the genuine contenders prepared for their efforts.

Lenny Martinez, hunting King of the Mountains points for Bahrain Victorious, appeared to be flying up the early slopes, trailing by just nine seconds at the intermediate check. But the Pyrenees are unforgiving, and the young Frenchman’s legs betrayed him on the steepest pitches, crossing the line 23 seconds adrift. Adam Yates suffered a similar fate, looking competitive through the middle sections before losing 17 seconds in the final accounting.

Pogačar’s Masterpiece

As the general classification contenders launched their efforts, the tactical implications became clear. Matteo Jorgenson managed a respectable ride, finishing five seconds behind Plapp, but it was Primož Roglič who first cracked the Australian’s time. The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe leader’s performance—1:20 back from what would be the winning time—demonstrated the Slovenian veteran’s enduring class, finishing 36 seconds clear of teammate Florian Lipowitz.

But all eyes were on the yellow jersey. Pogačar’s decision to race without radio communication spoke volumes about his confidence and tactical approach. “I really wanted to go all out from start to finish, smashing the pedals as much as possible,” he explained. “I almost blew out in the end but I saw the time on the finish arch and it gave me an extra push because I saw I was gonna win.”

The world champion’s ride was poetry in motion, each pedal stroke a verse in his Tour de France opus. At the first time check, he held a five-second advantage—modest but encouraging. By the second intermediate, that gap had grown, confirming what many suspected: Pogačar was riding into another dimension.

“Basically, it was all on instinct,” he revealed. “I decided to go without radio because the tactics was all out from the start to the finish. I saw at the first time check I was 5 seconds in green. At the second one, the gap was a bit bigger so I knew I was on a good pace.”

The equipment choice proved crucial. While many expected the Slovenian to opt for a time trial bike, he stuck with his road machine—the same setup he had ridden for the previous twelve stages. “This was the biggest decision to make: which bike to ride today,” Pogačar acknowledged. “Obviously, we race on the road bike most of the year, like 99% of the time. We did some calculations and I decided to be more comfortable, riding with the same bike as the last 12 stages, and it worked out for me.”

Jonas Vingegaard, the defending champion and Pogačar’s primary rival, produced a valiant effort that would have won most time trials. His 23:36 represented exceptional climbing against the clock, but in the context of this Tour de France, it felt like capitulation. The 36-second gap extended Pogačar’s overall advantage to 4:07—a margin that feels increasingly insurmountable with each passing stage.

Evenepoel’s Tour Continues to Unravel

For Remco Evenepoel, the day represented another chapter in a Tour that has steadily unraveled. The Belgian’s 12th-place finish, 2:39 behind Pogačar, dropped him to 7:24 in the general classification and raised serious questions about his form.

“I didn’t have the legs I wanted,” Evenepoel admitted, his frustration evident. “Everything was fine on the flat, but after three or four minutes on the climb, I felt empty. I have no explanation. I warmed up as I usually do and felt good this morning. In the end, I felt really bad and it was a very poor performance. I really wasn’t expecting it.”

The Road to Superbagnères

The tactical implications ripple through the race’s remaining stages. With Pogačar now holding 21 Tour stage victories—nine of them in the Pyrenees—and having dominated the last six finishes atop Category 1 or HC climbs, his rivals face an increasingly desperate situation.

“So far, so good,” Pogačar said with characteristic understatement. “We’re just a bit over halfway now and it’s still a long way to Paris but if we keep riding like this and don’t do any mistake, then we can be satisfied with this margin.”

His assessment of Vingegaard remained respectful but confident: “[Jonas Vingegaard] was good today. He will not give up and if he has good legs he will try everyday. I need to fight with good legs until the end. It’s still a big fight until Paris.”

The Pyrenees bid farewell with Saturday’s Stage 14 to Luchon-Superbagnères, a summit finish steeped in Tour de France lore. The 12.4-kilometer climb at 7.3% gradient was the scene of Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond’s epic battle in 1986, and Robert Millar’s victory in 1989. With four major ascents and 4,950 meters of elevation gain, it promises to be a festival of attacking cycling.

The question now is whether Pogačar’s dominance has crushed his rivals’ spirits or merely delayed their most desperate gambits. With less than a minute separating third through sixth overall, the battle for the final podium spot remains fierce. But at the top, one man appears to be riding his own race, turning the Tour de France into a procession of his own making.

In claiming his 46th yellow jersey, Pogačar hasn’t just won a stage—he’s potentially won the Tour de France. The only question remaining is whether anyone can find the legs and the courage to prove him wrong.

By the Numbers

4/21: TIME TRIAL BOSS
Winner of his 4th Tour individual time trial, Tadej Pogačar raises his arms for the 21st time in the race. He surpasses Luxembourg’s Nicolas Frantz as the 6th rider with the most wins, and is now only one behind Frenchman André Darrigade. This is the second time he has achieved 4 wins in a single Tour, the first being in 2024 (6 wins).

63%: WHO CAN STOP HIM?
11 stages have ended on a cat.1 summit since Tadej Pogačar joined the Tour in 2020. The Slovenian has won 7 of these 11 stages, representing a 63% success rate. He has even won 6 of the last 8 finishes on cat.1 climbs since the day he won a cat.1 climb for the first time at La Planche des Belles Filles, in 2020.

5: GIRMAY, MERLIER (…) SAVED!
The time limit had to be calculated according to the best time plus 33%, but it was exceptionally increased to 40% before the start. A change that saved 5 riders! Without this, the time limit would have been 7’40, which would have led to the elimination of Biniam Girmay (30’54”), Arnaud Démare (30’59”), Elmar Reinders (31’10”), Tim Merlier (31’27”), and Luka Mezgec (31’28”).

6: SO TIGHT IS THAT YOUNGSTERS FIGHT!
Today’s best young rider, Florian Lipowitz, is 6″ behind Remco Evenepoel in the general classification. This is the first time in the 21st century that the young rider classification top-2 are so close after 13 stages. The podium is still less than a minute apart, with Oscar Onley having moved up to 3rd, 47″ behind. This is also unprecedented in the 21st century.

5: IMPRESSIVE PLAPP
Luke Plapp, who held the provisional time for part of the stage, spent 3 hours, 3 minutes, and 22 seconds as the virtual winner before being passed by Primož Roglič. The three-time Australian time trial (2021-24-25) and road race (2022-23-24) champion finished 5th and recorded his best stage result, improving the 9th place he achieved in Caen. This is the first top-5 finish for an Australian in a time trial since Richie Porte’s 3rd place at La Planche des Belles Filles in 2020.

12: BAD DAY FOR EVENEPOEL
Only 12th today, Remco Evenepoel missed a Tour time trial podium for the first time. The two-time world champion (2023-24) won at Gevrey-Chambertin last year, finished 3rd in Nice 16 days later, and won in Caen this year.

10.9: SHORTEST TIME TRIAL
It was the 222nd individual time trial in the history of the Tour, but more importantly: being 10.9 kilometers long, it was the shortest —excluding prologues and half-stages. The previous one was the Clermont-Ferrand – Puy de Dôme done in 1959 (stage 15), which was 12.5 kilometers long.

35: A FAST VETERAN
At 35 years, 8 months, and 20 days, Primož Roglič is the oldest rider to finish on a stage podium this year. The five other thirty-somethings to have achieved this are Simon Yates (32), Tim Merlier (32), Phil Bauhaus (31), Wout van Aert (30), and Mathieu van der Poel (30).

9-8: VINGEGAARD AND ROGLIČ’S STREAKS
Jonas Vingegaard (2nd) is on a run of 9 stage podiums without a victory, closing in on Alexander Kristoff’s 10 between 2014 and 2018. The Dane has not won since his success at Le Lioran last year. Finishing 3rd, Primož Roglič is on a run of 8 stage podiums without a victory. The last one dates back to Orcières-Merlette 2020.

203: POGI THE SPRINTER
Second in the points classification behind Jonathan Milan, Tadej Pogačar has already scored 203 points, his personal best after 13 stages. The Slovenian is doing better than in 2022 (164 points after 13 stages), when he achieved 250 points at the end, his best mark in the points classification.

2: BACK-TO-BACK AT PEYRAGUDES!
In Peyragudes, Tadej Pogačar succeeds to… Tadej Pogačar! He already won here during the last Tour visit in 2022. It is called a “back-to-back,” and he is the first to do so since… himself at La Planche des Belles Filles! The Slovenian won a time trial there in 2020, then a road stage in 2022, with the slight difference that it ended at La Super Planche des Belles Filles. Before him, the last “back-to-back” referred to Mark Cavendish’s successes at Châteauroux (2008, 2011, 2021).

Stage 13 Results

1. 1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 23’00”
   2. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) 23’36” (+36″)
   3. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) 24’20” (+1’20”)
   4. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) 24’56” (+1’56”)
   5. Luke Plapp (Team Jayco AlUla) 24’58” (+1’58”)
   6. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) 25’03” (+2’03”)
   7. Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) 25’06” (+2’06”)
   8. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 25’15” (+2’15”)
   9. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) 25’21” (+2’21”)
   10. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) 25’22” (+2’22”)

General Classification after Stage 13

1. 1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 45h 45’51”
   2. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) 45h 49’58” (+4’07”)
   3. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) 45h 53’15” (+7’24”)
   4. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) 45h 53’21” (+7’30”)
   5. Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) 45h 54’02” (+8’11”)
   6. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) 45h 54’06” (+8’15”)
   7. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) 45h 54’41” (+8’50”)
   8. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) 45h 56’27” (+10’36”)
   9. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) 45h 57’34” (+11’43”)
   10. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) 46h 00’06” (+14’15”)

Jersey Holders After Stage 13

• • Yellow Jersey (Overall Leader): Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
  • Green Jersey (Points Leader): Jonathan Milan
  • Polka-dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
  • White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)

HAUTACAM, France (17 July 2025) — The ghosts of Hautacam had haunted Tadej Pogačar for nearly three years. On those very slopes in 2022, Jonas Vingegaard had delivered a crushing blow that would define their rivalry, supported by the relentless Wout Van Aert in a display of tactical perfection that left the Slovenian champion wounded and trailing. The defending champion had arrived at this first mountain stage of the 2025 Tour carrying not just the weight of expectation, but the burden of memory.

Fresh off a high-speed crash in Toulouse that had left him bruised but unbowed, Pogačar faced the familiar specter of doubt. Could he finally exorcise the demons of this 13.5-kilometer ascent at 7.8%? The stage promised to be the first true test of the mountains, where time bonuses and tactical games would give way to the raw arithmetic of power and pain.

The morning air in Auch carried an electric tension as 171 riders signed on, their numbers depleted by one after XDS-Astana’s Cees Bol withdrew due to illness. The route ahead was unforgiving: Col du Soulor, Col des Bordères, and finally the brutal summit finish at Hautacam. After eleven days of explosive racing that had seen Ben Healy claim the maillot jaune through audacious opportunism, the mountains would now separate the contenders from the pretenders.

The Breakaway That Threatened Everything

True to form, Jonas Abrahamsen of Uno-X Mobility—fresh from his stunning assault on Toulouse—launched the first attack as the peloton passed kilometer zero. But lightning rarely strikes twice in the same manner, and the Norwegian was quickly reeled in. What followed was a masterclass in controlled chaos, as attack after attack flew until, at kilometer 17, a mammoth 52-rider group established itself at the front.

This was no ordinary breakaway. Among the escapees lurked Carlos Rodriguez, the Spanish climber who had finished fifth in 2023 and seventh in 2024, currently sitting 12th overall at 5’44”. With four Ineos-Grenadiers teammates for company—Thymen Arensman, Tobias Foss, Axel Laurance, and Connor Swift—Rodriguez represented a genuine threat to the established order.

The group read like a who’s who of climbing excellence: Lenny Martinez defending his polka-dot jersey with three Bahrain Victorious teammates, Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet, Ben O’Connor, Mattias Skjelmose, and Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) . It was the kind of breakaway that could rewrite the general classification if given too much rope.

Behind, the alliance of EF Education-EasyPost, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and Uno-X Mobility worked in uneasy cooperation, their respective leaders’ jerseys demanding vigilance. The gap reached a maximum of 2’20” at the base of the Col du Soulor, where the real racing would begin.

The Soulor’s Brutal Arithmetic

The first categorized climb of the day—11.8 kilometers at 7.3%—would prove to be the scene of the first major elimination. As Visma-Lease a Bike hit the front with characteristic ferocity, the race exploded into fragments. Michael Woods, the Canadian climber, soloed over the summit at kilometer 134.1, but the drama was unfolding behind him.

Remco Evenepoel, the young Belgian who had arrived with podium ambitions, was already in distress halfway up the ascent. The 2022 Vuelta champion’s legs felt heavy from the start, as he would later confess: “I didn’t have the best feeling from the very start of the race. Even on the flat sections, my legs felt heavy.”

More shocking still was the sight of Ben Healy, the Irishman who had worn yellow with such panache, being distanced on the slopes. The EF Education-EasyPost rider, who had captured hearts with his fearless racing, was paying the price for his earlier efforts. “Chapeau to Ben Healy and EF for trying to defend the jersey,” Pogačar would later acknowledge.

At the summit, the damage was clear: Evenepoel trailed by 45 seconds, while Healy was already 2’45” adrift. The yellow jersey was slipping away with each pedal stroke.

Armirail’s Pyrenean Poetry

As the race descended toward the Col des Bordères, Bruno Armirail made his move. The Frenchman from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, a son of the Pyrenees, accelerated away from his companions with the kind of local knowledge that can’t be taught. “I gave it everything on the Soulor and on the descent, on roads I know very well,” he would later explain.

By the summit of the Col des Bordères at kilometer 145.7, Armirail had opened a 50-second gap. The crowd roared their approval as he descended toward Hautacam, carrying the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. “I was cheered on the whole time I was alone. It was like a dream come true, just like last year when I took the lead on the Col du Tourmalet. I had goose bumps.”

Behind him, the GC contenders regrouped on the descent, the brief respite allowing them to gather their strength for the final reckoning. But there would be no mercy on the slopes of Hautacam.

The Moment of Truth

As the road kicked upward toward the final climb, UAE Team Emirates-XRG moved to the front with surgical precision. The team that had dominated the spring classics was now showing their mountain credentials, with Jhonatan Narvaez setting a brutal pace that shed riders with each kilometer.

Then, with 12.5 kilometers to go, Narvaez delivered his leader perfectly. Pogačar’s acceleration was immediate and devastating. There was no gradual increase in pace, no warning signs—just the sudden, violent snap of a rider transcending his limitations.

Nobody could follow. Not Vingegaard, despite his past mastery of this climb. Not Evenepoel, struggling with his own demons. Not any of the supposed contenders who had harbored hopes of victory. Armirail, caught and dropped in the space of a few hundred meters, could only watch as the Slovenian disappeared up the mountain.

“From the very first time I got to ride on that climb, I was looking forward to racing here and it came in the Tour de France 2022,” Pogačar would later reflect. “At the time, I was giving everything to get back the Yellow Jersey but Jumbo were too strong. I had almost already forgotten about this, I was just looking forward to today, but all the people came telling me it was revenge time and blah blah blah.”

The Sweet Taste of Redemption

As Pogačar powered toward the summit, his lead growing with each kilometer, the significance of the moment was not lost on him. This was the climb where he had lost 1’04” to Vingegaard three years ago, where his Tour had effectively ended. Now, with each pedal stroke, he was rewriting that history.

“When we approached the bottom of the climb, it was the reverse story. It was one Belgian guy again on the front, but it was Tim [Wellens] and our team was setting the pace,” he explained. “It was a really really hard day and I also had 2022 a bit in the back of my mind. But today we were on the happy side of history. We had this stage in mind for a long time. We did a super job with the team and I’m super happy to win here and to take time on my rivals. Also, chapeau to Ben Healy and EF for trying to defend the jersey, and also Uno-X, who fought for their own GC.”

The crash from the previous day seemed a distant memory as Pogačar dominated the ascent. “You never know how the body reacts after a crash but it was not too bad a crash. I feel my hip only if I do acrobatics but here I’m just riding my bike.”

The Slovenian crossed the line with his arms raised, claiming his 20th stage victory, his eighth in the Pyrenees, and his first at Hautacam. More importantly, he had opened a gap of 2’10” on Vingegaard, who could only manage second place, with Florian Lipowitz of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe completing the podium at 2’21”.

But the victory carried deeper meaning for the champion, who dedicated his triumph to Samuele Privitera, the young Italian cyclist who had passed away yesterday, after a crash during Giro della Valle d’Aosta. “This victory also goes to Samuele [Privitera] and his family. [The news of him passing away] was the first thing I read in the morning and I was thinking about him in the last kilometres, and how tough this sport can be and how much pain it can cause.”

The New Reality

As the dust settled on Hautacam, the Tour’s hierarchy had been brutally reshuffled. Pogačar had reclaimed the yellow jersey, building a lead of 3’31” over Vingegaard in the general classification. Evenepoel, despite his struggles, held third at 4’45”, while Healy’s heroic stint in yellow had ended with a deficit of over 10 minutes.

Pogačar remained measured in victory, aware that the race was far from over. “The Tour is not over. Tomorrow there’s also a time-trial and the next day is another difficult stage, ahead of some tricky days. We need to stay calm and continue with this pace.”

The Belgian’s assessment was stark: “Tadej was head and shoulders above everyone else today. There are still ten days of racing left, but he’s taken a big step towards winning the Tour de France. Some teams rode today as if they were there to support him and UAE, which is not the right way to do things. The mentality needs to change, especially when the Yellow Jersey is already so far ahead.”

For Evenepoel, the day had been a battle against himself as much as his rivals. “I didn’t have the best feeling from the very start of the race. Even on the flat sections, my legs felt heavy. On the climbs, I tried to find my rhythm and do a kind of 50-kilometre time trial. It was a long battle against myself, with my head and my legs. It’s not that I raced smart – it was just the only way to race today, I couldn’t race any other way. I fought with the Paris podium in mind. After all, the gaps to Tadej [Pogačar] were very big, but with the others it was okay. I hope to be better tomorrow so I can do something with the time trial. I want to stay calm and, day by day, forget about this bad day.”

Bruno Armirail, who had given the French fans something to cheer about with his bold attack, reflected on his day in the spotlight: “Of course, I had marked this stage, but first I had to manage to break away. Then there were so many riders, and some very good ones, that I couldn’t imagine getting away on my own. But I gave it everything on the Soulor and on the descent, on roads I know very well. I quickly felt that my legs were strong, so it was really enjoyable even though I didn’t have much hope of winning the stage. I was cheered on the whole time I was alone. It was like a dream come true, just like last year when I took the lead on the Col du Tourmalet. I had goose bumps, but it would have been even better with the win.”

The Frenchman was already thinking ahead to the next challenge: “It’s true that we have a time trial tomorrow and I left some energy today, but it’s a course where I won’t be able to play a leading role anyway. Even though I’m a good climber, I think I’ll be more likely to finish in the top 10 or 15 than in the top 5. In any case, you have to take things as they come, day by day.”

As the riders descended from Hautacam into the Pyrenean twilight, the ghosts of 2022 had been laid to rest. But in their place, new questions emerged: Could anyone challenge Pogačar’s supremacy? Would the mountains continue to favor the Slovenian? With ten days of racing remaining, the Tour de France was far from over, but the balance of power had shifted decisively on the slopes where champions are made and broken.

By the Numbers

20: POGAČAR EQUALS NICOLAS FRANTZ
Tadej Pogačar raises his arms for the 20th time on the Tour, tying Luxembourg’s Nicolas Frantz for the 6th place among the riders with the most wins. His next target: the 22 victories of Frenchman André Darrigade. Tadej Pogačar has now won at least 3 stages in 5 of his first 6 Tours. A record he shares with Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Mark Cavendish.

2’10”: POGAČAR STRIKES BACK
“I thought about 2022″, admitted Tadej Pogačar after his victory. Three years ago, the stage that finished in Hautacam was won by Jonas Vingegaard with a 1’04” lead over the Slovenian. He took his revenge at the same place by winning with a 2’10” lead at the summit.

3: LIPOWITZ FOR GERMANY
Recently 2nd in Paris-Nice, Florian Lipowitz is competing in his first Tour and earned his first top-3 finish by being 3rd in Hautacam. He is the first German on the podium in a mountain stage since Lennard Kamna’s victory in Villard-de-Lans in 2020 (stage 16).

152: BRUNO SOLO
In the breakaway, Bruno Armirail then tried his luck by going solo, before being caught by Tadej Pogačar. His 152-kilometer attempt earned him the combativity award for the second time in 2025, after being rewarded in stage 2. France already has 7 combativity awards in 2025 (Armirail x2, Mattéo Vercher x2, Lenny Martinez, Ewen Costiou, Mathieu Burgaudeau), as many as in 2020.

2009: BIG FIGHT WITHIN THE YOUNG RIDERS
The best young rider classification is fiercely contested. Remco Evenepoel now leads ahead of Florian Lipowitz (+49″) and Kévin Vauquelin (+55″). This is the first time the podium has been so close after 12 stages since 2009, 16 years ago! At the time, Tony Martin was in the lead ahead of Andy Schleck (+49″) and Vincenzo Nibali (+54″).

7: HAUTACAM, A GOOD SIGN FOR POGAČAR?
This is the 7th time that a Tour finish has been judged in Hautacam, where Tadej Pogačar had never won. The last winners here – Vincenzo Nibali in 2014 (stage 18), Jonas Vingegaard in 2022 (stage 18) – went on to win the Tour three days later, but they were already leading the general classification before the start. The last time the Yellow Jersey changed at Hautacam was in 2008, when Cadel Evans snatched it from Kim Kirchen. The Australian, however, lost it later.

38: MICHAEL THE FIGHTER
Michael Woods was first at the summit of the Col du Soulor. At 38 years, 9 months, and 5 days, he is the oldest rider to lead a Cat.1 climb since Jens Voigt at Mont Revard in 2013 – the German was 41 years, 10 months, and 3 days. In 2010, Christophe Moreau conquered the Col du Tourmalet and the Col d’Aubisque (HC) at 39 years, 3 months and 8 days, a week after doing the same at the Col de la Colombière (Cat.1). They are the three oldest riders to have achieved these feats on such challenging summits since World War II.

6-0: VINGEGAARD’S BLACK SHEEP
Jonas Vingegaard is now on a strike of 8 stage podiums without a victory. Six of these 8 podium finishes are 2nd place behind Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian leads the Dane 6-0 in their last doubles. Four in 2024 (Saint-Lary-Soulan, Plateau de Beille, Col de la Couillole, Nice) and two in 2025 (Mûr-de-Bretagne, Hautacam). The 14th Pogačar-Vingegaard Tour 1-2 (in either order) recorded today is a new record for two riders. The Slovenian has won 11 times ahead of the Dane, While Vingegaard has only won three times ahead of his black sheep.

3: BACK IN YELLOW
Since the start, Tadej Pogačar had taken the Yellow Jersey twice, but also lost it twice. He took it for the third time today. The last rider to do so was Greg LeMond in 1989: the American wore the Yellow Jersey from stages 5 to 9, lost it to Laurent Fignon, then regained it for stages 15 and 16, lost it again to the Frenchman, before finally winning it on the final day. Only two other riders have experienced similar numbers: André Darrigade in 1956 (16th at the finish) and Eddy Merckx in 1974 (winner).

17: IT WAS WRITTEN SOMEWHERE
This Thursday, July 17, marked Tadej Pogačar’s 117th stage. on the Tour. By winning for the 20th time, he has a 17% success rate!

Stage 12 Results

1. 1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) 4:21:19
   2. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +2:10
   3. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +2:23
   4. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) +3:00
   5. Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) +3:00
   6. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) +3:33
   7. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) +3:35
   8. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) +4:02
   9. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +4:08
   10. Carlos Rodriguez (Arkea-B&B Hotels) +7:26

General Classification

1. 1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) 45:22:51
   2. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +3:31
   3. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) +4:45
   4. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +5:34
   5. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) +5:40
   6. Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) +6:05
   7. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +7:3
   8. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) +7:44
   9. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) +9:21
   10. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +12:12

Jersey Holders

• • Yellow Jersey (General Classification): 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): Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)

TOULOUSE, France (16 July 2025) – In the pink-brick embrace of Toulouse, where the Garonne winds through France’s rose-colored city, Jonas Abrahamsen wrote the most compelling chapter yet of his redemption story. The Norwegian’s maiden Tour de France victory on Stage 11 culminated a day of tactical brilliance and raw determination, yet the celebration was overshadowed by a pro-Palestinian protest that saw a demonstrator breach security during the final sprint, highlighting the political tensions that have followed the Israel-Premier Tech team throughout this year’s race.

The dramatic finish saw Abrahamsen edge Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) in a photo finish, but their final sprint was accompanied by a man running alongside who wore a T-shirt saying “Israel out of the Tour,” and who waved a keffiyeh, the black-and-white checkered headscarf that has become a potent symbol of the Palestinian cause. A security guard ran out to apprehend the man, but not before the demonstrator’s message had been broadcast to millions of viewers worldwide.

The incident cast a shadow over what should have been a moment of pure sporting triumph for Abrahamsen and his Uno-X Mobility team. The Israel-Premier Tech team is racing at this year’s Tour with eight team members from other countries, and team members previously faced protests because of the team’s association with Israel, reflecting the broader geopolitical tensions that have occasionally intruded upon the world’s greatest bike race.

Yet amid the controversy, Abrahamsen’s victory stood as a testament to the transformative power of cycling’s most unforgiving arena. Just four weeks earlier, the 28-year-old from Lillehammer had lain in a hospital bed, tears streaming down his face as he contemplated a broken collarbone that threatened to end his Tour de France dreams before they had begun.

The Architecture of Audacity

The 156.8-kilometer circuit around Toulouse promised nothing if not drama. With 1,750 meters of elevation gain packed into a punchy parcours that would test every facet of racing craft, the stage represented the last opportunity for the breakaway specialists before the race’s inevitable descent into the crucible of the Pyrenees.

From the very moment the peloton rolled through kilometer zero, Abrahamsen’s intentions were crystal clear. The Norwegian’s attack was not the tentative probe of a rider testing the waters, but the full-blooded assault of a man who understood that opportunity rarely knocks twice at cycling’s highest level.

“This morning, I had the feeling maybe I can win this,” Abrahamsen would later reflect. “From the beginning, I invested myself 100% to make the break. I know I have a pretty good sprint and we had been out for a long time, sprinting from km 0.”

Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) and Davide Ballerini (XDS Astana) were quick to recognize the quality of Abrahamsen’s move, bridging across to form an initial triumvirate. But behind them, the peloton seethed with ambition. The first rest day had recharged batteries and sharpened appetites, creating a combustible atmosphere that would define the opening two hours of racing.

The aggressive intentions of the field manifested immediately in the form of Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), whose relentless probing set the tone for a day when seemingly every rider harbored designs on glory. Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) animated the early exchanges with his characteristic aggression, while Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ) added their own contributions to the opening salvos.

The pace was nothing short of brutal. In the first hour alone, the three leaders covered 51.7 kilometers – a testament to the relentless pressure being applied from behind. Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) and Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Energies) eventually bridged across at kilometer 74, bringing the lead group to five riders, but the gap remained frustratingly narrow at just one minute.

A Yellow Jersey’s Courageous Calculation

The race’s tactical complexion shifted dramatically with 65 kilometers remaining when Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) unleashed an attack that sent shockwaves through the peloton. The yellow jersey’s move was audacious in its timing and devastating in its implications, forcing an immediate response from Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and drawing Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) into the tactical labyrinth.

“At some point, Tadej missed a split and the opportunity arose for me to attack along with Jonas,” Healy explained. “I did so because I felt like putting the hammer down. The final was very tough, too, making for a pretty hard day.”

The yellow jersey’s aggression served as a catalyst for a new wave of attacks. Simmons, sensing opportunity, put the hammer down with Van Aert on his wheel, while Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Axel Laurance (Ineos Grenadiers), and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) formed a dangerous quintet of chasers. The race was fragmenting into multiple groups, each driven by different motivations and tactical imperatives.

The sight of Healy attacking while wearing the yellow jersey was unprecedented in its boldness. Most maillot jaune wearers adopt a conservative approach, content to mark their rivals and defend their advantage. But the Irishman’s deficit to the pure climbers in the overall classification meant that passivity was not an option. His attack was both a tactical masterstroke and a declaration of intent: he would not surrender the yellow jersey without a fight.

Where Legends Are Forged

As the race entered its final 50 kilometers, the day’s true climbing challenges began to separate the contenders from the pretenders. The Côte de Vieille-Toulouse, with its summit at kilometer 142.5, provided the stage for Schmid’s decisive move. The Swiss rider’s attack was perfectly timed, coming at the moment when the lead group’s cohesion was beginning to fracture under the relentless pressure.

Abrahamsen’s response was immediate and decisive. The Norwegian’s bridge to Schmid demonstrated the tactical intelligence that had carried him through eight years of professional racing. Rather than panic at being dropped, he calculated his effort precisely, joining the Swiss rider at the front while conserving enough energy for the battles ahead.

Behind them, Simmons set off in lone pursuit, his aggressive style perfectly suited to the punchy terrain. But the gap was already beginning to stretch, and the specter of Van der Poel’s pursuit group loomed large in the tactical calculations.

The mighty Côte de Pech David (800 meters at 12.4%) served as the day’s decisive selection point. The gradient was severe enough to expose any weakness, yet short enough to reward pure explosive power. Schmid and Abrahamsen crested with a 20-second advantage over their nearest pursuers, while Van der Poel led the chase group at 30 seconds.

The Dutchman’s presence in the chase group added a new dimension to the tactical equation. Van der Poel’s pursuit was relentless, his trademark combination of power and tactical acumen gradually reducing the gap. The former world champion’s effort was nothing short of heroic, clawing back precious seconds with each pedal stroke in a display that epitomized the never-say-die spirit of professional cycling.

Crashes and Sportsmanship

Even as the leaders battled for stage victory, drama was unfolding in the general classification group. Pogačar’s crash with six kilometers remaining sent shockwaves through the peloton, but the incident also provided a moment of sporting grace that reminded viewers why cycling commands such passionate devotion.

The sight of Pogačar’s rivals – including Healy, Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel – waiting for the race leader to remount demonstrated the unwritten codes of conduct that govern professional cycling. In an era often characterized by marginal gains and tactical ruthlessness, their gesture of sportsmanship provided a welcome reminder of cycling’s more noble traditions.

“Tadej crashed, but he quickly got back up and finished in the same time as his GC rivals,” the race report noted, but the bare facts could not capture the emotional weight of the moment. For Pogačar, the crash was a reminder of cycling’s cruel randomness; for his rivals, it was an opportunity to demonstrate that victory achieved through misfortune carries no lasting satisfaction.

The Final Sprint: Redemption Realized

As the race entered its final kilometers, Van der Poel’s pursuit reached its crescendo. The Dutchman’s effort was extraordinary, reducing the gap to just seven seconds at the line – a margin that seemed both tantalizingly close and definitively insufficient. His performance would have been worthy of victory on most days, but this stage belonged to the men who had dared to dream from kilometer zero.

The sprint between Abrahamsen and Schmid was a masterclass in tactical patience meeting raw determination. Both riders had invested everything in reaching this point, emptying themselves across 156 kilometers of aggressive racing. The Norwegian’s victory was decided by the narrowest of margins, but the significance of the moment transcended mere measurements.

“I gave it my all in the sprint, it was so difficult to pass [Mauro Schmid] but I was thinking: I have to win this stage of the Tour de France, I have to win!” Abrahamsen reflected. “I believed all day and I actually got the win, that’s incredible.”

The Comeback Chronicles

The true magnitude of Abrahamsen’s triumph could only be understood through the lens of his recent struggles. The collarbone fracture suffered just four weeks earlier had threatened to derail not only his Tour de France participation but potentially his entire season. The physical rehabilitation was only part of the challenge; the mental fortitude required to return to peak performance in such a short timeframe was perhaps even more demanding.

“I broke my collarbone 4 weeks ago. I was crying in the hospital, thinking I wouldn’t ride the Tour de France,” Abrahamsen revealed. “But on the day after, I was on the home trainer. I did everything to come back. I came to the Tour with the ambition to help the team as much as possible. And now to be here, as a stage winner, it’s just amazing.”

The Norwegian’s journey from hospital bed to Tour stage winner represented more than personal redemption; it embodied the very essence of professional cycling’s unforgiving demands. In a sport where careers can be derailed by a single moment of misfortune, Abrahamsen’s recovery demonstrated the mental resilience that separates the great from the merely good.

For Uno-X Mobility, the victory represented a milestone moment in the team’s evolution. The Norwegian squad had long punched above its weight in the sport’s biggest races, but a Tour de France stage victory had remained elusive. Abrahamsen’s triumph not only vindicated the team’s development strategy but also provided inspiration for the next generation of Norwegian cyclists.

Politics and Sport

The finish line protest, while brief, served as a stark reminder of the broader political tensions that have occasionally intruded upon the Tour de France. The Israel-Premier Tech team acquired the right to enter the Tour de France in 2020 when Israel Start-Up National took over Katusha’s WorldTour license and has since claimed three stage victories, though none yet in this year’s race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Guardian Sport (@guardian_sport)

The demonstration highlighted the complex relationship between sport and politics in an increasingly polarized world. Team members previously faced protests because of the team’s association with Israel, which has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians in 21 months of war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The war was sparked by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023. Since the start of the war, Israel has also launched attacks on Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran.

For race organizers, the incident represented a security challenge that extends beyond the immediate concerns of athlete safety. The Tour de France’s global audience of millions makes it an attractive platform for political messaging, creating an ongoing tension between the race’s sporting mission and its inadvertent role as a stage for broader geopolitical conflicts.

Milan’s Ongoing Quest

While Abrahamsen claimed the stage victory, the ongoing battle for the green jersey provided its own subplot to the day’s racing. Jonathan Milan’s quest to secure the points classification had transformed from a distant ambition into a daily reality, with each stage bringing new challenges and opportunities.

“The fight for the green jersey adds some pressure, because you can’t take an easy day and have to stay focused and in contention in every stage,” Milan acknowledged. “It’s completely different, and I like it. The mountains tomorrow don’t scare me. I just have to ride my own tempo, and luckily I will have teammates to support me. I’m 100% sure I will make it to the finish line inside the time cut.”

The Italian sprinter’s comments highlighted the unique demands of the points classification, where consistency often matters more than individual brilliance. Unlike the general classification, where a single bad day can effectively end a rider’s chances, the green jersey battle rewards those who can perform across cycling’s diverse disciplines.

Looking Toward the Pyrenees: The Real Race Begins

As the dust settled in Toulouse, attention quickly shifted to the looming Pyrenean stages that would likely determine the race’s ultimate outcome. Healy’s continued presence in the yellow jersey, despite the day’s aggressive racing, had set up a fascinating dynamic for the mountain stages ahead.

“It’s pretty ambitious to try and keep the Yellow Jersey atop Hautacam with guys like Tadej and Jonas in contention, yet I’m optimistic and will give it a go tomorrow,” Healy stated. “I’m enjoying this Yellow Jersey so much… It’s being crazy at home, and it’s incredible to wear it in the race.”

The Irishman’s realistic assessment of his chances reflected the pragmatic approach that had carried him to this point. His 29-second advantage over Pogačar was significant but not insurmountable, while the presence of Vingegaard and Evenepoel in the top four ensured that the mountain stages would be fiercely contested.

For Pogačar, the crash and subsequent chase had provided an unwelcome reminder of cycling’s unpredictable nature. Yet the Slovenian’s quick recovery and composure under pressure demonstrated the mental strength that had carried him to multiple Grand Tour victories. The real test would come in the mountains, where tactical nuance would give way to pure climbing ability.

Lessons in Breakaway Artistry

Abrahamsen’s victory provided a masterclass in the art of breakaway racing, demonstrating the complex interplay of timing, tactics, and raw determination that characterizes successful long-distance attacks. His decision to attack from kilometer zero was not impulsive but calculated, recognizing that the day’s profile favored those bold enough to commit fully from the start.

The Norwegian’s ability to maintain his intensity throughout the 156-kilometer stage while conserving enough energy for the final sprint exemplified the tactical intelligence that separates successful breakaway specialists from those who merely participate in the early moves. His collaboration with Schmid in the final kilometers demonstrated the psychological complexity of breakaway racing, where temporary allies must eventually become adversaries.

Van der Poel’s pursuit provided the perfect counterpoint to the leaders’ tactics, showcasing the different skill set required for chase groups. The Dutchman’s ability to coordinate the chase while maintaining his own sprint finish demonstrated why he remains one of cycling’s most feared competitors across multiple disciplines.

From Despair to Triumph

The broader narrative of Stage 11 encapsulated everything that makes the Tour de France cycling’s most compelling sporting spectacle. From Abrahamsen’s hospital bed tears to his victory salute, from political protest to sporting sportsmanship, the day’s events ran the full gamut of human emotion and experience.

The stage also highlighted the Tour’s unique ability to transform individual stories into collective mythology. Abrahamsen’s victory would be remembered not just as a tactical triumph but as a symbol of resilience and determination. The protest, while controversial, reflected the race’s position as a global platform that transcends mere sport.

As the race prepared to enter the Pyrenees, Stage 11 served as a reminder that the Tour de France’s greatest strength lies not in its predictability but in its capacity for surprise. In a sport increasingly dominated by data and marginal gains, Abrahamsen’s victory demonstrated that courage and calculation remain the essential ingredients for success.

The road to Toulouse had provided drama, controversy, and redemption in equal measure. But as the sun set over the pink-brick city, one truth remained constant: the Tour de France’s greatest stories are written not by those who play it safe, but by those who dare to dream and possess the courage to pursue those dreams across the unforgiving roads of France.

By The Numbers

1: ABRAHAMSEN NEW WINNER
Jonas Abrahamsen raises his arms for the first time in his third Tour, having already competed in 2023 and 2024. He previously had two podium finishes: 3rd in Bourg-en-Bresse in 2023 (stage 18), 2nd in Bologna in 2024 (stage 2). It comes 409 days after his first professional victory, achieved at the 2024 Brussels Cycling Classic.

53: UNO-X MOBILITY FOR THE FIRST TIME
Jonas Abrahamsen gives Uno-X Mobility its first Tour victory. The Norwegian team had previously achieved six podium finishes with Abrahamsen (2), Alexander Kristoff (2), Tobias Johannessen (1), and Søren Wærenskjold (1). Today was its 53rd stage, just like Abrahamsen, who made his Tour debut with the team. The Tudor team, participating for the first time, is now the only of the 2025 peloton without a win.

156: FROM START TO FINISH
Jonas Abrahamsen attacked from the start of the stage, completing the 156.8 kilometers of the day at the front. This is the first victory by a rider who started a breakaway at kilometer zero since Kasper Asgreen in Bourg-en-Bresse in 2023 (stage 18). The same day, Abrahamsen finished 3rd, securing his first Tour podium (and even top-10).

2: SWITZERLAND, SO CLOSE
Second, Mauro Schmid is the first Swiss rider on a stage podium since Stefan Küng’s 2nd place in the Laval time trial in 2021, four years ago. For a road stage, the last podium finish was five years ago: Sébastien Reichenbach 3rd in Villard-de-Lans (Tour 2020, stage 16). 2020 is also the year of the last Swiss victory, achieved by Marc Hirschi in Sarran.

8: DE LIE STILL SEARCHING HIS FIRST VICTORY
Fourth, Arnaud De Lie finished in the top 5 of a Tour stage for the 8th time. He’s also the best young rider of the day. He is the only rider to have a top 5 finish in three of the last four stages (5th in Laval, 3rd in Châteauroux, 4th in Toulouse).

20: A SUCCESSOR TO KRISTOFF
Jonas Abrahamsen claimes Norway’s 20th Tour victory, the first since Alexander Kristoff in Nice in 2020 (stage 1). He’s the 6th Norwegian rider to win after Thor Hushovd (10 times), Kristoff (8), Edvald Boasson Hagen (3), Kurt-Asle Arvesen (1), and Dag-Otto Lauritzen (1). Lauritzen opened the road by winning the 14th stage of the Tour 1987 in Luz-Ardiden.

1903: TOULOUSE, PAST AND PRESENT
Toulouse, along with Paris, is the only stage city from the first Tour de France in 1903 to be in the 2025 program. This is the 27th time the “Pink City” has hosted a stage start, and also a stage finish. The last two ended in a bunch sprint – Mark Cavendish in 2008 and Caleb Ewan in 2019. For a victory achieved in a different configuration (like today), you have to go back to Juan Antonio Flecha in 2003.

3: A BRAVE NORWEGIAN
Jonas Abrahamsen won two combativity awards last year, in Bologna (stage 2) and Colombey-les-Deux-Églises (stage 8). Receiving this award for the 3rd time today, he is the Norwegian with the most prizes. The other five have only won it once each (Dag-Otto Lauritzen in 1988, Thor Hushovd in 2009, Vegard Stake Laengen in 2017, Sven Erik Bystrom in 2022, and Tobias Johannessen in 2024).

10: HEALY IN YELLOW BEFORE THE PYRENEES
Ben Healy keeps his Yellow Jersey, his second and Ireland’s 10th. He has one more than his compatriot Sean Kelly, and closes in on Seamus Elliott (4) and Stephen Roche (3), on the eve of a mountain stage where his jersey will be in danger.

Stage 11 Results

1. 1. Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) – 3:15:56
   2. Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) – +0:00
   3. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – +0:07
   4. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) – +0:53
   5. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +0:53
   6. Axel Laurance (Ineos Grenadiers) – +0:53
   7. Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) – +0:53
   8. Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) – +0:53
   9. Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) – +0:53
   10. Davide Ballerini (XDS Astana Team) – +1:11

General Classification after Stage 11

1. 1. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) – 41:01:13
   2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – +0:29
   3. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – +1:29
   4. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +1:46
   5. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +2:06
   6. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – +2:26
   7. Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) – +3:24
   8. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +3:34
   9. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +3:41
   10. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) – +5:03

Jersey Holders after Stage 11

• • Yellow Jersey (General Classification): Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)
  • Green Jersey (Points Classification): Jonathan Milan
  • Polka-dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
  • White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)

LE MONT-DORE, France (14 July 2025) – In the shadow of the dormant volcanoes of the Massif Central, where the ancient lava flows have long since cooled to form the undulating terrain of the Auvergne, cycling history was rewritten on this most symbolic of French national days. Simon Yates emerged from a day-long battle of attrition to claim his third Tour de France stage victory, while Ben Healy’s audacious gamble delivered the maillot jaune and Ireland’s first Tour leader since Stephen Roche’s mythical triumph of 1987.

The 165.3-kilometre odyssey from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy presented a relentless succession of eight categorised climbs totalling 4,450 metres of elevation gain – a parcours designed to fracture the peloton and reward the boldest. On a day when tactical orthodoxy was cast aside, UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s curious passivity in the opening kilometres allowed a 29-man breakaway to slip the shackles, setting the stage for a revolution that would shake the general classification to its foundations.

The Anatomy of an Escape

The initial skirmishes began the moment the flag dropped in Ennezat, with Victor Campenaerts serving as the catalyst for what would become one of the most consequential breakaways in recent Tour memory. The early attritional battle stretched across 17 kilometres, encompassing the Côte de Loubeyrat, before the escapees finally consolidated their advantage.

The composition of the break read like a who’s who of stage hunting specialists and ambitious general classification contenders. Alongside the eventual victor Yates and the man who would claim yellow, Healy, the group boasted a formidable French contingent seemingly ordained for Bastille Day glory: Valentin Paret-Peintre, Alex Baudin, Lenny Martinez, Quentin Pacher, Julian Alaphilippe, Bruno Armirail, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, and Clément Champoussin.

Pablo Castrillo’s late adhesion at kilometre 31 brought the count to 29, while behind them, UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Tim Wellens and Nils Politt found themselves in the unusual position of chasing shadows that would prove increasingly elusive. The tactical miscalculation would prove costly, as Healy – trailing by just 3’55” on the general classification entering the stage – soon found himself in the virtual yellow jersey.

Martinez’s Hereditary Quest

The day’s narrative threads wove together past and present as Lenny Martinez, grandson of 1978 King of the Mountains winner Mariano Martinez, embarked upon his own polka-dot crusade. Forty-five years after his grandfather’s Bastille Day victory in Morzine, the young Bahrain Victorious rider swept the points atop the Côte de La Baraque, Côte de Charade, and Côte de Berzet with methodical precision.

“When I broke away, I was thinking about both the stage and the polka dot jersey,” Martinez reflected. “But I quickly realised that I would come short to fight for the stage, the others were just too strong. I didn’t want to leave empty-handed, so I focused on the sprints on the climbs to collect points.”

The succession of climbs served as a natural selection process, whittling the break down to 15 survivors by the Col de Guéry at kilometre 115.4. Here, Martinez effectively secured the mountains classification, while the peloton languished five minutes in arrears – a gap that would prove insurmountable for the favourites.

The Tightening Vise

As the road pitched skyward toward the Col de la Croix-Morand, the breakaway’s advantage swelled to a maximum of 5’55” – a cushion that transformed Healy’s yellow jersey aspirations from fantasy to tangible reality. The final selection had been made: Healy and Yates remained, accompanied by Quinn Simmons, Michael Storer, Ben O’Connor, and Thymen Arensman.

Behind them, Visma-Lease a Bike finally stirred from their defensive posture, deploying Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgenson in a desperate bid to ignite the race of races. Yet UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s control remained suffocating, neutralising each acceleration with methodical efficiency.

The tactical chess match reached its crescendo on the Col de la Croix-Saint-Robert, where Simmons finally succumbed to the relentless pace. More significantly, Visma-Lease a Bike’s renewed aggression had stripped Tadej Pogačar of his final domestiques, leaving the defending champion isolated for the decisive finale.

The Final Reckoning

With 3.3 kilometres remaining and the road rearing up at 8% toward Le Mont-Dore, Yates played his winning card. The move was perfectly timed – audacious enough to gain a decisive advantage, calculated enough to avoid the fate of so many premature attacks on similar finales.

“I took an advantage in the final corners before the climb started,” Yates explained. “I was looking for a bit of a head start. My initial feeling was relief because I was really running out of legs and thought I would get caught on the line.”

Arensman’s valiant pursuit brought him to within five seconds entering the final kilometre, but the Dutchman’s legs could not match the British climber’s accelerating tempo. Yates crossed the line with arms raised, claiming his first Tour stage victory since 2019 – a triumph that felt both long overdue and thoroughly deserved.

“It’s been a long time since I last won in the Tour! I’m glad to be back here. It’s a great year for me after the Giro victory,” Yates reflected, his relief palpable after six years in the wilderness.

The Emerald Revolution

For Healy, finishing third at 31 seconds proved more than sufficient to claim the greatest prize in cycling. The 24-year-old from County Cork had gambled everything on a single throw of the dice, and the cycling gods had smiled upon him.

“This is just a fairytale, a dream come true,” Healy said, his voice thick with emotion. “Had you told me before the Tour de France that I was going to be here, in the Yellow Jersey after winning a stage earlier on, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

The Irishman’s tactical acumen was evident in his stage-long calculations, measuring his effort against the time gaps with the precision of a Swiss chronometer. “At some point, the stage became a fight against myself. I know I was taking some risks by digging so deep for so long but how often does an opportunity like this come around?”

Behind them, the final act of the day’s drama unfolded as Pogačar launched his inevitable attack with 1.5 kilometres remaining. Jonas Vingegaard’s immediate response spoke to the Dane’s returning form, yet their subsequent détente suggested mutual respect rather than fear. The duo crossed the line together, 4’51” behind Yates, leaving Healy’s yellow jersey secure by a margin of 29 seconds.

The Reckoning

As the sun set over the Massif Central, the implications of the day’s racing began to crystallise. Healy had become the fourth Irish rider to lead the Tour de France, joining an exclusive club that includes Seamus Elliott, Sean Kelly, and the legendary Stephen Roche. His emotional tribute to his homeland resonated with the poetry of the moment: “I’m super proud to represent Ireland. This success is still sinking in, and I’m pretty emotional.”

For Pogačar, the 29-second deficit represents both opportunity and warning. The defending champion’s tactical misjudgement had cost him dearly, yet his closing surge demonstrated the form that has made him cycling’s most feared competitor. The real Tour de France, it seemed, was only just beginning.

In the broader context of the race, Stage 10 served as a masterclass in the art of the possible. When conservatism gives way to audacity, when calculation yields to instinct, the Tour de France reveals its most compelling truths. On this Bastille Day in the Auvergne, those truths wore the green of Ireland and spoke with the accent of Cork – a revolution both sporting and poetic.

By The Numbers

2,185: YATES IS BACK!
Simon Yates raises his arms for the 3rd time on the Tour after two victories in 2019, at Bagnères-de-Bigorre (stage 12) and Foix-Prat d’Albis (stage 15). This last victory came 2,185 days ago. The winner of the Giro d’Italia 2025 also claims his 36th professional victory.

1987: HEALY AND IRELAND ON TOP
Ben Healy takes the Yellow Jersey from Tadej Pogačar by 29 seconds. An Irishman leads the general classification for the first time since the Tour 1987, when Stephen Roche won the race 37 years, 11 months, and 18 days ago.

4: MEMBER OF A VERY SMALL CLUB
Ben Healy, having the Yellow Jersey for the first time, is only the 4th Irishman to wear it after Seamus Elliot (four stages in 1963), Sean Kelly (one stage in 1983), and Stephen Roche (three stages in 1987). He is also only the 3rd Irishman to lead the young rider classification after Sean Kelly in 1978 and Stephen Roche in 1983.

22: YOUNGEST FRENCH WITH THE POLKA DOT JERSEY
At 22 years and 3 days, Lenny Martinez is the youngest French rider to wear the polka dot jersey. He did better than Richard Virenque, who took the jersey at 22 years, 7 months and 17 days (stage 2 of the Tour 1992 in Pau). René Vietto won the best climber classification at 20 years, 5 months and 12 days in 1934, but the jersey didn’t exist.

2: LENNY LIKE HIS GRANDFATHER
Lenny and Mariano Martinez are the first grandfather and grandson to have both worn the polka dot jersey. Mariano has worn it 16 times, notably winning the best climber classification in 1987.

12: VISMA FINALLY BACK!
The Visma – Lease A Bike team earns its 73rd Tour victory, the first since Jonas Vingegaard at Le Lioran last year. Since then, the team had accumulated no fewer than 12 stage podiums – including 9 second-place finishes! These podiums went to Vingegaard (7), Wout van Aert (3), Matteo Jorgenson (1), and Edoardo Affini (1).

5×10: FIGHTING FOR THE YELLOW JERSEY
For the first time since 2010, there have been 5 Yellow Jersey changes during the first 10 stages. Back then, Fabian Cancellara wore it after the prologue and stage 1, Sylvain Chavanel after stage 2, Cancellara again from stages 3 to 6, Chavanel after stage 7, Cadel Evans after stage 8, and Andy Schleck from stage 9. For 2025, it was Jasper Philipsen (stage 1) followed by Mathieu van der Poel (stages 2 to 4), Tadej Pogačar took it on stage 5, Van der Poel reclaimed it the next day, then Pogačar held it from stages 7 to 9, before Ben Healy snatched it from him today.

4: A NATION BEHIND HIM
Aggressive during this Bastille Day, Lenny Martinez is the 4th Frenchman to take the polka dot jersey on July 14th. The previous three were Pascal Hervé in 1998, Richard Virenque in 2004, and Jérôme Pineau in 2010. The last Frenchman to lead the climber’s classification on July 14th was Warren Barguil in 2017. Ranked 8th today, Martinez also achieved his best Tour result.

22: FRANCE STILL WAITING
It’s been 22 stages since France won a stage, a symbolic figure as it exceeds the 21 stages currently held in a Tour de France. It’s the country’s 4th-longest drought, still far from the 39 stages without a victory between Pau 1998 and Tours 2000. The last victory by a Frenchman dates back to Anthony Turgis last year, on stage 9, which started and finished in Troyes.

8: IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MASSIF CENTRAL
The stage featured 8 climbs, almost a Tour record. The day with the most climbs (9) was stage 15 of Tour 1993, contested between Perpignan and Andorra. Today was also the first time that a route included no fewer than 7 cat.2 climbs. Two more than during stage 8 of the Tour 2019 between Mâcon and Saint-Étienne.

2/5: BEN THE BRAVE
After his combativity award on stage 6, Ben Healy received the prize again this Monday. He is the first rider to receive it two times in a five-day span, since Victor Campenaerts during stages 18 and 19 in 2023.

2: AUSTRALIANS AT THE FRONT
Ben O’Connor (4th) and Michael Storer (5th) missed out on victory, but this is the first time two Australians have finished in the top five since the Tour 2021, stage 1 (Michael Matthews 2nd, Jack Haig 4th). The last Australian victory is Jai Hindley’s triumph at Laruns in 2023 (stage 5).

Stage 10 Results

1. 1. Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) – 4:20:05
   2. Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) – +0:09
   3. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) – +0:31
   4. Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) – +0:49
   5. Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – +1:23
   6. James Blackmore (Israel-Premier Tech) – +3:57
   7. Andreas Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) – +4:38
   8. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) – +4:51
   9. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – +4:51
   10. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +4:51

General Classification after Stage 10

1. 1. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) – 37:41:49
   2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – +0:29
   3. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – +1:29
   4. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +1:46
   5. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) – +2:06
   6. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – +2:26
   7. Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) – +3:24
   8. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +3:34
   9. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +3:41
   10. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) – +5:03

Jersey Holders after Stage 10

• • Yellow Jersey (General Classification): Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)
  • Green Jersey (Points Classification): Jonathan Milan
  • Polka-dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
  • White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)

CHÂTEAUROUX, France (13 July 2025) – In a stage that began as calculated chaos and ended in pure sprinting artistry, Tim Merlier delivered Soudal Quick-Step their third victory of the 2025 Tour de France, conquering the historic finishing city of Châteauroux with a masterful display of tactical awareness and raw speed.

The 174.1-kilometer journey from Chinon to Châteauroux – affectionately known as “Cavendish City” after the Manx Missile’s three victories here – was supposed to be a routine sprint affair. Instead, it became a treatise on modern cycling’s unpredictability, with Mathieu van der Poel orchestrating a breakaway that held the peloton at bay for nearly the entire stage.

The Dutch Gambit

From the moment the flag dropped, Alpecin-Deceuninck threw the script out the window. Jonas Rickaert attacked immediately at kilometer zero, quickly joined by his illustrious leader Van der Poel. What appeared to be a token gesture rapidly evolved into something far more ambitious.

“My goal to be once on the Tour podium is achieved!” Rickaert would later reflect. “It was super hard today. It started with a small joke and it got more and more serious. We planned it. Yesterday I said I would like to be on the podium of the Tour and Mathieu said we go at the front the two of us. We thought the others would never let us go but they did.”

The Flying Dutchman’s presence at the front immediately elevated the break’s credibility. Van der Poel, ever the opportunist, claimed maximum points at the intermediate sprint in Châtellerault – 20 precious points that would bolster his team’s aggressive racing philosophy. By this point, the gap had stretched to 3’45”, with Lidl-Trek shouldering the burden of the chase behind.

The Pursuit Intensifies

As the race passed through Châtellerault, hometown of Tour de France legend Sylvain Chavanel – holder of the record for most consecutive participations with 18 from 2001 to 2018 – the lead duo’s advantage swelled to a maximum of 5’35”. The peloton, perhaps caught off guard by the audacity of the move, seemed content to let the gap grow.

Behind, the sprinters’ teams were already feeling the pressure. A crash involving Sam Watson (Ineos Grenadiers), Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility), and Pavel Bittner (Picnic PostNL) served as an early warning of the nervous energy coursing through the bunch.

The second hour proved decisive. Rickaert and Van der Poel accelerated again, covering 50.5 kilometers in that crucial period. The peloton, recognizing the genuine threat, began to organize. Uno-X Mobility joined Lidl-Trek at the front, while the wind – that eternal enemy of breakaway hopefuls – began to fragment the race.

Drama in the Wind

With 33 kilometers remaining, Visma-Lease a Bike seized the initiative on a wind-exposed section. The peloton exploded, riders scattered across the road like leaves in a gale. The acceleration proved too much for João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), the Portuguese climber forced to abandon just days after his crash en route to Mûr-de-Bretagne.

“It was already incredible how João coped with his injuries the last couple of days,” Tadej Pogačar would later observe. “If I was suffering throughout the stage today, I cannot imagine how much he must have suffered. I have the utmost respect for him and I’m very sad he has to leave the race.”

The wind-driven chaos brought the gap down to 55” with 20 kilometers to go, but the peloton’s effort proved unsustainable. The lead crept back up to 1’20” as the finale approached, giving the breakaway renewed hope.

The Final Reckoning

Rickaert’s heroic effort finally ended with six kilometers remaining, leaving Van der Poel to face the charging peloton alone. The world champion, still 30 seconds ahead, dug deeper than seemed possible, his rainbow jersey a beacon of defiance against the inevitable.

The catch came inside the final kilometer – a moment of pure drama as the peloton’s collective power finally overwhelmed individual brilliance. Jonathan Milan, the current green jersey holder, launched the same devastating sprint that had won him Stage 8 in Laval. But this time, Tim Merlier was ready.

Guided by the expert positioning of Bert Van Lerberghe, Merlier found his moment. Despite being briefly boxed in, the Belgian sprinter’s tactical acumen shone through. He navigated the chaos with the confidence of a rider who knew exactly what he needed to do.

“In the last two kilometres, I found Bert again, and I’m really confident when I’m on his wheel,” Merlier explained. “I know what he’s gonna do and it makes me relax. I got boxed in a bit but then I managed to go all in and I was able to do my sprint like I wanted to and I’m happy to win my second stage here.”

The Sprint of Champions

The final 200 meters unfolded as a masterclass in sprinting technique. Milan, drawing on the power that had served him so well in Laval, seemed poised for a repeat performance. But Merlier, timing his effort to perfection, surged past the Italian with a display of pure speed that left no doubt about the outcome.

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) claimed the final podium spot, while the rest of the field could only watch as Merlier raised his arms in triumph. It was a victory that combined tactical intelligence with raw athleticism – the hallmarks of Tour de France stage success.

“It’s the second time I manage to beat Milan but he’s a really strong sprinter,” Merlier reflected. “It’s just nice we can show a nice battle between the two of us.”

For Milan, gracious in defeat, the day offered lessons for future battles. “It was a pretty tough stage with two strong riders at the front,” he said. “We had to fight for a sprint and use all the guys racing through the wind. It made for a difficult sprint and I came second. Of course I wanted more but sometimes we win, sometimes it ends up like this and we learn from it.”

Team Dynamics and Historical Echoes

Merlier’s victory carried deeper significance for Soudal Quick-Step. With wins already secured by Merlier in Dunkirk and Remco Evenepoel in Caen, this third success matched their 2021 Tour performance – a year when their third victory also came in Châteauroux, courtesy of Mark Cavendish.

The team’s unity was evident throughout the stage. Evenepoel, the young white jersey holder, contributed to the chase effort – an unusual sight that spoke to the squad’s collective ambition.

“When you win with the team and have contributed a little to Tim’s success, it feels like a victory too,” Evenepoel observed. “Four years ago, it was also the team’s third victory here with Cavendish, so history was made.”

Looking Ahead

As the riders prepared for the challenges ahead, the specter of Stage 10 loomed large. The Massif Central awaited, promising the first genuine battle for the general classification. Tim Wellens, holding the polka-dot jersey, was philosophical about his prospects.

“Tomorrow’s stage is going to be the most difficult one of the Tour de France so far,” he admitted. “I will almost certainly lose the polka dot jersey. I’m sure the breakaway riders will rack up most of the KOM points, and somebody will deserve to wear it.”

For Evenepoel, the transition from sprint finishes to climbing represented an opportunity to assert his general classification ambitions. “Tomorrow will be the first battle for the general classification,” he noted. “It’ll be interesting, explosive and maybe surprising. The French will be very motivated, as they always are on 14 July.”

The stage covered 174.1 kilometers in 3 hours, 28 minutes, and 52 seconds – an average speed of 50.0 km/h that reflected both the intensity of the racing and the quality of the final sprint. As the peloton crossed the line in Châteauroux, Merlier’s victory served as a reminder that in the Tour de France, opportunity favors the prepared mind.

In conquering Cavendish City, Merlier had added his name to a prestigious list of winners. But more than that, he had demonstrated the tactical sophistication and explosive speed that separates Tour de France stage winners from the merely fast. As the race headed into the mountains, his victory would stand as a testament to the enduring appeal of pure sprinting in cycling’s greatest theater.

By the Numbers

3: MERLIER, NEVER TWO WITHOUT THREE
Tim Merlier raises his arms for the 3rd time in the Tour, after his victorious sprints in Pontivy 2021 (stage 3) and Dunkerque 2025 (stage 3). He has a 100% success rate since these are the only sprints contested by the Belgian on the Tour.

5: MERLIER 5-0 MILAN
Tim Merlier is Jonathan Milan’s black sheep. When they finished 1-2 in the Grand Tours, the score is 5-0 for Merlier: 3 times at the Giro last year, twice this year at the Tour. Milan managed to beat Merlier to 2nd only in this year’s UAE Tour, stage 4.

Jonathan Milan dreamed of a second straight victory, but Tim Merlier beat him. The Belgian reached 74.3 km/h in the final 500 meters, compared to 72.7 km/h for the Italian!
Jonathan Milan dreamed of a second straight victory, but Tim Merlier beat him. The Belgian reached 74.3 km/h in the final 500 meters, compared to 72.7 km/h for the Italian!

5/5: NEW SPRINT IN CAVENDISH CITY
Châteauroux hosted its 5th Tour finish, and the victory was decided with a 5th bunch sprint. Tim Merlier succeeds Mario Cipollini (1998) and Mark Cavendish, winner in 2008, 2011, and 2021. This dominance of the “Manx Missile” earned Châteauroux the nickname Cavendish City!

10: BITTNER, THE NEW CZECH HOPE
Fourth today, Pavel Bittner achieved the Czech Republic’s best result in… 10 years! The last time a Czech rider finished so high was on July 9, 2015, when Zdenek Stybar won stage 6 in Le Havre. Only two Czechs have won in the Tour: Jan Svorada and Zdenek Stybar.

44: POGAČAR EQUALS HINAULT AT THE SAME AGE
Tadej Pogačar wins his 44th Yellow Jersey at 26 years old, the same number as Bernard Hinault at the same age! The record holder, Eddy Merckx, had won it 63 times at the age of 26.

173: THE LONGEST BREAKAWAY SINCE THE START
Present in the breakway at the start of the stage with Jonas Rickaert, Mathieu Van der Poel was in the lead for 173 kilometers, at an average speed of 49.9 km/h. It’s the longest breakaway since the start of the Tour 2025. The Dutchman was caught by the peloton 650 meters from the finish.

3: SOUDAL QUICK-STEP LIKE IN 2021?
With Remco Evenepoel (stage 3) and Tim Merlier (stages 5 and 9), Soudal Quick-Step is the most successful team in this Tour with 3 wins. The last time they won at least 3 times was in 2021. The 3rd victory was achieved by Mark Cavendish in… Châteauroux! The team finished the Tour with a total of 5 wins, equaling its 2017 record.

50.013: FULL SPEED
The first riders of the day were classified in 3h 28′ 52″ after the 174.1 km race, for an average speed of 50.013 km/h. This is the second-fastest stage in the history of the Tour.

1982: BELGIUM PILLING UP VICTORIES
Tim Merlier claims Belgium’s 494th Tour victory, and already the 4th in 2025. This is the first time the Belgians have won four of the first nine stages since… 1982! The winners were Ludo Peeters (stage 1), Daniel Willems (stage 3), Pol Verschuere (stage 7), and Frank Hoste (stage 8).

8: FOR THE MOUNTAINS, SEE YOU FROM TOMORROW
The leader of the best climbers classification, Tim Wellens, has only 8 points after 9 stages. Such a low total has not been seen since 2018 – Toms Skujinš led with 6 points after 9 stages. This is mainly due to the relatively low mountain profile so far, before the arrival of more significant climbs, starting tomorrow. Stage 10 between Ennezat and Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy has 8 climbs, including 7 Category 2 climbs. 37 points for the polka dot jersey will be up for grabs tomorrow, compared to 34 since the start.

2: RICKAERT LIKE VAN DER POEL
Alpecin-Deceuninck has won 13 Tour stages, but the combativity prize awarded to Jonas Rickaert is only the second in its history! The Belgian succeeds his teammate Mathieu Van der Poel (with whom he escaped today), rewarded after stage 12 of the Tour 2023. It was also a July 13th!

2/3: TWO BELGIANS ON THE PODIUM
With Tim Merlier (1st) and Arnaud de Lie (3rd), Belgium has placed two riders on the podium of a stage for the first time since 2023, and the 1-2 finish of Jordi Meeus and Jasper Philipsen (stage 21 in the Champs-Élysées). This is also de Lie’s third top-3, after stages 3 and 8 last year.

Stage 9 Results (Chinon > Châteauroux – 174.1km)

1. 1. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) – 3h 28′ 52”
   2. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) – same time
   3. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) – same time
   4. Pavel Bittner (Team Picnic PostNL) – same time
   5. Paul Penhoet (Groupama-FDJ) – same time
   6. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) – same time
   7. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) – same time
   8. Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – same time
   9. Sondre Edvardsen-Fredheim (Uno-X Mobility) – same time
   10. Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – same time

General Classification after Stage 9

1. 1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 33h 17′ 22”
   2. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – 33h 18′ 16” (+54”)
   3. Kevin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – 33h 18′ 33” (+1′ 11”)
   4. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 33h 18′ 39” (+1′ 17”)
   5. Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – 33h 18′ 56” (+1′ 34”)
   6. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 33h 19′ 08” (+1′ 46”)
   7. Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) – 33h 20′ 11” (+2′ 49”)
   8. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – 33h 20′ 24” (+3′ 02”)
   9. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – 33h 20′ 28” (+3′ 06”)
   10. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) – 33h 21′ 05” (+3′ 43”)

Jersey Holders after Stage 9

• • Yellow Jersey (General Classification): Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
  • Green Jersey (Points Classification): Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
  • Polka-Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Tim Wellens (Lotto)
  • White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)

LAVAL ESPACE MAYENNE, France (12 July 2025) — Third sprint was the charm for Jonathan Milan, who powered to victory in Laval to claim his maiden stage win in the Tour de France. Lidl-Trek’s powerhouse not only raised his arms in triumph for the first time, he also ended Italy’s longest drought in the history of the race.

One hundred and thirteen stages had passed since Vincenzo Nibali’s success in Val Thorens on stage 20 of the 2019 Tour—a number that corresponds to the emergency number for the police in Italy. On day 114, Milan answered the call. With his stellar record on the track, Milan also continues the trend of winning world champions in this Tour de France.

Wout van Aert (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) completed the stage podium, while Mathieu Burgaudeau and Matteo Vercher (Total Energies) shared the combativity award in recognition of their grit.

A Sprinter’s Paradise

After a couple of explosive stages in perfect weather conditions, the Tour de France 2025 returned to a flat stage between Saint-Méen-le-Grand—Louison Bobet’s hometown—and Laval, a parcours tailor-made for the sprinters. Temperatures were on the rise with the thermometer reading over 30°C, while headwinds hindered the progress of the peloton throughout the 183-kilometer stage.

The tactical chess match began early, with Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) and Jonas Rutsch (Intermarché-Wanty) quickly taking the reins to drive the bunch at 41 km/h en route to the intermediate sprint in Vitré at kilometer 85.5.

As has become customary since the start of the Tour, Jonathan Milan proved fastest on the line. The Italian powerhouse claimed another 20 points toward his green jersey tally, having accumulated 112 of his 142 points in intermediate sprints—the other 30 came with his second place in Dunkirk. This time, he bested Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Anthony Turgis (Total Energies), and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty).

The Breakaway Gambit

After the intermediate sprint, Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Energies) accelerated. Simmons controlled his move initially, but the French attacker went again at kilometer 90, this time with teammate Matteo Vercher. The duo opened a gap of one minute as they passed through Ballots at kilometer 114.9.

Over the only categorized climb of the day—Côte de Nuillé-sur-Vicoin, with its summit 16.4 kilometers from the finish—the gap was down to 40 seconds with multiple teams taking front positions. Burgaudeau and Vercher both received combativity awards, a situation that had previously occurred just three times in Tour history: in 1978 with Yves Hézard and Raymond Martin in Super Besse, in 2011 with Juan Antonio Flecha and Johnny Hoogerland in Saint-Flour, and in 2016 with Julian Alaphilippe and Tony Martin in Bern.

The shared combativity award represents one of the rarest occurrences in Tour de France history. In the race’s 112-year existence, only four instances have seen the most combative rider prize split between two competitors, making this Total Energies duo’s recognition an exceptionally uncommon achievement. The award, which has been presented since 1952, typically goes to a single rider who demonstrates exceptional fighting spirit or tactical audacity during the stage. For teammates to share this honor adds another layer of rarity to the moment, underlining the collaborative nature of their breakaway effort and the race jury’s recognition that neither rider’s contribution could be separated from the other’s in their day-long escape attempt.

Burgaudeau continued solo as Vercher was dropped with 13 kilometers to go. The Frenchman was eventually caught nine kilometers later as the pace ramped up for the slightly rising finish in Laval.

The Sprint Finale

In the final kilometers, the tension was palpable as the sprint trains organized. Milan, perfectly positioned in the front group, waited for the optimal moment to launch his kick. Going with 200 meters to go might have seemed premature, but the Italian’s raw power proved decisive as he held off the charging field to claim his breakthrough victory.

“I’m happy with the victory,” Milan said post-stage. “We worked for it and it eventually came on the third opportunity. I knew I could count on my boys. From the start of the day, we started super motivated and they’ve done an extraordinary job. I always had someone to follow. It was not easy to move together but they know how to guide me and they controlled the whole stage. I needed to repay them with a victory.”

The 25-year-old track world champion continued: “It was a tough finale. I was in the front positions and I waited for the right moment to launch my sprint. Going with 200 metres to go might have been a bit long but it was hard for everyone, I gave it all and it worked out. I knew it was important to win today. It’s really nice to get it after all the efforts from the whole team. When you have a full team believing, it makes things easier. And now we’d like to have some more!”

GC Contenders Play It Safe

For the general classification contenders, it was a day of damage limitation and recovery after the previous stages’ intensity. Race leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) navigated the stage safely, maintaining his 54-second advantage over Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step).

“It was a much more relaxing stage than the previous ones,” Pogačar reflected. “I would have wished to have some more straight roads, as we went through so many villages and that made the race hectic and stressful sometimes. In any case, it has been a good day out in order to recover from the many efforts we have already done.”

The Slovenian also praised teammate João Almeida’s resilience: “João is a warrior. You could see him suffering all day long, especially with accelerations—but he still hung on and kept going. He has the true spirit of a champion.”

Evenepoel echoed the sentiment about stage safety: “Overall, it was a comfortable day, but in stages like this, it gets very nervous in the finale. I stayed focused because for riders in the general classification, crashes in sprints are the most stupid thing that can happen. In any case, this stage feels good after two very intense days.”

Jersey Implications

Milan’s victory also secured him the green jersey, adding extra significance to his maiden Tour stage win. “It’s even more special to win with the green jersey,” he noted. “I really enjoy it, I feel even more encouragements from the crowds, although it was not my jersey until the end of the stage. Getting the win and the full points is also perfect in that regard.”

Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates XRG) retained the polka-dot jersey, though he acknowledged its temporary nature: “So far, keeping the polka dot jersey has been possible, and I expect to hold it at least one more day as there won’t be any categorized climbs tomorrow. Yet, on Monday, there are too many points at stake and I’ll probably lose it. I have no KOM ambitions. My goal from the start has been working for Tadej and his fourth overall win, and it’s still the case.”

The Breakaway Perspective

For the day’s escapees, the shared combativity award provided consolation for their brave effort. Vercher reflected on the unique situation: “I’ve already won the combativity award in Lille, but it’s really cool to share it with Mathieu, it’s almost unique. When we set off, we thought it might give the others some ideas, but in the end it was just the two of us at the front and had a great time. I was a bit frustrated at the end because I had a puncture, so I didn’t get the chance to show what I could do as much as I would have liked.”

Burgaudeau, philosophical about the breakaway’s chances, added: “The plan was for me to do it alone, but then Matteo helped me get started and ended up at the front with me. It was too much for him, so we carried on together and I was really happy. We’re two mates, so sharing this breakaway as a duo in the Tour de France is a great moment. The same goes for sharing the prize. No one was interested in the breakaway today, but it’s still a chance to be in the Tour de France, so I like to give it a go even though I know there’s very little chance of making it to the end.”

Looking Ahead

With another flat stage on the horizon, Milan’s confidence was evident: “Hopefully I get some nice sleep because tomorrow we have another beautiful stage for us. So let’s enjoy this and let’s try again.”

The stage results showcased the depth of the sprinting field, with Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), and Tobias Lund Andersen (Team Picnic PostNL) rounding out the top positions behind the podium finishers.

As the Tour de France continues its northward trajectory, Milan’s breakthrough victory serves as a reminder that patience and persistence often yield the sweetest rewards in cycling’s greatest race. For Italy, the 114-stage drought is finally over, and for Milan, the first of potentially many Tour stage victories is now reality.

By the Numbers

8: A NEW WINNER
It took Jonathan Milan, a Tour de France rookie, 8 stages to raise his arms for the first time. The Italian claimed his 7th victory of the year, the 23rd of his professional career, which began in 2021. This is his 5th Grand Tour victory, after four at the Giro d’Italia (one in 2023, three in 2024). He’s also the first rookie of the Tour 2025 (out of 49 at the start) to win!

113: FORZA ITALIA
Jonathan Milan ends Italy’s longest-ever Tour victory drought. The country had not won in 113 stages, 113 being the number to call for police assistance in Italy! This is Italy’s 266th Tour victory. The last was Vincenzo Nibali’s victory in Val Thorens in 2019 (stage 20), 2,177 days ago. For the last victory by an Italian sprinter, we go back to Elia Viviani in Nancy in 2019 (stage 4).

2: TWO COMBATIVES
Having escaped for 71 kilometers, Mathieu Burgaudeau and Mattéo Vercher were awarded the combativity prize… together! It’s only the 4th time in history that two riders have received the prize. Previous duos: Yves Hezard and Raymond Martin (Super-Besse 1978), Juan Antonio Flecha and Johnny Hoogerland (Saint-Flour 2011), Julian Alaphilippe and Tony Martin (Bern 2016). It’s the second time it has happened to two riders from the same team, in this case TotalEnergies. Alaphilippe and Martin were both riding for Etixx-Quick Step at the time.

112-113-114: MILAN, IT WAS WRITTEN
The 112th edition of the Tour de France saw Italy end a 113-stage drought, the day Jonathan Milan became the 114th Italian rider to win a stage in the race!

12: ALMOST DONE FOR VAN AERT AND VISMA
Second today, Wout van Aert recorded his best result since the start, but there are now eight podium finishes without a victory for him. The Belgian has not won since stage 20 of the Tour 2022, a time trial between Lacapelle-Marival and Rocamadour. This also leaves 12 podium finishes without a victory for the Visma – Lease A Bike team, which nevertheless leads the team classification.

1: THE KING OF INTERMEDIATE SPRINTS
112 of Jonathan Milan’s 192 points were scored in intermediate sprints. The Italian made these intermediate sprints a key element in his quest for the green jersey. He won these sprints on stages 1, 3, 6, and 8. For stages 2 (5th), 4 (5th), and 7 (6th), he wasn’t first… but he won the peloton fight for intermediate sprints each time, beating his direct rivals in the points classification!

168: BRAVE ALMEIDA
João Almeida finished 168th, 6’42” behind Jonathan Milan, his worst position in a Grand Tour stage (he has 4 Giro d’Italia, 3 Vuelta a España, and it’s his 2nd Tour de France). The Portuguese is fighting pain, suffering from a rib fracture (left side) yesterday, as well as abrasions on his body.

3: ITALIAN CELEBRATION
Not only did Italy win, but there were also three Italians in the top 10 (Jonathan Milan 1st, Alberto Dainese 8th, Vincenzo Albanese 9th). A first since stage 13 of the Tour 2022, which finished in Saint-Étienne (Filippo Ganna 6th, Luca Mozzato 9th, Andrea Pasqualon 10th).

10: LIDL-TREK TWO YEARS LATER
Jonathan Milan gives Lidl-Trek its 10th Tour victory, the first since Mads Pederson in Limoges in 2023 (stage 8).

Stage 8 Results:

1. 1. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) – 3:50:26
   2. Wout van Aert (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) – same time
   3. Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – same time
   4. Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) – same time
   5. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) – same time
   6. Tobias Lund Andersen (Team Picnic PostNL) – same time
   7. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) – same time
   8. Alberto Dainese (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – same time
   9. Vincenzo Albanese (EF Education-EasyPost) – same time
   10. Søren Edvardsen-Fredheim (Uno-X Mobility) – same time

General Classification after Stage 8:

1. 1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – 29:48:30
   2. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – +0:54
   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 (Team 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 8:

• • Yellow Jersey (Overall Leader): Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
  • Green Jersey (Points): Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
  • Polka-dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
  • White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)