LA PLAGNE, France (25 July 2025) — The mountains speak their own language through gradients and oxygen debt, through the rhythm of labored breathing and the percussion of carbon wheels against tarmac. On this penultimate day in the Alps, with the Tour’s final act awaiting in Paris, the peloton faces one last reckoning with the high places that have defined this race since its inception.
Stage 19 of the Tour de France 2025 should have been a ceremonial procession, the final mountain test before the yellow jersey procession to the Champs-Élysées. Instead, it becomes a theater of dreams and records, where a Dutch climber named Thymen Arensman etches his name into Tour folklore with a performance that defies logic and rewrites the script of what seems inevitable. But perhaps more significantly, it becomes the stage where Jonas Vingegaard finally answers the question that haunts him since last year’s defeat: can he still match Tadej Pogačar in the mountains?
The answer comes in the final sprint to the line, where the Dane reaches 34.3 km/h to edge the Slovenian by mere inches—breaking a nine-stage mountain losing streak that stretches back to their last meaningful confrontation. For Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), wearing the polka-dot jersey in deference to Pogačar’s (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) yellow, it represents a psychological victory worth far more than the two seconds he gains.
The Quiet Before the Storm
The morning air in Albertville carries the weight of expectation and the promise of Alpine drama. This storied city, which has become a regular fixture in the Tour’s Alpine odyssey, prepares to witness its sixth peloton departure in less than a decade. The ghosts of cycling’s past linger in the mountain air—Pierre Rolland’s triumph in 2012, Romain Bardet’s coup in 2016, Geraint Thomas’s yellow jersey seizure in 2018, and most memorably, the 2022 stage to the Granon where Vingegaard first dethrones Pogačar.
Nature intervenes before the riders even clip in. A course change reduces the stage from its original 129.9 kilometers to a compact but venomous 93.1 kilometers, concentrating the day’s drama into a tighter window. The 161-man peloton will roll through Beaufort before rejoining the original route toward La Plagne, where the final HC climb of the 2025 Tour awaits like a sleeping giant.
At 14:30, the peloton begins their 5.4-kilometer neutral parade through the streets of Albertville, a city that will soon fade into memory as the mountains rise ahead. Local hero Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), born in this very town, carries the hopes of French cycling on his shoulders. His aggressive racing style, witnessed just yesterday and during the Critérium du Dauphiné’s passage through these same roads, promises fireworks from the opening kilometers.
The stage profile appears deceptively benign on paper—just 93.1 kilometers through the heart of the Tarentaise Valley after the course change. But those familiar with Alpine racing know better. Three classified climbs await: the Col du Pré (12.6km at 7.7%), the Cormet de Roselend (5.9km at 6.3%), and finally, the hors catégorie beast of La Plagne (19.1km at 7.2%). With 45 King of the Mountains points available—20 each at the first and final climbs, plus five at the Cormet—the day’s mathematics heavily favor the pure climbers.
The jersey situation adds layers of intrigue to the unfolding drama. Pogačar enters the day in commanding yellow, his 4:26 advantage over Vingegaard seeming insurmountable with just three stages remaining. Yet the Slovenian’s dominance in the mountains classification—105 points to Vingegaard’s 89—means he starts wearing yellow while his Danish rival dons the polka dots, a visual reminder of the power dynamics that define this Tour.
In the points classification, Jonathan Milan’s (Lidl-Trek) sprint victory yesterday moves him to 332 points, extending his lead to 75 over the yellow jersey. The Italian’s Lidl-Trek team controls the early pace, their seven remaining riders forming a perfect train as the race officially begins at 14:45.
The truncated distance only sharpens the stakes. With less road to work with, every move will carry amplified consequence, every hesitation potentially decisive.
The Early Choreography
As ritual dictates in this Tour, Lidl-Trek assumes their familiar position at the front of the bunch, shepherding the green jersey of Jonathan Milan toward the intermediate sprint at Villard-sur-Doron. The first 12 kilometers to Villard-sur-Doron unfold at a civilized pace, the peloton content to let Lidl-Trek orchestrate the approach to the intermediate sprint. Quinn Simmons, Toms Skujiņš, Thibau Nys, and Jasper Stuyven (all Lidl-Trek) take turns at the front, their mechanical precision testifying to modern sprint train tactics. Behind them, Milan sits perfectly positioned, flanked by teammates Simone Consonni and Edward Theuns.
The sprint itself displays a masterclass in controlled aggression. Milan, resplendent in his emerald tunic, dominates with characteristic ease, claiming his seventh intermediate sprint victory of the Tour—a small but symbolic assertion of control in a race where such moments of certainty have become increasingly rare. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) manages second, with Anthony Turgis (Total Energies) completing the podium. But Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) catches the eye, following the sprinters through and then continuing his acceleration beyond the line—the first hint that the day’s racing is about to ignite.
Alpine Overtures
The Col du Pré provides the stage’s first selective moment, its 7.2% gradient serving as an appetizer for the feast of suffering to come. The approach to the Col du Pré marks the Tour’s transition from valley roads to mountain warfare. As the gradient begins its inexorable rise, the peloton’s demeanor shifts perceptibly. Conversations cease, positions crystallize, and the distinctive sound of gear changes echoes through the ranks.
Abrahamsen’s early move displays textbook opportunism—a sprinter’s teammate seizing the moment when the pure climbers are still sizing each other up. The Norwegian’s solo effort carries him clear as the climb’s initial ramps sort the field, but seasoned observers know this is merely the opening gambit in a much larger game.
Behind him, the climb’s steeper pitches—reaching 10% in places—begin to reveal the day’s true protagonists. From the inevitable early skirmishes, two groups crystallize at the race’s sharp end, before distilling further into a trio that will define the day’s opening act. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), still smarting from yesterday’s losses on the Col de la Loze, becomes the first to show his hand. The Slovenian veteran’s acceleration with seven kilometers remaining to the summit proves surgical in its precision, immediately distancing all but the most committed climbers.
Only Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) and Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) can match Roglič’s initial surge. Martinez, in particular, seems motivated by the 20 King of the Mountains points on offer—valuable currency in his ongoing battle with Pogačar for the polka-dot classification. The Frenchman’s aggressive riding has already netted him ten summit victories in this Tour, including three hors catégorie climbs.
The three crest the Col du Pré in that order, Martinez claiming the symbolic first passage and maximum points, Roglič taking the remaining five for second place, and Paret-Peintre rounding out the podium. Their advantage over the yellow jersey group stands at a modest 55 seconds—close enough to maintain hope, far enough to avoid immediate recapture.
Behind them, Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) assumes domestique duties for Pogačar, the Belgian’s steady tempo ensuring no dangerous moves can develop. The yellow jersey himself looks supremely relaxed, chatting occasionally with teammates Jhonatan Narváez and Adam Yates while keeping a watchful eye on Vingegaard’s position.
The Visma-Lease a Bike leader, resplendent in polka dots that fall to him as the classification’s second-placed rider, rides with the contained aggression of a rider who knows his moment will come. Surrounded by teammates and sporting the mountain jersey with quiet dignity, Vingegaard presents a paradox—outwardly calm yet internally coiled for action.
The Accelerando
The Cormet de Roselend—that familiar giant of the Tour’s alpine arsenal—begins to impose its will on the race’s narrative. The Cormet de Roselend provides a brief interlude, its gentler gradients allowing Roglič to showcase the descending skills that once made him a ski jumping world champion. The Slovenian’s fearless approach to the rain-slicked switchbacks proves breathtaking—hitting 94.6 km/h on the steepest sections while maintaining perfect control. His average speed of 62 km/h on the descent speaks to decades of experience reading mountain roads in all conditions.
Martinez again tops the climb, extending his King of the Mountains points tally, but behind, the GC group rouses itself into action. Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) takes up the tempo-setting duties, his steady rhythm designed to shed Kevin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), the Arkéa-B&B Hotels rider who fell behind on the Col du Pré.
The time gaps tell the story of a race beginning to fracture along predictable lines: the three leaders hold a 50-second advantage over the yellow jersey group, while Vauquelin trails by 1’50”, his hopes of stage glory already fading into the alpine air.
Yet even Roglič’s legendary bike handling cannot create the decisive gap needed for stage victory. Martinez and Paret-Peintre show equal commitment on the treacherous descent, their pursuit relentless despite the challenging conditions. By the time the trio reaches the valley floor, their lead stabilizes around the one-minute mark—significant enough to stay clear, but hardly insurmountable given the firepower lurking in the chase group.
Roglič, that master of tactical opportunism, senses the moment on the descent. The Slovenian, who has redefined what’s possible in his mid-thirties, drops his two companions on the technical downhill sections, his bike handling as precise as his tactical instincts.
The intermediate classifications tell the story of a race still in its infancy. At the Cormet de Roselend’s summit, Martinez extends his King of the Mountains points tally while Roglič adds to his collection. But with 20 points still available at La Plagne’s summit, the day’s major prize remains very much in play.
Behind them, the weather becomes a factor. Rain clouds gather ominously over the final climb, their dark presence adding an element of uncertainty to the tactical calculations. In mountain racing, weather can be the great equalizer—or the decisive factor that separates the truly great from the merely good.
The Final Gathering
By the time the race reaches the valley floor, the day’s story compresses into its essential elements. Paret-Peintre and Martinez, their early efforts spent, get swept up by the peloton with 32 kilometers remaining. Tim Wellens of UAE Team Emirates-XRG bridges across to Roglič, the Belgian all-rounder’s effort reducing the gap to nothing just as the road begins its final, decisive turn upward.
Ahead lie 19.1 kilometers of La Plagne, ascending at an average of 7.2%—the Tour’s final major summit, where careers can be made and dreams can die.
The Crucible of La Plagne
The sight of La Plagne’s lower slopes rising ahead like a concrete wall marks the day’s transition from chess match to full combat. This climb, with its reputation for breaking dreams and creating legends, hosts a Tour de France finish for the fifth time in the race’s history. The echoes of Laurent Fignon’s victories in 1984 and 1987 seem to whisper from every switchback, reminders of the climb’s capacity to crown champions and destroy pretenders.
The gradient of La Plagne exposes truth, and Roglič—that warrior of so many alpine battles—finds himself among the first casualties as the climb bites deep. His early distancing triggers an immediate response from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, who sense opportunity for Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) to claim fifth place overall.
As the early breakaway hits the climb’s opening kilometers, the mathematics of mountain racing begin their inexorable work. The rain that threatens all afternoon finally begins to fall, transforming the already challenging climb into a treacherous test of nerve and skill. The roads become slick, the rocks more dangerous, and the margin for error vanishingly small. These conditions favor experience over youth, calculation over impulse.
Behind the leaders, the yellow jersey group assembles into its familiar formation. Wellens continues his metronomic pace-setting, his diesel engine perfectly calibrated to keep the race under control while preserving Pogačar’s energy for the decisive moments ahead. The Slovenian champion looks around frequently, his eyes constantly seeking Vingegaard’s position—a tell-tale sign that despite his commanding overall lead, he remains acutely aware of the threat posed by his greatest rival.
The early kilometers of La Plagne are deceptively gentle, their 5-6% gradients lulling riders into a false sense of security before the climb’s middle section ramps up toward double digits. Here, with 21 kilometers remaining to the finish, the day’s script begins to deviate from expectation.
With 14 kilometers of climbing remaining, the race’s ultimate protagonist finally makes his entrance. Tadej Pogačar, bearer of 51 maillots jaunes and architect of so many alpine masterpieces, launches an attack that shatters the group like glass hitting stone.
Only Jonas Vingegaard can match the Slovenian’s acceleration, the Dane’s wheel-sucking a testament to the tactical chess match that has defined their rivalry throughout this Tour. But they are not alone—Thymen Arensman has somehow bridged across, the Ineos Grenadiers climber positioning himself in the most rarified company imaginable.
The Master Stroke
Thymen Arensman spends the early part of the stage in complete anonymity, the Dutch climber content to ride in the wheels of the yellow jersey group while his more heralded teammates and rivals mark each other. This patience proves to be tactical genius of the highest order.
The Ineos Grenadiers rider possesses advantages that aren’t immediately apparent to casual observers. He understands the psychological burden that Pogačar and Vingegaard carry—the weight of their rivalry that makes them focus on each other rather than the wider tactical picture.
When Roglič’s breakaway finally gets reeled in with 21 kilometers to go, the stage appears to be setting up for the familiar two-man battle that has defined so many mountain stages in recent years. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) assumes pace-making duties, the Austrian’s fierce tempo stringing out what remains of the yellow jersey group and creating the perfect launching pad for attacks.
The Moment of Truth
What happens next defies conventional wisdom and challenges every assumption about the hierarchy of professional cycling. With 13 kilometers remaining, Arensman—the stage winner from Hautacam who has already exceeded every expectation of his Tour—makes a decision that borders on the absurd.
He attacks Pogačar and Vingegaard.
Arensman makes his move—not with the explosive acceleration that marks most successful breakaways, but with a subtle shift in rhythm that speaks to deep tactical intelligence. His increase in pace is almost imperceptible at first, but he sustains it in a way that immediately puts his rivals on the defensive.
The Dutchman’s acceleration is not the desperate flailing of an overreaching domestique, but a calculated gamble by a rider who has already tasted the impossible once before. Pogačar and Vingegaard both react, but their response is conditioned by months of marking each other. As they glance across to gauge their rival’s reaction, Arensman simply rides away from them. His knowledge of La Plagne’s every nuance allows him to accelerate precisely where the gradient favors sustained power over explosive speed.
Within 500 meters, the Dutchman opens a gap that proves to be the winning move. His timing is perfect—late enough to avoid a prolonged chase, early enough to build an insurmountable advantage. Most importantly, he correctly calculates that Pogačar and Vingegaard will be too focused on each other to mount an effective pursuit.
As he opens a gap on the two strongest riders in the world, the alpine air seems to thin with possibility.
Three kilometers later, the inevitable regrouping occurs. Pogačar and Vingegaard join with Gall, Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL), Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost). The mathematics of the chase seem simple: seven of the world’s finest climbers against one audacious Dutchman who holds a slender 30-second advantage.
A Duel for the Ages
What follows is perhaps the most psychologically charged mountain duel of the Tour. Behind Arensman, who steadily extends his advantage with each pedal stroke, Pogačar and Vingegaard find themselves locked in the kind of personal battle that transcends mere racing tactics.
For Pogačar, the situation represents a familiar scenario. The Slovenian has dominated mountain finishes so completely in recent years that he has grown accustomed to controlling the finale from positions of strength. His nine consecutive victories over Vingegaard in mountain stages have created an aura of invincibility that extends far beyond mere statistics.
Yet something is different today. Perhaps it is the polka-dot jersey adorning Vingegaard’s shoulders—a visual reminder that the Dane remains capable of challenging for mountain prizes. Perhaps it is the accumulated pressure of maintaining yellow jersey responsibilities while also defending his King of the Mountains lead. Whatever the cause, Pogačar’s usual air of supreme confidence seems fractionally diminished.
Vingegaard, conversely, rides with the desperate urgency of a rider who understands that opportunities for redemption are becoming increasingly rare. His relegation to second place in this Tour has been comprehensive, built on a foundation of superior climbing that had seemed unshakeable. Today represents perhaps his final chance to prove that the fire that carried him to two Tour victories still burns within.
As the kilometers tick by, their tactical dance becomes increasingly intricate. Pogačar surges slightly, testing Vingegaard’s response. The Dane matches him immediately, sometimes even taking the initiative with counter-attacks of his own. Neither can shake the other, but neither gains ground on Arensman, whose metronomic pace up ahead remains untroubled by their psychological warfare.
The supporting cast adds their own subplots to the unfolding drama. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), the young German who has impressed throughout the Tour, desperately tries to limit his losses to preserve his white jersey aspirations. His 11:01 deficit to Pogačar in the overall classification means he can afford little slippage, yet the pace being set by the race leaders begins to tell on his less experienced legs.
Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL), the revelation of this Tour, also starts to feel the effects of his recent breakthrough. The young Briton gained 1:39 on yesterday’s stage to La Loze, moving to within 11:23 of the yellow jersey, but La Plagne’s relentless gradients test the limits of his still-developing mountain legs.
The Pressure Cooker
With five kilometers remaining, the race situation crystallizes into its essential elements. Arensman leads by 30 seconds, his advantage seeming stable as he maintains his devastating rhythm of 23 km/h on gradients that reduce many riders to survival mode. He has already been awarded the day’s combativity prize—a fitting recognition for the tactical masterpiece he is executing.
The gap fluctuates like a heartbeat in the thin air—30 seconds, then 25, then 20 as the final three kilometers approach. Behind Arensman, Onley begins to show the first signs of distress, his young legs finally succumbing to the accumulated fatigue of three weeks’ racing.
Behind him, the psychological tension between Pogačar and Vingegaard ratchets up another notch. Every glance, every subtle shift in position, every change in breathing pattern gets analyzed and interpreted. They are close enough to hear each other’s labored breathing, to see the strain in each other’s faces, to sense the mounting fatigue that even the world’s best climbers cannot entirely mask.
The supporting group gets whittled down to its essential components. Gall continues his pace-making duties, though his earlier efforts begin to show. Lipowitz hangs on grimly, knowing that every second lost here will be almost impossible to regain, defending his white jersey and podium position. Onley, too, fights to stay connected, his youthful enthusiasm battling against the accumulated fatigue of three weeks of racing.
The weather continues to play its part, the rain making every corner treacherous and every pedal stroke a calculated risk. These conditions test more than just physical strength—they demand complete mental focus and unwavering commitment to the racing line.
The Final Gambit
The decisive moment arrives with two kilometers remaining. Here Pogačar finally abandons his patient approach and unleashes the kind of acceleration that has become his trademark. The attack is smooth, powerful, and seemingly effortless—the hallmark of a rider operating at the very peak of his abilities.
Lipowitz, sensing the moment, accelerates. The German’s move brings Arensman into view, the gap closing with each meter of altitude gained. The stage victory that seemed impossible suddenly becomes tangibly within reach of the chase group.
For once, however, Vingegaard is ready. The Dane’s response is immediate and comprehensive, matching Pogačar’s surge with an acceleration of his own that speaks to months of preparation for exactly this moment. For the first time in their recent encounters, it is Pogačar who looks around with concern rather than confidence.
The psychological shift is subtle but unmistakable. Vingegaard, carrying the weight of nine consecutive mountain defeats, finally finds the form that once made him cycling’s most feared climber. His positioning is perfect, his breathing controlled, his pedal stroke fluid despite the enormous power he generates.
Behind them, the casualties begin to mount. Lipowitz, despite his best efforts, can no longer sustain the pace. His acceleration with 2.5 kilometers to go is brave but ultimately futile, the young German’s inexperience showing as he overextends himself when patience would serve him better.
Onley, too, finally succumbs to the accumulated strain. The Briton’s brave effort throughout the Tour has been one of the race’s most compelling storylines, but La Plagne’s merciless gradients finally find his breaking point. With two kilometers to go, he drops from the leading group, his dreams of a stage victory dissolving into the Alpine mist. The young Briton finishes 47 seconds behind Arensman—his struggles giving Lipowitz valuable breathing room in the young rider classification.
The Moment of Truth
But Arensman has found something beyond physical capability—a zone where suffering becomes transcendent, where the body’s limitations dissolve into pure will. Ahead of the drama unfolding behind him, Arensman can sense victory approaching. His intimate knowledge of La Plagne’s final kilometers tells him exactly what remains: one final ramp of maximum gradient, followed by a slight easing before the finish line. He has calculated his effort perfectly, maintaining just enough in reserve for one final acceleration when it will matter most.
The gap to his pursuers stabilizes at 15 seconds—close enough to maintain pressure, far enough to offer genuine hope of victory. His average speed of 23 km/h for the entire climb represents a performance of exceptional quality, achieved in conditions that would break lesser riders.
As the red kite marking the final kilometer appears, he maintains his advantage, the gap hovering at 20 seconds as if suspended by invisible threads. As the gradient kicks up to its maximum in the final kilometer—reaching 12% in places—Arensman finds that elusive extra gear that separates stage winners from also-rans. His acceleration is subtle but decisive, stretching his advantage back toward the 20-second mark that will guarantee victory.
Behind him, Vingegaard and Pogačar lock themselves in their own private world. The Dane positions himself perfectly for the final sprint, his bike handling in the treacherous conditions flawless despite the intensity of his effort. Pogačar, for his part, seems to calculate his options—whether to risk everything on one final acceleration or to accept that today will not be his day.
Triumph and Redemption
In those final moments, with La Plagne’s crowds creating a corridor of sound and color, Thymen Arensman holds off the inevitable. The finish line at La Plagne approaches through swirling mist and the roar of thousands of spectators who have braved the Alpine weather to witness cycling history. Arensman, arms raised in triumph, crosses first with the kind of victory that defines careers. His time for the final climb—19 minutes and 1 second—will stand as one of the finest performances in the mountain’s storied history. He crosses the line with arms raised, his face a mask of exhaustion and disbelief.
Two seconds later, the moment that cycling has waited for finally arrives. Vingegaard, summoning every ounce of the form that once made him cycling’s greatest champion, outsprints Pogačar in the final meters. His speed of 34.3 km/h in the final sprint testifies to the reserves of power he has maintained despite the brutal pace—just two seconds ahead of Vingegaard and Pogačar, who cross together in a sprint that seems almost anticlimactic after the drama that preceded it, yet carries profound psychological weight.
The psychological implications are immediate and profound. After nine consecutive mountain defeats, Vingegaard has finally proven he can still match Pogačar when it matters most. The margin is tiny—just two seconds—but the symbolism is enormous. The balance of power in cycling’s greatest rivalry has shifted, if only slightly, back toward equilibrium.
Pogačar, gracious in defeat despite his evident disappointment, crosses the line two seconds behind his greatest rival. His overall lead remains commanding at 4:26, and his yellow jersey seems secure with just two stages remaining. Yet the flicker of vulnerability he shows in the final kilometers will not go unnoticed by his rivals or the cycling world at large.
Lipowitz salvages fourth place, his deficit of six seconds to the stage winner representing a creditable performance given the circumstances. His white jersey remains secure, though Onley’s struggles have given him valuable breathing room in the young rider classification.
The Aftermath
In the immediate aftermath of his triumph, Arensman’s words capture the magnitude of what he has achieved:
“I’m absolutely destroyed. I can’t believe it. To win one stage from the breakaway was already unbelievable. But now, to do it against the GC group, against the strongest riders in the world, it feels like I’m dreaming. I don’t know what I just did.”
The tactical genesis of his attack reveals itself in the post-race interview: “After the descent towards La Plagne, I was talking on the radio, Tobias [Foss] was there, and I spoke with our DS Zak [Dempster]. I thought today is the last mountain stage. I’m not riding for GC, but I’ll try to hang on, see how the legs feel in the first kilometres of the climb. I told Tobias to swing off: ‘Tomorrow is your day, and I’ll see what I can do here.'”
His tactical gamble was born of desperation and opportunity in equal measure: “Since I’m not in the GC, I figured maybe they’ll look at each other. I just try, I just don’t take no as an answer. Tadej [Pogačar] and Jonas [Vingegaard] are the strongest in the world, almost aliens, and I’m human. I can’t believe I beat them today.”
The mental fortitude required for such an audacious move becomes clear in his description of the final kilometers: “I tried to not look behind, to go as fast as I could. I did and it was enough. This is just crazy.”
His triumph becomes all the more remarkable by the adversity he has overcome in recent weeks: “I got sick in the last week of the Giro. Somebody crashed into me and my knee was hurting. I still got to Rome but I had better hopes. To then go to the Tour and take two stage wins is just crazy.”
Behind him, Lipowitz successfully defends his white jersey and podium position, his tactical acumen evident in his race analysis: “I knew after yesterday Oscar [Onley] is very strong and I had to keep his wheel. I think I managed things quite well today. Of course, on the last climb, I was thinking a lot. You never know how your legs are in the end but I felt quite okay and when I saw him dropping, I gave everything. I’m super happy with today.”
The German’s emotional response captures the magnitude of racing at cycling’s highest level: “It’s unbelievable [to wear the white jersey and be in the GC top 3] but I expect another hard day tomorrow, with a lot of ups and downs. Everyone will try to join the breakaway so we still need to be focused. Today was amazing. It was incredible to see so many fans cheering for me, to see my name painted on the road. I never saw that. I had goosebumps during the race.”
The Yellow Jersey Milestone
For Pogačar, the day brings both triumph and tactical reflection. His 52nd day in yellow ties Jacques Anquetil’s historic record and secures his place in the Tour’s top five for most days leading the overall standings. Yet his post-race analysis reveals the complexity of racing at the sport’s pinnacle:
“We did a very good job until the last climb. Then some riders thought they could sprint all 19 kilometres of the climb and set a super high pace from the bottom. I attacked as soon as Decathlon stopped pulling, but it was a bit too early. I thought Jonas [Vingegaard] may have wanted to win the stage as I did, but he was just following my wheel.”
His tactical decision not to follow Arensman’s attack proves costly but perhaps inevitable: “When Arensman attacked, I decided not to follow and set a defensive rhythm I felt comfortable with. Nobody else contributed to the chase, and Arensman was too strong for my comfort pace. We came close to overtaking him, but we didn’t and he deserved this win.”
The physical toll of the chase becomes evident in his description of the final kilometers: “I was pulling and counting down the kilometres left to Paris. I had to pull for nearly the whole climb, and came quite tired to the finish line.”
The fatigue of leading the Tour for nearly two months is evident in his words: “It was a tough last three days and I’m happy that today is over. The Tour de France has begun to feel very long. With this weather today, and the ceremony after… I just want to go to the bus and take a good, hot shower. This is the Tour de France, and you never know what might come your way. We have to keep our focus for two more days.”
The Broader Picture
As the riders recover in the finish area, the day’s broader implications begin to crystallize. Arensman’s victory builds on tactical intelligence of the highest order—patient positioning, perfect timing, and intimate course knowledge combine to create one of the Tour’s most impressive stage wins. His performance serves as a reminder that in mountain racing, cerebral approach can triumph over pure power.
For Vingegaard, the psychological victory is perhaps more valuable than the stage podium. His ability to match and ultimately beat Pogačar in a mountain sprint demonstrates that reports of his decline have been greatly exaggerated. The confidence gained from this performance could prove invaluable in future encounters.
Pogačar’s defeat, meanwhile, is hardly catastrophic. His yellow jersey remains secure, his overall advantage commanding, and his reputation intact. Yet the aura of invincibility that has surrounded his mountain performances fractures, creating doubt where none had existed before.
In the King of the Mountains classification, Pogačar’s dominance continues despite his stage defeat. His 105 points remain well clear of Vingegaard’s 89, with Martinez third on 97 points after his early break success. The polka-dot jersey will return to Pogačar tomorrow, though Vingegaard’s brief tenure has been symbolically important.
The points classification sees Milan extend his advantage, his early sprint points proving valuable as the Tour enters its final stages. With 332 points to Pogačar’s 257, the Italian’s green jersey appears all but secure barring catastrophe.
Historical Echoes
As the Tour prepares to leave La Plagne and continue its march toward Paris, the echoes of cycling history seem to whisper from every switchback. This climb, which has witnessed Fignon’s dominance in the 1980s and created legends across five previous Tour finishes, adds another chapter to its storied legacy.
Arensman’s victory will be remembered not just for its tactical brilliance, but for the way it has been achieved—through patience, intelligence, and perfect execution rather than brute force. In an era dominated by power meters and scientific training, his triumph reminds us that bike racing remains fundamentally about reading situations and seizing moments.
The duel between Vingegaard and Pogačar, meanwhile, adds another layer to cycling’s greatest modern rivalry. Their battle transcends mere competition, representing a clash of contrasting philosophies and approaches to the sport’s ultimate prize.
The Eternal Return
As the last riders cross the line at La Plagne and the mountains begin their descent into evening shadow, Stage 19 of the 2025 Tour de France takes its place in the race’s vast mythology. Arensman’s double triumph—Hautacam and now La Plagne—represents something pure in a sport often complicated by tactics and calculation: the victory of audacity over convention, of dreams over probability.
With just two stages remaining, the 2025 Tour enters its final act. But on this day, in these mountains that have witnessed a century of cycling’s greatest stories, Thymen Arensman adds his own chapter to the legend. The last dance at La Plagne belongs to a Dutchman who dares to dream beyond his station and finds, in that rarified air, that even aliens can be human when the mountains call the tune.
In the thin air of the French Alps, where legends forge and yellow jerseys change hands, multiple narratives converge into one transcendent moment. Arensman’s tactical masterpiece, Vingegaard’s psychological redemption, and Pogačar’s rare moment of vulnerability combine to create the kind of stage that defines Tours and lives in memory long after the final podium ceremony in Paris.
The mathematics of the race remain largely unchanged—Pogačar’s yellow jersey secure, Milan’s green jersey all but guaranteed, Lipowitz’s white jersey defended with German efficiency. Yet the psychological landscape shifts in ways that cannot be quantified by time gaps or points classifications. The aura of inevitability that surrounded this Tour’s final week shatters under a Dutchman’s audacious gamble and a Dane’s moment of redemption.
As the Tour caravan prepares to depart La Plagne for the final time, the mountain’s slopes bear witness to one eternal truth: that in cycling, as in life, it is not always the strongest who prevail, but those who dare to dream when the moment demands courage over calculation. The last dance at La Plagne reminds the cycling world why the mountains remain the Tour’s ultimate theater—unpredictable, unforgiving, and utterly unforgettable.
By the Numbers
2: DUTCH CLIMBERS’ NEW STAR
Winner in Superbagnères six days ago, Thymen Arensman raises his arms for the 2nd time and gives the Netherlands its 170th Tour victory. He is the first Dutchman to win two mountain stages since Peter Winnen, who triumphed at L’Alpe d’Huez in 1981 and 1983, over 40 years ago!
1981: NEOS GOING PAST ONE
Two riders, Jonathan Milan and Thymen Arensman, scored 2 stage wins in their first Tour. Not a common sight: the last time it happened was in 1981, with both Ad Wijnands and Daniel Willems scoring 2 stage wins at their first participation. Before Milan and Arensman, the last “neo” to win two Tour stages was Tadej Pogačar in 2020.
6/12: A HALF… MORE THAN A HALF
Thymen Arensman 1st (2 wins), Tadej Pogačar 3rd (4), Ben Healy 8th (1), Valentin Paret-Peintre 9th (1), Simon Yates 10th (1), Ben O’Connor 12th (1): half of the top-12 riders have won more than half of the stages contested (10 out of 19)!
52: POGAČAR LIKE ANQUETIL
Tadej Pogačar still leads the general classification and equals Jacques Anquetil as the 5th rider with the most Yellow Jerseys (52). His next target is Christopher Froome (59).
2000: GALL FOR AUSTRIA
Félix Gall reaches 5th place in the general classification, the best ever achieved by this rider, who is finishing his third Tour de France (8th and stage winner in 2023). He has never done as well in a Grand Tour, his references being a 6th place in the Vuelta (2022, stages 4-5) and a 18th place in the Giro (2024, stage 1). He is the first Austrian to be in the top 5 of the Tour de France since Peter Luttenberger, who was 5th after stages 10 and 11 in… 2000!
6: JOHANNESSEN IS MAKING HISTORY
Moving from 7th to 6th overall, Tobias Johannessen improves a result that would be historic for Norway. A Norwegian has never finished in the top 10 of the Tour, the highest ranking being Jostein Wilmann’s 14th place in 1980.
10: VINGEGAARD BEATS POGAČAR. FINALLY!
Tadej Pogačar had beaten Jonas Vingegaard in the last 10 mountain stages. Even if it wasn’t for today’s victory, the Dane (2nd) ended this streak by finally beating the Slovenian (3rd) in La Plagne. It hadn’t happened since the 11th stage of the Tour 2024, won by Vingegaard in Le Lioran.
63: ONE MINUTE FOR THE PODIUM
63 seconds (or 1’03”) separate Florian Lipowitz (3rd) and Oscar Onley (4th) in the general classification. The battle for the podium – which is also the battle for the white jersey – has not been this tight after 19 stages since the Tour 2019. Geraint Thomas was then 3rd, 12 seconds ahead of Steven Kruijswijk.
3: LOSER OF THE DAY
Attacking in the first part of the stage, Primož Roglič finished 27th, 12’39” behind the winner. The Slovenian had not finished so far since Mende 2022 (113th, +24’23”). He lost 3 places, slipping from 5th to 8th overall behind Kévin Vauquelin. 8th would be his worst result in a “finished” Grand Tour since 2017 (38th in the Tour de France, with a stage victory in Serre Chevalier). During this period, he won 5 Grand Tours, finished on the podium in three others… but also abandoned five times.
11: MARTINEZ’S EFFORTS WERE NOT ENOUGH
First at the summit of the Col du Pré, and then the Cormet de Roselend, Lenny Martinez has conquered 11 climbs in this Tour. It’s the highest number, far ahead of Tadej Pogačar (5), who dominates the mountains classification. The Frenchman is mathematically no longer in contention for the polka dot jersey: he is 20 points behind, with 14 remaining.
Stage 19 Results
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- Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) – 2h46’06”
- Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) – +2″
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – +2″
- Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +6″
- Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) – +47″
- Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) – +1’34”
- Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) – +1’41”
- Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) – +2’19”
- Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) – +3’47”
- Simon Yates (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) – +3’54”
General Classification After Stage 19
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- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – 69h41’46”
- Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) – +4’24”
- Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +11’09”
- Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) – +12’12”
- Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) – +17’12”
- Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) – +20’14”
- Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) – +22’35”
- Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +25’30”
- Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) – +28’02”
- Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) – +34’34”
Jersey Leaders after Stage 19
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- Yellow Jersey (Overall Leader) – Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Green Jersey (Points Classification) – Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
- Polka Dot Jersey (King Of The Mountains) – Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- White Jersey (Best Young Rider) – Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
