Pogačar reclaims yellow jersey and
showcases dominance at Tour de France
[July 12, 2025]
MUR-DE--BRETAGNE, France (AP) — Less than a week after the
Tour de France began, world champion Tadej Pogačar secured a second
stage win at the top of a challenging climb and and reclaimed the
yellow jersey on Friday.
The 197-kilometer (122-mile) Stage 7 between Saint-Malo and Mûr-de-Bretagne
did not feature a major difficulty until the finishing loop,
including the iconic Mur-de-Bretagne ascent. Called the “Alpe d’Huez
of Brittany” by the cycling-crazed Bretons because of its steep
gradient, the climb was tackled twice and the finish line was set up
at the top.
Pogačar and his teammates from UAE Team Emirates-XRG were in total
control in the stage finale, which was contested by a small group of
riders including two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard — Pogačar's
main rival — and Remco Evenepoel.
Pogačar launched the sprint some 200 meters from the finish and
Vingegaard jumped on his wheel but was unable to overtake his rival.
Pogačar had time to raise his right arm in triumph as he crossed.
Behind Vingegaard, Oscar Onley completed the stage podium.
“We did an amazing job, all the teammates were perfect,” Pogačar
said. “We had a plan, we stuck to it, and we won. Tim (Wellens) led
me out to the bottom of the final climb. And then (Jhonatan) Narvaez
did a superb job to keep things under control until the sprint.”
Pogačar is the overwhelming favorite to win a fourth Tour title. He
has been in supreme form since the start of the season and has been
the best rider since the start of the Tour last weekend.
His latest win marked his 19th Tour stage victory overall. This
week, the defending champion claimed the 100th professional victory
of his stellar career in typically flamboyant style, beating Mathieu
van der Poel in a dash to the line to win the hilly fourth stage.
Pogačar was also impressive during the first time trial of the race
and is expected to dominate even more when the Tour reaches the
mountains.
This is the 42nd time Pogacar leads the overall standings.
Overall, Pogačar has a 54-second lead over Evenepoel, with Frenchman
Kévin Vauquelin in third place, 1:11 off the pace. Jonas Vingegaard
was fourth, 1:17 behind, followed by Van der Poel, the overnight
leader who was dropped early in the final climb.
[to top of second column] |
The pack with Netherlands' Mathieu van der Poel wearing the overall
leader's yellow jersey rides along the beach during the seventh
stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 197 kilometers (122.4
miles) with start in Saint-Malo and finish in Mur-de-Bretagne
Guerledan, France, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Almeida crashes
A five-man break including former Tour champion Geraint Thomas
formed soon after the start, gaining an early lead of 1 minute, 40
seconds. Frenchman Ewen Costiou, a Tour debutant, attacked from that
group and tried to go solo, leading the race over the first ascent
of the Mûr-de-Bretagne. But with the chase raging behind him, the
task was way too big and he was caught by the group including all of
the main contenders with 12 kilometers left.
As riders scrambled for position at the front, a dozen of them were
caught in a high-speed crash on a downhill some six kilometers from
the finish line. Pogačar's teammate Joao Almeida was among those
involved.
“I’m super happy with the win today. But not everything is perfect,
Joao is going for X-rays after his crash," Pogačar said. “He’s in
great shape so I really hope it’s nothing broken and he can
continue.”
Almeida escaped without a concussion but has “an uncomplicated
left-sided rib fracture, as well as some profound abrasions to his
body," UAE Team Emirates-XRG said. He is expected to start
Saturday's stage.
Saturday's stage
The peloton exits Brittany during Stage 8, a 171-kilometer
(106.5-mile) mainly flat trek from Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval on
roads sheltered from the wind. Expect a bunch sprint.
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