July 19, Stage 14 Pau > Luchon-Superbagnères
The final stage in the Pyrenees changed the script, as an early attacker managed to fend off Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). Already a winner at Hautacam and Peyragudes, the Slovenian leader of the Tour de France 2025 was once again the first of the GC contenders, getting the better of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the final metres of the climb to Superbagnères. However, he had to settle for second, finishing behind Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers). The Dutch attacker was part of a strong breakaway that emerged on the climb to the Col du Tourmalet. He tamed the Col d’Aspin and attacked his rivals on the ascent of the Col de Peyresourde. After a 37-km solo ride, he was able to celebrate his second Grand Tour stage win, having previously conquered Sierra Nevada at La Vuelta 2022, on a day that saw him be the only early attacker to resist the return of the bigger GC contenders. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is now the third man in the overall standings, after Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) retired early in the stage.
The final stage in the Pyrenees is the most brutal on paper with four major climbs to tackle – Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde, Superbagnères – and 4,950 metres of elevation en route to Superbagnères. After Bryan Coquard withdrew due to a hand injury, 170 riders remain at the start in Pau.
Milan wants the intermediate sprint
Despite the drizzle falling on the peloton, there are many contenders for the breakaway. The ultra-mountainous profile does not particularly suit Jonathan Milan, but the intermediate sprint just before the climb to Tourmalet encourages him to attack.
He doesn’t succeed, nor do the very active Valentin Madouas, Fred Wright, Michael Woods and Bruno Armirail, whose moves are systematically reeled in, either by Visma-Lease au Bike or by Lidl-Trek, who take control of the race.
Skjelmose and Evenepoel abandon the race
The American team control the bunch for Jonathan Milan, who rushes for the 20 points in the sprint (km 70.1). But behind them, their Danish climber Mattias Skjelmose had already suffered a heavy fall at km 53. He is forced to withdraw.
The first slopes of the Tourmalet climb immediately eliminate the sprinters, and much more surprisingly Remco Evenepoel, who is among the first to dropped under the pace set by UAE Team Emirates-XRG at the head of the Yellow Jersey group.
Lenny Martinez goes solo
Meanwhile, an attack develops 15 kilometres from the summit in two stages. First, a group consisting of Rubio, Muhlberger (Movistar), Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), V. Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step), O’Connor (Jayco-AlUla), Healy (EF Education Easypost) and Johannessen (Uno-X) get away. And then a counter-attack develops with Kuss, S. Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike), Ca. Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers), Vlasov (RedBull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Storer (Tudor), Costiou (Arkéa-B&B), Mas, Castrillo (Movistar), Higuita (XDS Astana), Jegat (TotalEnergies) and Woods (Israel-Premier Tech).
The polka dot jersey goes solo for the last 6 kilometres of ascent. Over the top, he has opened a gap of 1’45’’ over his closest pursuers and 3’30’ over the yellow jersey peloton.
Martinez caught on the descent from Aspin
Despite losing half his advantage on the descent following the Tourmalet, the polka dot jersey is still on his own over the top of the second climb, Col d’Aspin (km 119.3). But the threat from Kuss and V. Paret-Peintre, who had set off in pursuit, materialises as they catch at the bottom of the descent to Arreau (km 131).
The other chasers did not give up, and as they enter the climb to the Col de Peyresourde, the group comes together again, with eight riders remaining. Thymen Arensman proved to be the most inspired and strongest on this climb, attacking 4.5 kilometres from the summit.
Arensman goes solo
The Dutchman crosses the Col de Peyresourde with a 1’20’’ lead over his closest rivals, including Martinez, who secures the polka dot jersey by taking second place, and 3’30’ over the Yellow Jersey group, which begins its chase under the impetus of UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
Entering the final climb, the Ineos Grenadiers rider keeps his hopes alive with a 2’15‘’ lead over his closest pursuers and 3’05’’ over the yellow jersey group. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) is the first of the GC contenders to attack, with 8 km to go. Then Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) sets off 4 km later.
Vingegaard and Pogacar trade a few attacks until the Slovenian gets the better of his Danish rival in the final stretch, opening a gap of 4’’ on the line. But Arensman had already finished a minute earlier, for a maiden Tour victory in his maiden participation. Fifth on the day, Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) takes the white jersey as well as the third place in the overall standings left vacant by Evenepoel.
Stage 14
- Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) 4h53’35”
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +1’08”
- Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) +1’12”
GC
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 50h40’28”
- Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) +4’13”
- Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) +7’53”
