15: HEALY AFTER BENNETT
Ben Healy raises his arms for the first time on the Tour. He gives Ireland its 15th victory, almost five years after Sam Bennett's last victory (Champs-Élysées 2020). This is his second Grand Tour success – he won stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia 2023 in Fossombrone.
10: RIGHT CALL BEFORE MÛR-DE-BRETAGNE GUERLÉDAN
Mathieu Van der Poel regains the Yellow Jersey, the 10th of his career and the 85th for the Netherlands. His very first was won in 2021 in Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan. The venue that will host the finish of stage 7 tomorrow!
3: SHAKES IN THE CLASSIFICATIONS
Tadej Pogacar loses the lead in the general classification, the points classification, and the best climber classification. The last time these three classifications changed hands on the same day was on stage 3 of the Tour 2019. Julian Alaphilippe took the Yellow Jersey from Mike Teunissen, who was also dethroned in the points classification by Peter Sagan. Tim Wellens (already him!) took the polka dot jersey from Greg Van Avermaet.
144: VICTORIOUS RAID
Offensive from the very beginning, Ben Healy entered into the decisive breakaway at km 57, until the finish 144 km later! The Irishman broke away to take the lead alone with 42 km to go. A scenario similar to that of his victory at the Giro d'Italia 2023: he escaped alone with 50 km to go.
1: CLOSEST IN 14 YEARS
There is one second between the Yellow Jersey (Mathieu Van der Poel) and his runner-up (Tadej Pogacar) in the general classification. This is the smallest gap after six stages since the 2011 edition, 14 years ago! The same gap separated general classification leader Thor Hushovd from eventual winner Cadel Evans in Lisieux.
2: THE POWER OF YOUTH
At 24 years, 9 months and 29 days, Ben Healy is the second-youngest Irish winner on the Tour after his compatriot Sean Kelly. He was 22 years, 1 month and 11 days old when he won in Poitiers in 1978.
40: IRELAND IS SHINING
17: WELLENS WITH THE POLKA DOT JERSEY
Holder of the polka dot jersey during stage 3, before losing it to Tadej Pogacar, Tim Wellens regains the lead in the climbers' classification. This is his 17th polka dot jersey, equaling Christopher Froome, Laurent Jalabert, and Peter de Clercq.
2: STRONG AMERICANS
With Quinn Simmons (2nd) and William Barta (6th), two Americans are in the top six today. It’s the first time since stage 9 of the Tour 2023 (Matteo Jorgenson 4th, Neilson Powless 6th). The United States' last victory dates back to stage 15 of the Tour 2021, won by Sepp Kuss in Andorre-la-Vieille.
12: ONE MORE FOR EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST
The team EF Education - EasyPost wins for the 12th time. Its last success was on July 17, 2024, during stage 17 won by Richard Carapaz in SuperDévoluy. The team took its first victory in 2011 (when it had a different name), winning a team time trial. 10 different riders have won since, the only one to do so twice being Thor Hushovd (stages 13 and 16 in 2011).
