On the day after he rose to power at Hautacam, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) doubled up with yet another dominant performance to Peyragudes. Already a winner at the ski resort in 2022, the Slovenian 3-time winner of the Tour de France dominated the uphill time trial held on the same slopes, matching his record at La (Super) Planche des Belles Filles, where he also won an ITT (2020) and a road stage (2022). Pogacar brings his tally to 21 Tour stage wins, with 9 of these successes coming in the Pyrenees. He’s also dominated the last six finishes atop category 1 or HC climbs. As for the overall standings, he claims his 46th Maillot Jaune and pushes his lead over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) to 4’07’’ while Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) had another tough day and now trails by 7’24’’. The peloton remain in the Pyrenees to face a very different challenge on Saturday, with four major ascents en route to Luchon-Superbagnères.
The riders kicking off the stage are mainly concerned with avoiding elimination. Fortunately for them, the time limits have been raised to 40% on this occasion instead of the 33% initially planned.
Plapp goes hard
Matteo Vercher sets an initial benchmark time (30’01’’) that is quickly beaten by Jordi Meeus (29’32’’), and then by Roel van Sintmaartensdijk (29’12’’). The race then enters a different phase with the arrival of young climber Lennert Van Eetvelt, the first rider to break the 28-minute barrier (27’49’’).
The Lotto rider then ceded the hot seat to Luke Plapp, who combined the qualities of a rouleur and a climber, which he had already demonstrated in Paris-Nice in 2024 (6th). Reaching the top of the final ramp with a time of 24'58" (26.2 km/h), the Australian champion takes a comfortable lead in the provisional standings.
Roglic takes the hot seat, Pogacar takes it all
On the hunt for KOM points, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) looks like he’s having a great day. The French youngster only trails by 9’’ halfway through the ascent but he falters on the final gradients and crosses the line with a gap of 23’’. It’s a similar situation for Adam Yates, trailing by 4’’ at the 2nd intermediate checkpoint (km 7.6) and 17’’ on the line.
As the GC contenders set off, Plapp’s lead is under threat. He resists Matteo Jorgenson (+5’’) but Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) edges him out of the hot seat. The Slovenian proves to be the third strongest man on the day, ahead of his teammate Florian Lipowitz, 36 seconds behind him.
Ahead, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) delivers another strong performance: 23’00’’ (28.4 km/h). Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) is his closest rival (+36’’), crossing the line just before Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step), who had another tough day (12th, +2’39’’).
