1 : A CLEVER FIRST FOR WÆRENSKJOLD
Winning this Wednesday after a rambling sprint through the streets of Nevers, Soren Wærenskjold has opened his account at the Tour de France ! The imposing Uno-X Mobility rider has, in fact, climbed the podium steps one by one since last year : the sprinter finished 3rd in Lille during the opening stage of the 2025 edition, before placing 2nd in Bordeaux this year at the end of stage seven.
50.910 : A NEW MARK INCOMING
Since the very first stage in 1903, won by Maurice Garin after nearly 18 hours of racing between Paris and Lyon (covering 467 km at an average speed of 26.304 km/h), speeds in the Tour de France have steadily increased, culminating in a record-breaking 50.910 km/h on Wednesday’s stage between Vichy and Nevers. This new record was set over a relatively short distance (161.3 km), aided by a tailwind and an intense race scenario. The 45 km/h barrier was broken as early as 1935. In 1974, Eddy Merckx raced at over 48 km/h during a 112.5 km half-stage to Orléans, just before securing his fifth overall victory in Paris. The Tour peloton subsequently broke the 50 km/h mark in 1999 on the stage to Blois (194.5 km). Just last year, Tim Merlier became the second rider to exceed an average speed of 50 km/h (clocking 50.013 km/h over the 174.1 km between Chinon and Châteauroux), followed by Soren Wærenskjold at Nevers. The 51 km/h mark is drawing near.
9 : FROM LAST TO FIRST
175th. That was Soren Wærenskjold’s finishing position on Tuesday at Le Lioran. Dead last, more than 41 minutes behind winner Tadej Pogacar, partly due to a crash, the Norwegian completely turned things around in Nevers. By winning in the Nièvre prefecture, the sprinter became the ninth rider in Tour history to achieve such a feat, following in the footsteps of Caleb Ewan. The Australian, who had finished behind the broom wagon in Nice during stage 2 of the 2020 edition, raised his arms in victory the very next day in Sisteron, also at the end of a bunch sprint. Before them, René Le Grevès (1935), Maurice Blomme (1950), Roger Hassenforder (1956), Guy Ignolin (1961), Raymond Delisle, Pierre Matignon (1969), and Régis Clère (1987) had all accomplished the same.
21 : VIKINGS STILL ON THE TOUR’S STAGE
By winning in Nevers, Soren Wærenskjold secures Norway’s 21st stage victory at the Tour de France. The Uno-X Mobility sprinter, who is the seventh rider from the Scandinavian nation to triumph in the Grande Boucle, follows in the footsteps of his teammate Jonas Abrahamsen, who won stage 11 in Toulouse last year. He is also the fourth different Norwegian to win a bunch sprint, joining Thor Hushovd (his current general manager, who won five), Edvald Boasson Hagen (one), and Alexander Kristoff (four).
2 : UNO-X COUNTS DOUBLE
Uno-X Mobility could hardly have dreamed of a better Tour de France. After Torstein Træen spent two days in the Yellow Jersey during the first week, the Scandinavian squad secured the second victory in its history at the Grande Boucle, a year after Jonas Abrahamsen’s win in Toulouse. It is a remarkable achievement, especially considering that the team, comprising exclusively Norwegian and Danish riders, only made its Tour debut in 2023.
21 : A YELLOW RAINBOW
Following this stage, Tadej Pogacar keeps the Yellow Jersey as the overall leader, the 61st time in his career. Already third on the all-time ranking for wearing this prestigious garment, the Slovenian has also donned yellow over his world champion’s rainbow jersey for the 21st time. This achievement sees him surpass Bernard Hinault (20) and move closer to the all-time record held by Eddy Merckx (27). If he holds onto the jersey until then, Pogacar could overtake "The Cannibal" during stage 18, between Voiron and Orcières-Merlette.
100 : UNCLE SAM CAN STILL WAIT
It will take at least another day to see a U.S. rider claim a stage victory. On Wednesday in Nevers, Brandon McNulty posted the best U.S. result, though he finished a fair distance behind the winner (41st). The United States had not tasted victory on the Tour de France since Sepp Kuss won in Andorra la Vella during stage 15 of the 2021 edition, a winless streak spanning 100 stages. In addition to McNulty and Quinn Simmons, who finished second in Foix on stage 4, the United States can look to Sean Quinn, Matthew Riccitello, Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss to break the drought in the coming days.
