Pogacar Maintains Command as Tour de France Nears Conclusion

After the 18th stage of the 2025 Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar has extended his lead in the general classification, solidifying his position with a total time of 66 hours, 55 minutes, and 42 seconds. With only three stages remaining, Pogacar's closest competitor, Jonas Vingegaard, trails by 4 minutes and 26 seconds. The stage saw Pogacar finishing second to Ben O'Connor, who clinched victory, helping him secure a spot in the top ten of the overall standings, while also reinforcing Pogacar's supremacy as he leads in the points and mountain classifications.

In the restructured standings, Pogacar continues to dominate not just the overall race, but also the points classification with 257 points, and holds the top spot in the mountain classification with 105 points. Florian Lipowitz retains his lead in the young rider classification, followed by Oscar Onley and Kévin Vauquelin, who has slipped to seventh place after losing ground to Felix Gall during the stage.

The day also witnessed dramatic moments, including the abandonment of Carlos Rodriguez, which opened avenues for other racers like O'Connor. Thomas Voeckler criticized Pogacar's teammate, Nils Pollit, for unsportsmanlike conduct during the race, noting the incident highlights the ongoing controversies surrounding this year's Tour. Furthermore, the UCI is investigating the presence of Johan Bruyneel, a banned figure from cycling, at the event, adding another layer of scrutiny to the Tour's integrity as it approaches its climax.

Attention now turns to the final stages, with riders like Onley and Gall battling closely for podium positions, while Pogacar looks to defend his lead and secure his overall victory in this prestigious event.