Tadej Pogacar Dominates Stage 12 of Tour de France 2025
Tadej Pogacar secures a commanding victory in Stage 12 of the Tour de France 2025, solidifying his lead.
Key Points
- • Pogacar won the 12th stage at Hautacam, reclaiming the yellow jersey.
- • He leads Jonas Vingegaard by 3 minutes and 31 seconds.
- • Bruno Armirail attempted a solo break but was caught before finishing.
- • Kévin Vauquelin finished 6th and moved into the top 5 overall.
In a commanding display of cycling prowess, Tadej Pogacar secured victory in the 12th stage of the Tour de France 2025, held at the challenging ascent of Hautacam on July 17. The three-time Tour winner has regained the yellow jersey, creating a significant gap of 3 minutes and 31 seconds over his nearest competitor, Jonas Vingegaard.
Pogacar, who launched his decisive attack 12 kilometers from the summit, finished the race with a time that was 2 minutes and 10 seconds ahead of Vingegaard and 2 minutes and 23 seconds ahead of German cyclist Florian Lipowitz. This victory marks Pogacar's eighth win in the Pyrenees and brings his total stage wins to 20 in his career.
The stage was characterized by an early breakaway that included around fifty cyclists, with notable participation from 13 French riders. Bruno Armirail distinguished himself with a solo break attempt approximately 40 kilometers from the finish, ultimately being caught before the finish line, but earning recognition for his aggressive effort. Kévin Vauquelin also performed admirably, finishing sixth and moving up to fifth place in the general classification.
The day’s climbing included formidable challenges, such as the col du Soulor and the final ascent to Hautacam. Despite the competitive nature of the race, it ended in a manner that lacked suspense, as Pogacar's strategy left Vingegaard struggling. Overall, Pogacar's dominance was clear, and with two more daunting stages ahead, he remains the overwhelming favorite for this year’s title as the competition intensifies for the podium’s third place among rising talents like Lipowitz, Oscar Onley, and Vauquelin against the backdrop of the looming Mont Ventoux.