"Falling Gracefully": Pogacar Stumbles and Expresses Gratitude to Rivals
**The Pyrenees Trilogy Shapes the 2025 Tour de France**
As the Tour de France enters its second week, the attention turns to the rugged Pyrenees, where a trio of mountain stages promises to reshape the general classification.
**Key Pyrenees Mountain Stages (2025)**
The 2025 Tour de France features a challenging series of Pyrenean stages, including two summit finishes and a demanding time trial:
- **Stage 13:** A grueling mountain stage that ends at the ski resort of Hautacam, following a series of demanding climbs. - **Stage 14:** A punishing route from Pau to Luchon-Superbagnères, featuring four legendary Pyrenean climbs and a summit finish at Luchon-Superbagnères. - **Stage 15:** A hilly stage towards Carcassonne, with three categorized climbs and a technical descent towards the finish. - **Stage 16 (Climbing Time Trial):** A steep, selective time trial finishing in Peyragudes.
These stages, especially the back-to-back summit finishes and the climbing time trial, will test the limits of even the strongest riders.
**Why Mountain Stages Are Crucial for Tadej Pogacar**
Tadej Pogacar, the reigning Tour de France champion, is known for his exceptional climbing ability and time trial prowess. In the context of the Pyrenees trilogy, these stages are crucial for him:
- **Opportunity to Gain Time:** Mountain stages provide Pogacar with the opportunity to leverage his climbing skills to put time into his rivals or defend against attacks. - **Summit Finishes:** The multiple summit finishes are ideal for explosive attacks, which match Pogacar’s strengths. - **Fatigue Factor:** The difficulty and length of the Pyrenean stages mean that only the strongest climbers will endure. Pogacar’s stamina and recovery are crucial here. - **Strategic Timing:** The Pyrenees arrive after the Alps, so Pogacar’s ability to recover and attack in these conditions could be decisive. - **Time Trial Ascent:** The climbing time trial in Peyragudes is another opportunity for Pogacar to showcase his dual abilities as a climber and time trialist.
**The Race So Far**
Recently, Pogacar crashed a few kilometers before the finish in Toulouse, but he reached the finish line unscathed after putting his chain back on. Meanwhile, the current race leader, Ben Healy, maintained his lead, with Pogacar 29 seconds behind and Remco Evenepoel 1:29 minutes behind.
The race has been hectic and fast, with Mathieu van der Poel, the ex-world champion, being caught just one kilometer from the finish in the stage on Sunday. Van der Poel started the race with a cold, according to his team.
**Looking Ahead**
As the race heads into the Pyrenees, the focus is on Pogacar and his rivals, including Jonas Vingegaard. The upcoming stages are expected to be decisive, with potential for big gaps in the general classification.
Pogacar expressed relief and admiration, saying, "Respect to the peloton, respect to everyone. Thank you." Florian Lipowitz, a German hopeful, shook hands with Pogacar after the crash.
The second week of the Tour could prove to be the most decisive, according to Pogacar. The Pyrenees trilogy will certainly test the limits of even the strongest riders, but for a rider of Pogacar’s caliber, these stages represent a prime opportunity to defend his yellow jersey.
The Pyrenees Trilogy, consisting of three mountain stages and a climbing time trial, will test the limits of even the strongest riders in the 2025 Tour de France. These stages, including the grueling Hautacam ascent and back-to-back summit finishes, are crucial for Tadej Pogacar, given his exceptional climbing ability and time trial prowess.
