"Falling Gracefully": Pogacar Tumbles but Expresses Gratitude to Rivals
The upcoming Pyrenees stages in the 2025 Tour de France are poised to significantly impact the race's general classification, as three pivotal summit finishes—Hautacam, Peyragudes, and Superbagnères—are expected to separate the top contenders and determine the race's overall dynamics.
Known for its challenging climb, Hautacam recently saw Tadej Pogacar assert his dominance, regaining the Maillot Jaune with a significant gap. The stage at Peyragudes features a mountain time trial, which is expected to cause significant time differences among the top riders, with a gradient of nearly 8% for most of its length. Superbagnères, another summit finish, will likely continue the trend of sifting out the less competitive riders from the top contenders.
Riders like Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are focusing on these mountain stages, with Pogacar considering the climb to Hautacam and the mountain time trial as key stages for him. The time trial at Peyragudes is expected to be a critical test for both riders, as it could further solidify time gaps in the general classification.
In the recent stage in Toulouse, Pogacar crashed a few kilometers before the finish, causing a real scare among the spectators. Despite the incident, he reached the finish line unharmed, putting his chain back on after the crash and continuing racing. His team confirmed that he had not suffered a concussion or fractures, only bruises and scrapes on his left forearm and hip.
Mathieu van der Poel missed his third Tour de France stage win in a row, finishing third behind Jonas Abrahamsen, while Florian Lipowitz, a German hopeful, is 3:34 minutes behind Healy in the general classification. The first Pyrenean stage will start in Auch and cover 180.6 kilometers, with 3,850 meters of climbing to the ski resort of Hautacam. The stage will also include the 1,474-meter-high Col du Soulor before the final 13.5-kilometer climb with gradients of up to 11.3 percent.
As the race progresses, the Pyrenees stages are likely to reshape the race's dynamics, offering opportunities for riders like Pogacar and Vingegaard to assert their dominance or challenge for the lead. Incidents like Pogacar's crash in Toulouse serve as reminders of the unpredictable nature of the sport, but the competitors remain focused on the upcoming challenges.
In the upcoming Pyrenees stages, other sports like cycling might be on the sidelines as riders like Pogacar and Vingegaard focus their energies on challenging summit finishes such as Hautacam, Peyragudes, and Superbagnères. The mountain time trial at Peyragudes could provide an opportunity for other contenders to close the gap or for top riders like Pogacar and Vingegaard to further solidify their positions in the general classification.
