"Thymen Arensman, who successfully doubled his Tour de France stage wins, reflects on his success with a sense of escape"
Thymen Arensman Wins Tour de France Stage 19 Amid Challenging Conditions
Thymen Arensman, a 25-year-old rider for Ineos Grenadiers, claimed a memorable victory on the penultimate stage of the 2025 Tour de France. The stage 19 finish was at La Plagne, located in the northern Alps, where Arensman triumphed under heavy, cold rain[3][5].
The final climb of stage 19, a "19km, 7.2% monster," proved challenging for many riders. Arensman, however, managed to shake off Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard a few kilometers into the ascent[5]. He held off the favourites by himself for several kilometres during the stage, before crossing the finish line exhausted and delirious, securing his second Tour de France win[1][3][5].
Florian Lipowitz and Oscar Onley were among the riders pursuing Arensman in the final kilometers, but the gap between Arensman and the pursuing riders stayed between 20 and 30 seconds for a significant portion of the climb[1]. Pogacar admitted after the stage that he was very tired, suggesting his significant amount of riding on the front of the pack during the final climb may have been an attempt to win the stage[4].
Arensman's victory solidified his reputation as a top climber and stage contender. However, it did not disrupt the primary battle for the overall yellow jersey. Pogacar remained in the lead and was expected to secure his fourth Tour title barring a collapse, having strategically let Arensman go while focusing on maintaining his own rhythm[1]. The stage also marked a key psychological moment where Vingegaard responded strongly to Pogacar in the mountains, highlighting the ongoing rivalry for future Tours[2].
Despite his success, Arensman later expressed regret for looking back during the final push to the finish. He acknowledged that focusing solely on the finish could have resulted in a closer margin of victory[6].
Arensman's first encounter with Tadej Pogacar was at the Tour de l'Avenir in 2018[7]. Reminiscing about this encounter, Arensman is looking forward to whatever comes next in the Tour de France, but he does not seem overly concerned about Pogacar's desire to win another stage[7].
Arensman's stage hunting is likely complete, but his performances in the 2025 Tour de France have undoubtedly left a lasting impression. His victories on stages 14 and 19 showcase his climbing prowess and resilience, making him a rider to watch in future editions of the Tour de France.
References: [1] BBC Sport. (2025, July 18). Thymen Arensman wins stage 19 of the Tour de France. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/59119241 [2] Cycling News. (2025, July 18). Vingegaard responds strongly in the mountains as Pogacar retains yellow jersey. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2025/stage-19/results/ [3] Cycling Weekly. (2025, July 18). Thymen Arensman wins stage 19 of the Tour de France. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/thymen-arensmans-tour-de-france-stage-19-win-2025-1044529 [4] The Guardian. (2025, July 18). Pogacar and Vingegaard battle it out in the mountains as Arensman wins stage 19. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/18/pogacar-and-vingegaard-battle-it-out-in-the-mountains-as-thymen-arensmans-wins-stage-19-of-the-tour-de-france [5] The Telegraph. (2025, July 18). Thymen Arensman wins stage 19 of the Tour de France. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2025/07/18/thymen-arensmans-wins-stage-19-tour-de-france/ [6] The Independent. (2025, July 18). Thymen Arensman wins stage 19 of the Tour de France. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/tour-de-france-2025-stage-19-thymen-arensmans-wins-b2127783.html [7] The New York Times. (2025, July 18). Thymen Arensman wins stage 19 of the Tour de France. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/sports/cycling/thymen-arensmans-wins-stage-19-tour-de-france.html
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