Latest news with #Toulouse
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
‘I want the yellow jersey back': Pogacar gears up for Tour's second-week showdown
TOULOUSE, July 16 — The second week of the Tour de France may be short, but it will be crucial, defending champion Tadej Pogacar said on Tuesday's rest day when he went to the barber, had a burger and enjoyed a French cafe, but was raring to get back on the bike. Here AFP breaks down the Slovenian's views on the challenges of the week ahead. Five-day week Pogacar has been unusually serious during the opening week of the Tour which he described on Tuesday as 'explosive, nervous, stressful and super-hard'. He has also complained about the heat, tiredness and how annoyed he can get by the stonewall tactics from Jonas Vingegaard's Visma team. 'Week two will be really fast,' he predicted. But he was not talking about the speed of the wheels, rather that it will be over more quickly due to being a day shorter after the 10-day slog before the first rest day. Hopes Healy feels tired Pogacar said it was refreshing to see some new faces like current leader Ben Healy and emerging French star Kevin Vauquelin, and suggested their arrival had muddied the waters. 'The field is packed, it's going to be a huge fight even for the podium and especially for the yellow jersey,' the 26-year-old said. 'It's not just the big teams, everyone has proved they can stay up front,' he added, explaining the race is harder to control than it usually is. He also forecast the overall lead would change hands. 'Not tomorrow on the flat, but at the Hautacam,' he said of the Pyrenean giant mountain on Wednesday. 'We'll see if Ben (Healy) can hold on. I hope he feels tired. I want the yellow jersey back.' Pinpoints danger While Pogacar paraded to triumph against a weakened Vingegaard in 2024, his thoughts Tuesday seemed to drift back to 2023 when he was routed on a time-trial followed by a mountain slog. 'I'm really looking forward to this week, especially the uphill time-trial to Peyragudes.' Stage 13 is just 11km long, and he lit up when he spoke of it. 'I'm looking forward to the Hautacam but especially to the time-trial at Peyragudes,' said the man who is eyeing a fourth Tour triumph with a wistful look. Good for me Pogacar said the second week was usually a medium mountain affair with lots of breakaways as the Tour built towards a finale in week three, but not this year. 'We are going to see some big gaps in the upcoming days and I think it's going to be good for me. It's almost as hard as the final week.' Up to rivals to attack When Pogacar, Tour winner in 2020, 2021 and last year, was asked about his rivals he named no names. Instead he cast his net wider. 'In the coming days I'm under no pressure to attack, it's up to them if they want to get ahead of me,' he said. Pogacar stands second after stage 10, 29sec adrift of Healy. Remco Evenepoel, who says 'everyone knows that this is where the Tour starts', is third, a minute behind the Slovenian. Two-time champion Vingegaard is 1min 17sec behind the Slovenian in fourth. — AFP
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Tour de France 2025: stage 11 updates as race resumes around Toulouse
Update: Date: 2025-07-16T10:36:35.000Z Title: Stage 11: Toulouse to Toulouse, 156km Content: Here's a look at today's stage, Wednesday 16 July: Toulouse to Toulouse, 156.8km, with William Fotheringham's preview: This could go either of three ways: full bunch sprint, reduced bunch sprint, or break. The finale with its series of little hills might burn off a fast man or two, and will certainly make a coordinated chase difficult. This could be the last full bunch sprint of the Tour, so let's plump for Philipsen; if the break goes and the sprinters' teams tire in the finale the wily Dane Magnus Cort is a good bet. The preview was written before the Tour, so Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won't be in the mix today after having to withdaw from the race on stage three. Update: Date: 2025-07-16T10:30:52.000Z Title: Preamble Content: After a rest day on Tuesday, the Tour riders are back for stage 11: a 156.8km loop, starting and ending in Toulouse. It's classified as a flat stage with 1,750m of elevation gain, but there are a few bumps for the peloton to navigate: four category four climbs and a category three climb at the end. Sprinters such as, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step) and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) will be eyeing up this stage, which could very well end in a bunch sprint. However, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has speed and strength that could come in handy for a flat stage with some lumps. It'll also be interesting to see what Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) does, wearing the yellow jersey that he grabbed off Tadej Pogačar's (UAE Team Emirates XRG) shoulders on stage 10. As always, I'd love to get your thoughts, so please email via the link above. Before the action starts at 1.15pm CEST (12.15pm BST), here's a reminder of how stage 10 played out:
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Tour de France 2025 live: Stage 11 route updates as Ben Healy takes up the yellow jersey in Toulouse
After a wild start to the 2025 Tour de France, which has seen crashes and crosswinds cause havoc in the peloton to go with some sensation racing and memorable wins, the race arrives in Toulouse for a lumpy 157km route which could suit the sprinters or a determined breakaway. Ireland's Ben Healy is the surprise owner of the yellow jersey after escaping up the road in the break on stage 10 and staying far enough ahead of Tadej Pogacar to usurp the reigning Tour de France champion at the top of the general classification. And Healy is likely to keep hold of yellow at least for today on a route unlikely to fire up the GC battle. Stage 11 features five categorised climbs and finishes with a loop around the city featuring a few short, sharp ascents including the Cote de Pech David (800m at 12.4%) with 9km to go. That could scupper some of the sprinters' legs before they reach the finish, and it may provide the perfect setting for a puncheur in the pack to make a decisive attack. Stage 11 start time Bonjour and welcome to stage 11! The riders roll out for the neutralised start at 1.15pm local time, 12.15pm BST, with an expected finish time of 5.05pm local time (4.05pm BST). Flo Clifford16 July 2025 11:06 Tour de France stage 11 preview: Route map, profile and start time as Ben Healy wears yellow in Toulouse The Tour de France rarely disappoints but this year's race has been utterly absorbing from the get-go when crosswinds blew apart the peloton on stage 1, and there's every reason to think stage 11 will serve up another thrilling day. Not many predicted Ireland's breakaway artist Ben Healy would own the famous yellow jersey on the first rest day of this Tour, but that's exactly what has unfolded after some tactical brilliance on Monday's stage 10 helped him gain more than three minutes on Tadej Pogacar to depose the reigning champion at the top of the GC standings, while Simon Yates won the stage itself. Not that Pogacar – who enjoyed coffees and a giant burger on Tuesday's rest day – plans on lending Healy the maillot jaune for long. Ben Healy wears yellow jersey on stage 11 as Tour de France resumes in Toulouse The Tour de France road book has stage 11 down as a flat day for the sprinters, but there are plenty of lumps and bumps along the way to make for an unpredictable outcome Lawrence Ostlere16 July 2025 11:00 Tour de France – stage 11 live Hello and welcome along to live updates from stage 11 of the 2025 Tour de France. Lawrence Ostlere15 July 2025 23:50
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Wout van Aert is a BOOSTED 6/1 with Sky Bet to win stage 11 of the Tour de France with sprinters expected to battle for victory
The Tour de France will resume on Wednesday with sprinters expected to battle for victory on a flat stage before the race heads into the Pyrenees. Stage 11 will see the peloton complete a 156 kilometre loop around the city of Toulouse. The largely flat stage features a flurry of climbs in the latter stages, which could see punchier riders clinch victory ahead of the outright sprinters. As a result, Mathieu van Der Poel is viewed as a 7/2 favourite to claim victory and add to his win from stage two. Sky Bet are, however, offering a Price Boost on Wout van Aert to triumph on stage 11. The Belgian star's odds have been boosted from 11/2 to 6/1 to secure the stage win. Tadej Pogacar, Quinn Simmons and Jonathan Milan are viewed as the next most likely stage winners, with the trio priced at 16/1. Three-time Tour de France winner Pogacar remains a 1/5 favourite to win the Grand Tour. The Slovenian star is currently 29 seconds behind the yellow jersey, Ben Healy of Ireland. Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard lie second and third respectively in the general classification after the first rest day. Vingegaard, the two-time champion, remains second favourite to win the Tour at a price of 7/2. Evenepoel is third favourite at 33/1, while current leader Healy is 50/1 to claim the overall victory. Sky Bet odds for stage 11 winner of the Tour de France (Each Way: 1/4 Odds, 3 Places): Mathieu van Der Poel - 7/2 Wout van Aert WAS 11/2 NOW 6/1 Tadej Pogacar - 16/1 Quinn Simmons - 16/1 Jonathan Milan - 16/1 Sky Bet odds Outright Winner Tour de France: Tadej Pogacar - 1/5 Jonas Vingegaard - 7/2 Remco Evenepoel - 33/1 Ben Healy - 50/1
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Tour de France stage 11 preview: Route map, profile and start time as Ben Healy wears yellow in Toulouse
The Tour de France rarely disappoints but this year's race has been utterly absorbing from the get-go when crosswinds blew apart the peloton on stage 1, and there's every reason to think stage 11 will serve up another thrilling day. Not many predicted Ireland's breakaway artist Ben Healy would own the famous yellow jersey on the first rest day of this Tour, but that's exactly what has unfolded after some tactical brilliance on Monday's stage 10 helped him gain more than three minutes on Tadej Pogacar to depose the reigning champion at the top of the GC standings, while Simon Yates won the stage itself. Not that Pogacar – who enjoyed coffees and a giant burger on Tuesday's rest day – plans on lending Healy the maillot jaune for long. 'We will see if Ben can hold on to the yellow jersey for a couple of stages,' Pogacar said. 'I think that he spent a lot of time in the breakaway already, so I hope he feels tired and we can fight again for the yellow in the next coming stages, maybe not [ stage 11 around Toulouse] but Hautacam and then the time trial [at Peyragudes] and Superbagneres – it's going to be three really nice climbing days.' That's all to come later in the week but Healy has a strong chance to still be wearing yellow by the end of the day, as the Tour resumes in Toulouse with a 154km route to and from the city. The stage is officially categorised as 'flat' by race organisers, but it is hilly enough to scupper some of the sprinters' hopes if the pace is high, which it may well be – stage 9 was the second fastest stage ever recorded, and stage 10 never let up either. Each had their own unique set of circumstances driving the peloton's high pace, but there's every reason to suspect another breakaway will form early here on stage 11, with the sprinters' teams forced to give chase if they want to set up their rider. Tim Merlier (Soudal–Quick-Step), Kaden Groves (Alpecin–Deceuninck), Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Biniam Girmay (Intermarche–Wanty) and Arnaud de Lie (Lotto) will all be hoping for a bunch sprint to the line. But that is no foregone conclusion, with five categorised climbs to clear including four in the 50km, and power riders might be put off by the finale: a loop around the city with a few short, sharp climbs such as the Cote de Pech David (800m at 12.4%) with 9km to go. The final 6km is flat, so will we see the sprinters there for a showdown or will it be a puncheur breaking clear over the hills who steals the stage? Route map and profile Start time Stage 11 starts at 12.45pm BST with an expected finish time of around 4.10pm. Prediction This is a tricky stage to predict, with the sprinters' teams desperate for a calm day followed by a dash to the line, but facing the prospect of having to chase down a determined breakaway looking for the stage win themselves. It could even be a day for a solo artist to escape clear, just as Ben Healy so expertly triumphed on stage 6. I would like to go for something of a romantic option – Julian Alaphilippe is one of the greatest one-day riders of his generation but has not triumphed at the Tour de France since 2021. If he gets into a strong breakaway then he has the racing nous to time a decisive launch to the line. But more realistic is a rider with the legs to crest the hills and a sprint to outgun their rivals down the home straight. Jonathan Milan and Kaden Groves both have the firepower to do just that, but I fancy Wout van Aert to take an opportunistic win, either by getting himself in the breakaway or by taking a messy sprint.
