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The Independent
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Tour de France stage 18 preview: Battle for yellow jersey to ignite on ‘queen stage' through the Alps
Following one more comparatively relaxed day for the general classification on stage 17's full-throttle, chaotic sprint finish, won by the green jersey of Jonathan Milan, the battle for the overall title reignites today. Milan came out on top in dismally wet conditions at the end of a 160km run from Bollene to Valence, a transitional stage taking the riders out of Provence and towards the traditional battleground of the Alps. His major sprint rival Tim Merlier was held up in a crash in the final kilometre which brought down several sprinters, including last year's green jersey winner Biniam Girmay, whose torrid Tour continued as he was helped over the line by teammates clutching his collarbone. But with the final sprint day before Paris out the way, the Tour de France now reaches its climax on stages 18 and 19: a double-header of hideously difficult Alpine stages back-to-back. The Tour may not be won here - it may have already been won, with Tadej Pogacar leading by more than four minutes - but it can certainly be lost. Today's stage 18 is undoubtedly the 'queen stage' of this year's race: 171.5km from Vif to Courchevel, traversing the high Alps and three hors-categorie climbs, some of the most gruelling in the entire Tour de France repertoire. The riders will also have keep something in the tank for another punishing stage to come on Friday, with nearly as much climbing to crest before a calmer weekend to conclude this race. It's a classic shark's-tooth profile today, climbing and descending all day with a brief prelude of some gentler uphill to get things underway, and a small valley section before the day's final climb. And it's not just the GC favourites who will be eyeing glory: if Lenny Martinez wants to win the polka-dot jersey over Tadej Pogacar, its current custodian, he'll need to claim serious points on today's stage - meaning we're likely to see fireworks all day, both from the breakaway and the yellow jersey contenders. First up is the Col du Glandon (21.7km at an average of 5.1%), making its first appearance since 2015, with the descent leading immediately onto the Col de la Madeleine (18.2km at 7.9%). There's little respite after reaching the summit, as the descent flattens out very briefly before the road kicks back up for arguably the most difficult climb of all: the Col de la Loze. It's approached from the eastern side via the ski resort of Courchevel, rather than Meribel as it has been the two previous times it has featured in the Tour, although it'll be no comfort to the riders to know that the eastern route is technically the easier one. At an average of 6.5% it's not the steepest ascent of the day, but it is by far the longest, at 26.4km, and it takes the riders up to the high point of this year's race, the Souvenir Henri Desgrange, 2,304m above sea level. In total, there are 5,500m of vertical gain today, condensed into just 171km of racing. It's not just the sheer amount and difficulty of the climbing, but the fact that it's at high altitude: a state of affairs which has historically suited Jonas Vingegaard more than the yellow jersey. This year's race is peppered with climbs that have previously been ruinous for Pogacar: the Col de la Loze, infamously, featured on the queen stage in 2023 and was where he cracked. Who can forget the 'I'm gone, I'm dead' radio message? Not Pogacar - and not Vingegaard. Some observers have suggested the yellow jersey has looked a little under the weather in the last couple of stages, riding conservatively on Mont Ventoux rather than attacking for glory at the summit, and that he isn't quite in the same pomp as he was in the Pyrenees. He matched Vingegaard's every attack and accelerated at the top to eke out another two seconds to add to his commanding lead - but he didn't work to pull back the breakaway and claim the victory for himself, leading to all sorts of speculation that as Vingegaard grows stronger throughout this final week, Pogacar may be weakening. If that's the case, Vingegaard and Visma-Lease a Bike will look to pile on as much pressure as they physically can, going for the same tactic as they have throughout this year's race: snapping at the Slovenian's heels with multiple short attacks, and as on the road to Mont Ventoux, sending riders into the breakaway to act as stepping-stones for Vingegaard to challenge for the overall. They'll hope that Pogacar cracks on the punishing slopes of Col de la Loze - just as he did in 2023. But the defending champion has already earned his revenge on two climbs that have previously hurt him, conquering Hautacam and obliterating Vingegaard in the Pyrenees, before sticking with his rival on Mont Ventoux. He'll have equally lofty aims on Col de la Loze. Stage 18 will be crucial in the battle for the overall title - and in the fight for enduring supremacy between these two great rivals. Route map and profile Start time An early start today: 12.10pm local time, 11.10am BST, with an expected finish of around 5.10pm local time (4.10pm BST). Prediction There are plenty of talented climbers in this year's Tour but it's hard to see past this being a GC battle at the finish. Lenny Martinez will no doubt get up the road in the breakaway, targeting the KOM points atop the Col du Glandon and Col de la Madeleine. If it does come down to an elite climbing breakaway for the stage win, Thymen Arensman and Valentin Paret-Peintre have already shown their class on the toughest stages; what about the elder brother, Aurelien Paret-Peintre? Could Pablo Castrillo or Michael Storer spring a surprise? They'll have to get past the peloton's terrible twins first. Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard were locked together on Mont Ventoux, covering each other's every move; Pogacar will want to strike the killer blow on the Col de la Loze - and exorcise his demons there - while Vingegaard will want to repeat history. I'm going with Tadej Pogacar, on the basis of his strength so far in this race, but this could be a closer fight than we've seen so far in this Tour.
BBC News
24-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Tour de France - Milan wins sprint finish to strengthen grip on green jersey
Update: Date: 17:27 BST 23 July Title: Au revoir Content: That's all from a wet finish to stage 17 of the Tour de France as Jonathan Milan wins a sprint finish for his second stage victory of his debut Tour. That also means the Italian rider strengthens his grip on the green jersey after stretching his points lead over Tadej Pogacar from 11 to 72. Overall race leader Pogacar conserved his energy before two tough days in the Alps, and we'll bring you live updates on the first of those stages tomorrow from about 12:00 BST. Do join us then. Update: Date: 17:13 BST 23 July Title: Route map of the 2025 Tour de France Content: No change in general classification then, but expect that to change over the next two days with two gruelling mountain stages in the Alps. Update: Date: 17:05 BST 23 July Title: General classification after stage 17 Content: Update: Date: 17:02 BST 23 July Title: Points classification after stage 17 Content: Update: Date: 16:59 BST 23 July Title: Milan 'more relaxed' about green jersey after fine day Content: Stage winner Jonathan Milan added: "Today was a tough stage. We controlled it from the beginning, with the help of some other teams. They helped me after the first climb when I was dropped, and then in the second with good pace. "It was a difficult final also, because of the weather. We got to the roundabouts in the first positions and it made it a bit of a scare, but my team helped me, they supported me. This is a really fantastic team victory and I have to thank them from the bottom of my heart. "They delivered me in the best position [for the finish], I was really focused for it, and it's a big achievement for all of us." On the green jersey: "It's still not ended. We still have some tough days that await us, the climbs. But at the moment, we've had a lot of fun, and I'm really happy with how it's going. "We'll keep fighting for the intermediate [sprints] and on the last day for the stage, but we'll see how it goes. We have a bit more distance with the points and I'm a bit more relaxed, but I will keep fighting." Update: Date: 16:49 BST 23 July Title: General classification after stage 17 Content: Tadej Peloton crossed safely in the peloton so there was no change in the top 10 of the general classification, with the reigning champion still four minutes 15 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard. Update: Date: 16:46 BST 23 July Title: 'Without my team-mates, I would've been dropped on a climb' Content: Stage winner Jonathan Milan: "I'm really happy, I'm without words. After surviving [a split in the peloton] with the help of my team-mates, I have to prioritise this. Without this, I would not be here. I would already be dropped in one of the climbs. "With the help of my team-mates, every single day, we achieved this result." Milan added that he wasn't aware that other riders had been caught up in the crash just inside the final kilometre. Update: Date: 16:24 BST 23 July Title: Stage 17 results Content: Update: Date: 16:21 BST 23 July Title: Milan strengthens grip on green jersey Content: What a day for Jonathan Milan. The points leader strengthens his grip on the green jersey by getting ahead of his rivals in the intermediate sprint before claiming his second stage win of his debut Tour at the finish. Update: Date: 16:17 BST 23 July Title: Milan wins stage 17 Content: It's a reduced bunch for the sprint and Jonathan Milan proves too strong for Jordi Meeus. Update: Date: 1km to go Title: Ouch! - Crash in the final kilometre Content: Tim Merlier is down, and Biniam Girmay is involved as well. Update: Date: 4km to go Title: Post Content: Jonas Abrahamsen is caught before the sprint teams battle for position. Update: Date: 5km to go Title: Post Content: The riders are into the sprint zone. If there's a crash now, each and every rider in the bunch will get the same time. Update: Date: 7km to go Title: Post Content: Quentin Pacher and Mathieu Burgaudeau are caught by the bunch, which now trails leader Jonas Abrahamsen by 15 seconds. Update: Date: 10km to go Title: Abrahamsen attacks Content: Stage 11 winner Jonas Abrahamsen attacks with 12km to go, with Vincenzo Albanese managing to stay within five seconds as the other two breakaway riders fall away. Update: Date: 15km to go Title: Post Content: The rain's still pouring as we move into the final 15km, with the lead quartet maintaining a 30-second advantage. Update: Date: 16:06 BST 23 July Title: Who should be the main contenders for sprint win? Content: As we mentioned earlier, Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier, Biniam Girmay, Arnaud de Lie and Kaden Groves will all hope to be in contention during a bunch sprint to the finish. But besides those, Dylan Groenewegen is a multiple stage winner who has barely been in contention so far this year. Jordi Meeus claimed a prestigious win on Champs-Elysees in 2023 while Paul Penhoet, Alberto Dainese, Phil Bauahas, Pascal Ackerman and British rider Jake Stewart are among the other top sprinters. Update: Date: 20km to go Title: Post Content: The peloton is closing in. The gap to the leaders is now down 30 seconds. Update: Date: 15:58 BST 23 July Title: Which teams need a win most? Content: Jonas Vingegaard may be second in general classification but his Visma-Lease a Bike are yet to claim a stage win this year. A stage win would help Arkea-B&B Hotels secure a main sponsor for next year with both current sponsors set to end their partnership at the end of this year. Fellow French teams Cofidis, Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, Groupama-FDJ, Intermarche-Wanty and TotalEnergies will hope to make their mark in their homeland. Jayco-AlUla, XDS Astana, Israel-Premier Tech and Lotto have also had little to show for their efforts so far. Update: Date: 30km to go Title: Post Content: Here's some hope for the peloton... it's windy as well as wet on this part of the route, and with it being just a four-man breakaway, the leaders are exposed.
The Guardian
24-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Tour de France: Pogacar backlash builds while Milan wins stage 17 sprint
Jonathan Milan won a rain-soaked sprint finish in Valence to take his second stage win in this year's Tour de France, after a treacherous finish from which race leader Tadej Pogacar, and his nearest rival Jonas Vingegaard, both emerged unscathed. In what was probably the final stage of the 2025 Tour suited to the sprinters, others were not so fortunate after a downpour made the final kilometres through suburban Valence horribly greasy. When the inevitable touch of wheels came it took down half a dozen riders, including the stage three winner, Tim Merlier, and Biniam Girmay, winner of the points classification in 2024, who somersaulted down the wet road into the barriers. As Milan celebrated his stage win, a predictable backlash was gathering pace against Pogacar, with just four days of racing to come, as Jean‑René Bernaudeau, the Total Energies team manager, accused the Slovenian's UAE Emirates XRG squad of arrogance. 'They're arrogant towards those who just want to live simply alongside them,' the Frenchman said of Pogacar's team. 'I expect their team manager to make that point to them.' Pogacar was dismissive of the Frenchman's comments. 'Arrogance is something, trying to win the Tour de France is another thing. I think a lot riders would see us as arrogant because we want to control every single kilometre of this race. We don't try to be arrogant, we just try to make our race as easy as possible. I think – this will sound super arrogant – but some guys can stay quiet.' On a day when pro-Palestinian activists waved flags and unfurled banners in Dieulefit as the peloton passed through, Pogacar was also questioned about his feelings on human rights in the UAE. 'I ride for UAE Team Emirates and if you go there you'll see how the sport is growing,' he said. 'Kids love us, the locals love us when we ride with them. The sport is growing in the UAE, which I guess is why they have the team, to promote a healthy lifestyle.' In the roadside protest houses were draped with Palestinian flags with reports of protesters holding up 'Starving is Killing' banners as the riders passed through. Dieulefit was honoured for sheltering Jewish people during the second world war. Last Wednesday a protester ran onto the finish line in Toulouse, wearing a T-shirt stating 'Israel out of the Tour.' He was tackled by Tour staff and is scheduled to stand trial for endangering the riders. After that incident, the Israel-Premier Tech team said that it 'respects everyone's right to free speech which includes the right to protest.' If Pogacar remains in a league of his own, with Vingegaard clinging to his coat-tails, the battle for the final podium spot is likely to become intense in the next 48 hours, with Scotland's Oscar Onley the meat in a Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe sandwich. The German team's Tour debutant Florian Lipowitz is securely placed third overall, with Onley two minutes behind. But his teammate, Primoz Roglic, the most insouciant Grand Tour champion in the race, has now crept into the top five. Not everyone has been thrilled to see Roglic's re-emergence over the past few stages. 'Won't be buying Red Bulls any more,' Onley said on Strava, after the Slovenian moved 38 seconds behind him, following the Mont Ventoux finish. 'Not funding those attacks.' Meanwhile, volatile weather is predicted for the two remaining mountain stages, toThursday's high altitude finish on the Col de la Loze, at 2,304 metres and Friday's climb to the ski station at La Plagne, topping out at 2,o52 metres. As rain fell heavily on Valence and the Rhone valley, Francois Lemarchand, of race organisers ASO, said that change was in the air. 'A few days of cooler weather are coming and we could see a swing of 20 degrees. It will go from very hot to very cold, from one day to the next.'
The National
23-07-2025
- Climate
- The National
Tour de France 2025: Milan sprints to win in rain while Pogacar seals 50th yellow jersey
Italian Jonathan Milan claimed his second victory in this year's Tour de France when he won a crash-disrupted sprint finish in the rain on Wednesday. Milan triumphed in a 10-man sprint after the peloton was held up behind a massive crash with just one kilometre to go as riders went down on slippery roads in a chaotic finish at Valence in southeastern France. UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar crossed the finish line safely to retain the overall leader's yellow jersey and maintain a lead of 4 mins 15 secs over rival Jonas Vingegaard. That means Pogacar secured his 50th yellow jersey aged just 26, something he described as 'not too bad a stat'. 'Fairly quiet, it was still a hard day, not an easy one, and in the end, with the really bad weather and visibility, it was pretty hectic and I'm happy that we stay safe and finish the stage quite OK, looking to the next days,' said the Slovenian after a wet and wild finish. 'The bad weather is here, and also the next few days shouldn't be pretty good as well. For me, normally it suits me well, the coldish weather, but the more old I get, the more I prefer the sunshine.' Frenchmen Quentin Pacher and Mathieu Burgaudeau as well as Jonas Abrahamsen of Norway and Italian Vincenzo Albanese broke away early but stood little chance against the collective power of the sprinters' teams. With the peloton breathing down their necks, Abrahamsen went solo with 11km remaining, only to be reined in 4.3km from the line. Milan was the strongest in the reduced sprint, edging out Jordi Meeus of Belgium and Denmark's Tobias Lund Andresen, who were second and third respectively. 'I'm really happy and without words, I have to say. I didn't survive alone, I survived always with the help of my teammates. Without them, I would not be here, maybe I would still be dropped on one of the climbs,' said green jersey holder Milan. 'Today was a really tough stage. We controlled from the beginning with the help of some other teams. When I dropped, they also helped me on the first climb, then did a good pace on the second one. 'It was a difficult final because of the weather, to be in first position on the roundabouts. It was a bit scary, but they helped me, supported me. It's a fantastic team victory, and I really have to thank them from the bottom of my heart. Super, super happy for all of us. 'They delivered me in the best position. I was focused, looking forward to it, and it's a really big achievement for all of us.' Rival sprinter Tim Merlier was involved in the crash under the 'flamme rouge' – the triangular red banner over the road signalling the final kilometre. 'The last 25 kilometres were really, really, fast,' said Merlier, who finished 25th, more than a minute behind. 'I think I made a mistake. I took one roundabout on the wrong side and I lost a lot of positions. And then I knew I needed to move up. The moment I wanted to move up, I crashed.' Thursday's Stage 18 is a brutal mountain trek between Vif and the Col de la Loze, one of the most feared ascents in the Tour de France. 'We can't get arrogant, we need to keep it simple and stay quiet,' added Pogacar. 'I'm really looking forward to it. I have been beaten there before but I have good legs and maybe I'll get my revenge.'
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Milan wins Tour stage 17 in sprint finish
Jonathan Milan claimed his second victory of this year's Tour de France by winning a sprint finish on stage 17.A bunch finish was expected on the 160.4km stage from Bollene to Valence and with 4km remaining, the peloton caught the final rider from a four-man was pouring for the final 30km and Milan's sprint rivals Tim Merlier and Biniam Girmay were involved in a crash just inside the final then proved too strong for Jordi Meeus, to strengthen his grip on the green jersey for points classification leader. More to follow.
