Early Battles, Crosswinds, and a Mountain Shake-Up
The opening week of the 2025 Tour de France delivered a dynamic mix of terrain and drama, from cobbled chaos and wind-blown coastlines to a decisive early time trial and the race’s first mountain summit finish. Riders had to be sharp across all disciplines, with sprinters, breakaway specialists, time trialists, and GC contenders each having their moments to shine. As the peloton heads deeper into the heart of France, the early stages have already reshaped the general classification and highlighted the key contenders.
Stage 1: Lille Métropole – Lille Métropole – Punchy Opener in Northern France
The Tour kicked off with a fast-paced, hilly route around Lille that forced teams to be alert from the flag. Short climbs and crosswinds kept the peloton nervous, and crashes created early splits. In the final sprint from a reduced bunch, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin–Deceuninck) showed his all-round strength, claiming the first yellow jersey of the Tour with a commanding win.
Stage 2: Lauwin-Planque – Boulogne-sur-Mer – Winds and Tactics
Riders faced strong crosswinds along the English Channel, making for a nervous and tactical stage. With splits forming and regrouping throughout the day, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) made a perfectly timed solo attack in the closing kilometers. His explosive finishing kick secured the stage and reminded fans of his one-day race prowess.
Stage 3: Valenciennes – Dunkerque – Cobbled Mayhem
Stage 3 brought cobbled sectors into play, testing riders’ bike handling and resilience. Several GC hopefuls lost time due to mechanicals and positioning errors. Tim Merlier (Soudal–Quick‑Step) sprinted to victory from a gritty lead group, surviving the brutal cobbles and sharp climbs that defined the day.
Stage 4: Amiens Métropole – Rouen – Pogačar Powers to Victory
Stage 4 featured a rolling 174.2 km route from Amiens to Rouen, with narrow roads and late climbs setting up a tactical finale. On the uphill drag of the Rampe Saint-Hilaire, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates‑XRG) launched a blistering attack in the final meters, outsprinting Mathieu van der Poel to claim his 100th career victory.
Stage 5: Caen – Caen (ITT) – TT Shake-Up
The first individual time trial covered 32 kilometers of rolling countryside, favoring powerful and aerodynamic riders. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal–Quick-Step) delivered a commanding ride, navigating the technical course with precision and speed. His win propelled him up the GC and into the white jersey, showing he’s a serious contender for the overall.
Stage 6: Bayeux – Vire Normandie – Breakaway Glory
A lumpy route opened the door for attackers, and a committed breakaway formed early. Among them, Ben Healy (EF Education–EasyPost) launched a daring solo attack in the final 10 kilometers. The Irish rider held off the chasers with sheer grit, taking his first career Tour de France stage win and lighting up the day with aggressive racing.
Stage 7: Saint-Malo – Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan – Pogačar Takes Yellow
The 197 km stage through Brittany ended with two ascents of the Mûr-de-Bretagne, where the GC favorites came to the fore. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates‑XRG) launched a well-timed sprint on the final climb to take his second stage win of the race. The victory earned him the yellow jersey, with time gaps beginning to widen between the main contenders.
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