LUCHON-SUPERBAGNERES, France — Dutch rider Thymen Arensman won the Tour de France’s toughest stage after a long solo effort over mammoth climbs and defending champion Tadej Pogacar increased his overall lead on Saturday.
Arensman, who rides for the Ineos-Grenadiers team, posted the biggest victory of his career. After crossing the finish line in the deep fog enveloping the ski resort of Superbagneres, Arensman lay exhausted on the road with his head in his hands.
“To be honest, I just wanted to experience the Tour, the biggest race in the world,” he said. “Now, to win a stage in my first Tour, and to do it this way, it’s unbelievable, crazy.”
He went solo with 23 miles left from a breakaway, and quickly opened a comfortable lead. He started the final ascent to Superbagneres, which is more than 7.4 miles long, on his own and resisted the return of the main contenders.
It was Arensman’s second Grand Tour stage win, having previously won a stage at the 2022 Spanish Vuelta.
As Arensman posed no threat to the overall standings, Pogacar and his teammates controlled the race from the back, with the yellow jersey holder and his main challenger Jonas Vingegaard trailing by around three minutes with five miles remaining.
Vingegaard tried a move with two miles left and Pogacar responded with ease. The two rivals then watched each other closely and Arensman crossed first at the summit, more than one minute ahead of the duo.
Having won the previous two stages in the Pyrenees, Pogacar settled for second place. He accelerated in the final section to gain more time on Vingegaard, who completed the stage podium.
“We can be happy and satisfied with the Pyrenees,” Pogacar said. “Today we did a super stage, riding at our own pace all day long.”
Overall, Pogacar increased his lead over Vingegaard to four minutes, 13 seconds, with Florian Lipowitz in third place, 7:53 off the pace after Remco Evenepoel abandoned.
Evenepoel, who was third overall, struggled early on as the peloton faced another day of suffering on climbs that are part of the Tour’s lore such as the Col du Tourmalet, the Col d’Aspin, Col de Peyresourde and Superbagneres.
The Olympic champion was dropped on the ascent of the Tourmalet. Evenepoel won the opening time trial but suffered in the Pyrenees. After struggling during Friday’s uphill race against the clock to Peyragudes, he managed to keep his third place in the general classification, more than seven minutes behind Pogacar.
SUNDAY’S STAGE
Riders will exit high mountains during a 105-mile ride from Muret to the medieval city of Carcassonne. Although the route could favor sprinters, the Cote de Saint-Ferreol and then the Pas du Sant, a 1.8-mile climb at 10%, could provide opportunities for bold challengers seeking a breakaway.
The race finishes next weekend in Paris.
Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel lost time in the twelfth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 180.6 kilometers (112.2 miles) with start in Auch and finish in Hautacam, France, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, speeds down Aspin pass during the fourteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 182.6 kilometers (113.5 miles) with start in Pau and finish in Luchon Superbagneres, France, Saturday, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, in second position, speeds downhill during the fourteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 182.6 kilometers (113.5 miles) with start in Pau and finish in Luchon Superbagneres, France, Saturday, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, center, speeds down Tourmalet pass during the fourteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 182.6 kilometers (113.5 miles) with start in Pau and finish in Luchon Superbagneres, France, Saturday, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)