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2025-07-17T13:48:54.355Z
Excitement is building. We’ll soon be climbing the Col du Soulor, which is the first mountain of this year’s race. The Tour de France proper is about to get underway!
2025-07-17T13:42:50.403Z
Here’s Jonas Vingegaard riding in the peloton. While he and Visma went along with Ben Healy’s call to wait for Pogačar yesterday, you imagine they must be planning to test the Slovenian’s shape in the aftermath of that fall today. Will they wait until the Hautacam, or try something on this upcoming mountain?
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-07-17T13:40:01.502Z
The road has started to go uphill a little, as we near the official start of the mountain. Still the gap remains 1:45.
70KM TO GO
2025-07-17T13:30:37.865Z
For an idea of just how big this break is – you can pretty much see all of the 51 riders present in this image here.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-07-17T13:27:18.052Z
We’re still in the same holding pattern, with the gap remaining at 1:45. That’s likely to change when they start climbing the category one Col du Soulor in about 20km, the foothills of which they’re approaching now.
80KM TO GO
2025-07-17T13:23:06.191Z
That moves Van der Poel up to second place in the points classification. If he continues to pursue it from now until Paris, he could pose a real threat to Milan’s green jersey. Here are the updated rankings:
2025-07-17T13:21:17.519Z
Rex won the sprint for the 20 points, but Van der Poel finished ahead of Lidl’s Nys to take 17 points for himself.
2025-07-17T13:20:35.583Z
Yes he does – it was a sprint between himself and Laurenz Rex (on behalf of Girmay) and one of the Lidl-Trek riders (on behalf of Milan).
2025-07-17T13:19:06.952Z
The intermediate sprint is coming up, in less than a kilometre. With Van der Poel go for the points?
2025-07-17T13:18:09.836Z
Fred Wright moves to the front to take the one KOM point. Curiously, his teammate and rider in the polka-dot jersey, Lenny Martinez, did not make a move to take the point – perhaps he’s resting himself to ensure he’s in the mix to take the greater number of points available on the later, bigger summits today.
KOM – CORE DE LABATMALE
2025-07-17T13:14:33.704Z
As they climb, the break leads by 1:45.
90KM TO GO
2025-07-17T13:14:10.750Z
The riders are climbing up a categorised hill for the first time – but it’s small fry compared to what’s to come. This Côte de Labatmale climbs for only 1.3km at 6.8%.
2025-07-17T13:09:47.550Z
Coquard is back up and riding, but has a lot of ground to make up to get into the peloton.
2025-07-17T13:09:23.706Z
Swift was the Ineos rider, and he hasn’t pressed on, and is back in the group. That might be a sign that cohesion is breaking down a little.
2025-07-17T13:08:23.284Z
Some movement in the front group, as one of the Ineos riders accelerates and gets a gap.
2025-07-17T13:07:28.612Z
Bryan Coquard has a problem, seemingly with his wrist. We haven’t seen him go down, but he’s had to stop and drop out of the break, while a medic sees to him.
2025-07-17T13:01:51.462Z
Still the gap remains the same, at 1:45 as we move into the second half of the stage.
100KM TO GO
2025-07-17T12:57:08.328Z
With the gap still hovering at just below 2 minutes, Carlos Rodríguez has jumped two places on the virtual GC from 12th to 10th, leapfrogging Gall and Johannessen.
2025-07-17T12:55:15.392Z
Here’s Ben Healy, enjoying what will surely be his last day in the yellow jersey.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-07-17T12:49:44.762Z
The gap’s gone up a bit, to 1:40. This fight is going to go on for a long time, with domestiques being used up before the climbing starts come the final phase of the race.
110KM TO GO
2025-07-17T12:46:41.642Z
Tadej Pogačar is also now at the team car for something – nothing medical, however. He’s looking fine on that front.
2025-07-17T12:45:24.022Z
The advantage is swinging towards the peloton. The gap’s going down, and is now back to nearly 1:30.
2025-07-17T12:42:03.482Z
Evenepoel is getting paced back into the peloton by Eenkhoorn, having dropped back to his team car. He looks relaxed.
2025-07-17T12:36:48.097Z
Still the gap remains about the same, at 1:45. The pace is very high, with both the lead group and the peloton riding hard.
120KM TO GO
2025-07-17T12:31:20.588Z
There’s no sign that Tadej Pogačar is suffering from his fall yesterday. The real tests are to come later, however, where we’ll really see how he’s feeling.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-07-17T12:26:33.748Z
In terms of the King of the Mountains classification, Lenny Martinez has a chance to extend his lead having gotten into the break. There are a lot of points on offer, with a category four, two, one and hors climbs on the menu.
2025-07-17T12:25:01.220Z
Only one team has missed the break completely – Picnic PostNL. This move is also dangerous for their GC man, Oscar Onley, but there’s no sign of them working in the peloton for now.
2025-07-17T12:24:20.750Z
The race is in a holding pattern for now, with the break’s lead hovering at just under two minutes.
130KM TO GO
2025-07-17T12:20:46.805Z
Mathieu van der Poel is also, yet again, in the break. This surely won’t be another stage win for the Dutchman, but he does have the chance to pick up some points at the intermediate sprint if he fancies it. None of his green jersey rivals are present in the group.
2025-07-17T12:18:57.896Z
The peloton, which is still being led by EF, Uno-X Mobility and UAE.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-07-17T12:17:01.377Z
Pablo Castrillo has had a puncture. He’s one of three Movistar riders in the break who might fancy their chances of a stage win, along with Rubio and Romeo.
2025-07-17T12:14:45.280Z
The peloton has managed to peg the gap again at 1:50. They’re just about keeping this in control, but it feels perilous.
140KM TO GO
2025-07-17T12:10:35.255Z
While Ineos have five riders in the break, three teams have four riders: Cofidis, Tudor and Bahrain, including their respective leaders Martin, Alaphilippe and Buitrago.
2025-07-17T12:08:02.405Z
Ineos leading the big breakaway group. This could be a potentially great day for them, if they can propel Rodríguez back into the top ten on GC, and possibly higher.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-07-17T12:06:01.252Z
The front group is still moving quicker than the peloton. Thor lead has grown to 1:50.
2025-07-17T12:05:19.178Z
EF are also working with UAE and Uno-X Mobility at the front of the peloton. Healy has a negligible chance of keeping the yellow jersey today, but the team still feel obliged to ride in its defence nonetheless.
2025-07-17T12:03:24.947Z
Each of the top three GC teams have one rider in the break – Benoot for Visma, Wellens for UAE, and Schachmann for Soudal-QuickStep.
2025-07-17T12:02:30.037Z
Uno-X Mobility are back at the front of the peloton leading the chase. They are presumably working for Tobias Halland Johannessen, whose 10th place on GC is under threat from this group.
2025-07-17T11:59:57.421Z
Politt’s work has pegged the gap at 1:30, but there’s still a great deal of cohesion in the lead group, with other teams working with Ineos at the front.
150KM TO GO
2025-07-17T11:59:11.061Z
As well as having the most dangerous GC man, Ineos are also the best represented in this group with five riders – Swift, Foss, Laurance and Arensman are there with Rodríguez.
2025-07-17T11:57:39.332Z
Now Nils Politt takes over at the front of the peloton for UAE, as the deficit reaches 1:30.
2025-07-17T11:56:07.600Z
Back in the peloton, it’s Uno-X Mobility who are leading, rather than any of the major GC teams. It seems UAE and Visma aren’t worried about the threat posed by Rodríguez.
2025-07-17T11:55:06.345Z
There’s lots of collaboration in this front group. Ineos are especially keen, pressing on with their GC leader Carlos Rodríguez present.
2025-07-17T11:53:45.487Z
After Carlos Rodríguez, the next highest ranked rider on GC in the break is Guillame Martin (10:44 down), followed by O’Connor (who is 11:50) and Skjelmose (12:45).
2025-07-17T11:51:21.361Z
And the gap continues to grow – it’s now up to one minute.
2025-07-17T11:50:11.919Z
This group has a decent gap, too, of about 30 seconds.
160KM TO GO
2025-07-17T11:49:51.186Z
There are plenty of quality climbers, and therefore potential stage winners, also present, who aren’t threats on GC. Such as: Ben O’Connor, Thymen Arensman, Lenny Martinez, Santiago Buitrago, Michael Storer and Aleksandr Vlasov.
2025-07-17T11:48:00.131Z
Carlos Rodríguez is in this front group. He’s 12th on GC, at 5:44.
2025-07-17T11:46:51.634Z
This front group seems to be about 50 riders big. Is it the peloton, or a breakaway group? It’s certainly big enough to the former, but has none of the main GC riders in it – at least who have been spotted yet.
2025-07-17T11:45:45.323Z
There’s been a split in the peloton, with a big group slipping off the front. It seems the main GC contenders are in the peloton behind.
2025-07-17T11:42:35.112Z
He’s brought back quickly, but several counter moves are made in response.
2025-07-17T11:41:02.291Z
The attacks stopped for a moment, but Victor Campanaerts has reignited the race with a move.
2025-07-17T11:39:33.062Z
The scene at the start from Auch today.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-07-17T11:38:18.889Z
Neither Thomas nor O’Connor have managed to go clear, while the four-man group featuring Lutsenko has also been brought back.
170KM TO GO
2025-07-17T11:37:12.618Z
Ben O’Connor counter-attacks. The terrain is pretty flat for now, but the climbers are trying to get into the break, aware of what’s to come.
2025-07-17T11:36:36.856Z
Geraint Thomas is attacking from the peloton.
2025-07-17T11:34:05.766Z
Alexandre Delettre and Pascal Eenkhoorn are the two riders with Lutsenko. They’ve also been joined by Marco Haller.
2025-07-17T11:33:17.888Z
Alexey Lutsenko attacks and has a gap, with a few riders accompanying him.
2025-07-17T11:31:42.828Z
Gachignard has been brought back, and the attacks continue, with Visma-Lease a Bike involved.
2025-07-17T11:31:08.113Z
Thomas Gachignard is the first rider to gain a gap, and currently leads the race.
2025-07-17T11:30:28.381Z
There’s an intermediate sprint about 90km into the stage, before we reach the Pyrenees. The green jersey contenders may sense an opportunity to gain some points if they can get into the break, before they drop away on the climbs.
2025-07-17T11:28:36.206Z
Several more riders are now trying attacks, including green jersey contenders Milan and Girmay.
2025-07-17T11:28:16.258Z
In fact, that Uno-X Mobility rider was in fact Abrahamsen – his appetite is insatiable.
2025-07-17T11:27:37.121Z
There won’t be a repeat of that feat, however – the move with the Uno-X Mobility rider was shut down pretty much straight away.
2025-07-17T11:26:38.121Z
And it’s déjà vu from yesterday – once again it’s an Uno-X Mobility rider who is first to attack, right from the flag. Yesterday that man was Jonas Abrahamsen, who went on to spectacularly win the stage.
2025-07-17T11:25:31.203Z
And we’re off!
OFFICIAL START
2025-07-17T11:25:14.387Z
Just a few hundred metres until Christian Prudhomme emerges from his car to fly the flag.
2025-07-17T11:24:22.727Z
The finish of yesterday’s stage was disrupted by a protester. He wore a t-shirt saying ‘Israel out of the Tour’, and according to the Le Parisien shouted ‘Israel on the Tour, the Tour is complicit’.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-07-17T11:15:41.581Z
There was a sombre atmosphere at the unofficial start, as riders paid respect to Samuele Privitera, the young Italian rider who died after crashing at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta.
2025-07-17T11:12:42.822Z
The riders are on the move, setting off the unofficial start in Auch for the neutralised zone.
2025-07-17T10:57:50.168Z
A dressing on Tadej Pogačar’s left arm after yesterday’s crash.
(Image credit: Loic VENANCE/Getty Images)
2025-07-17T10:52:18.988Z
Want to find out even more about today’s route? Here’s an in-depth preview of today’s stage:
2025-07-17T10:48:04.543Z
While today’s ascent of the Hautacam isn’t just a two-horse race between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar, there is history here between the two main yellow jersey contenders.
2025-07-17T10:41:50.687Z
There’s only one non-starter this morning: Cees Bol (XDS Astana) has departed the Tour due to sickness.
2025-07-17T10:30:49.627Z
To gear up for today’s mountain stage, we spoke with ex-pro Dan Martin about what the Hautacam climb entails and how it might ignite the GC battle.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-07-17T10:27:17.344Z
Today’s start town of Auch was the hometown of Team Sky and Ineos directeur sportif Nico Portal, who sadly died from a heart attack on March 3, 2020.
2025-07-17T10:12:46.267Z
The team presentation and rider sign-on for stage 12 is underway in Auch.
🔴 Follow live from Auch the presentation and the start of stage 12! 🔴 Suivez en direct d’Auch la présentation et le départ de la 12ème étape du #TDF2025 ! https://t.co/SMgEhLzNJHJuly 17, 2025
2025-07-17T10:08:24.156Z
Fortunately, Pogačar was unscathed from the crash. Meanwhile, yellow jersey Ben Healy called for the GC group to wait up for the Slovenian as a show of respect, ensuring he didn’t lose any time.
2025-07-17T10:03:05.637Z
But there was plenty more drama unfolding behind too.
2025-07-17T09:57:01.451Z
Stage 11 was won by Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility), who edged out Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) in a two-up sprint to the line after the pair attacked from the early break.
(Image credit: MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)
2025-07-17T09:50:48.821Z
But before we dive further into what today’s stage has in store for us, let’s rewind to yesterday’s chaotic events in and around Toulouse.
2025-07-17T09:45:06.151Z
Here is what’s on the menu for the peloton today, with a first summit finish on the hors catégorie climb to the legendary Hautacam.
(Image credit: ASO)
2025-07-17T09:41:37.930Z
The start of today’s stage is still over an hour and a half away, with the neutralised start due at 13:10 local time in Auch.
2025-07-03T13:18:34.612Z
Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of stage 12 of the 2025 Tour de France as the race heads into the Pyrenees and a first summit finish.