Pogacar leads GC by over four minutes
That astonishing ride has extended Pogacar’s lead by 36 seconds to 4’07” over Vingegaard, while Remco Evenepoel is clinging onto third place overall by just six seconds, ahead of Florian Lipowitz.
Evenepoel lost 2’39” to Pogacar today.
(REUTERS)
Flo Clifford18 July 2025 16:33
Two stages in a row for Tadej Pogacar, who smashes Vingegaard’s already-impressive time, putting another huge chunk of time into both the Dane and absolutely everybody else.
The yellow jersey finishes in 23 minutes flat, 36” quicker than Vingegaard.
Flo Clifford18 July 2025 16:29
This is astonishing. The world and Olympic time trial champion is having an awful day. Vingegaard is just metres behind him and the Dane started two minutes behind him…
Vingegaard catches him with mere metres to go and comes off his wheel. Poor Evenepoel. Vingegaard smashes Roglic’s time, 44” quicker than Roglic.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Flo Clifford18 July 2025 16:28
Vauquelin finishes eighth, 1’22” down on Roglic, and that means Oscar Onley leapfrogs the Frenchman into fifth overall!
Florian Lipowitz has been absolutely flying and he finishes 35” down on his teammate Roglic, in provisional second, and the German is making real gains on Evenepoel in both the white jersey and podium battle.
Evenepoel is having a terrible time and Vingegaard is gaining on him; the Soudal Quick-Step car has been pulled out and that means Vingegaard may make the catch.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Flo Clifford18 July 2025 16:25
Today’s climb features tomorrow as well, at least partially: rather than swinging off to the altiport at Peyragudes, the riders tackle the whole Col de Peyresourde.
It’s a cat-one at an average of 7.8% for 7.1km, and it comes after the Col du Tourmalet and Col d’Aspin. Ouch. Let’s see if Quinn Simmons will look quite so cheery on that climb.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Flo Clifford18 July 2025 16:23
Evenepoel has been seen shaking his head and now looks to have a gear problem too. An unusually bad TT for the Belgian but we knew this wouldn’t suit him.
Oscar Onley has crossed in fourth, 46” behind Roglic, 3” slower than Jorgenson, so that’s a good time.
Flo Clifford18 July 2025 16:22
No sooner has Vingegaard smashed Roglic’s time at the second checkpoint, Pogacar does the same, 23” quicker than the Dane, and you’d expect him to only increase that in the final 3km as they’re so incredibly steep.
Roglic is now 52” down. Evenepoel is 41” down on that as he enters the final 2km.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Flo Clifford18 July 2025 16:21
Primoz Roglic moves into hot seat
Apologies for that, error with the timestamps there, and in fact Roglic has more than a minute and half on Plapp as he reaches the steepest gradients. The Slovenian crosses 37” quicker than Plapp, 24’20” is the time to beat. Vintage Roglic.
Evenepoel has conceded 26” to Roglic at the second checkpoint and that’s not a good sign.
Now Vingegaard has taken 30 seconds off Roglic at the second timecheck!! What!?
Flo Clifford18 July 2025 16:19
Kevin Vauquelin has lost 22 seconds on Oscar Onley between checkpoint 1 and 2, and that’s great news for the Scot.
Florian Lipowitz comes through the second checkpoint eight seconds down on teammate Roglic’s blistering time, and the Red Bull chaps are flying. Both holding their aero TT positions wonderfully.
Roglic is 38” seconds up on Plapp as he enters the final kilometre – but it’s a brutal, brutal kilometre.
Flo Clifford18 July 2025 16:16
Pogacar fastest at first checkpoint
Pogacar has stormed through the first checkpoint, five seconds quicker than Evenepoel, contrary to all expectations. He clearly has gone for full power rather than aerodynamics.
Onley is 31” down on Roglic at the second checkpoint, but that’s the same time as Plapp and Jorgenson, so that’s a good ride.
Roglic is holding his TT position beautifully but neither Vingegaard nor Evenepoel are doing that on their TT bikes, which feels like it slightly defeats the point of using one.
Jorgenson finishes second, 3” off Plapp’s time, and the Australian lives to fight another day in the hot seat.
Flo Clifford18 July 2025 16:13