Hautacam, France – Tadej Pogacar, the three-time Tour de France winner, declared himself in the form of his life after securing a commanding stage victory on the iconic Hautacam mountain in the Pyrenees on Thursday, July 17, 2025. This decisive win on Stage 12 saw the Slovenian sensation not only assert his dominance but also reclaim the coveted Maillot Jaune (Yellow Jersey), positioning himself strongly for a fourth Tour de France title.
Hautacam Ascended: A Solo Masterclass
Stage 12, a gruelling 180.6km ride from Auch to Hautacam, marked the first major mountain test of this year’s 21-day race. Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) unleashed a blistering attack with 12.5 kilometers remaining on the final Hors Catégorie climb, leaving his main rival, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), with no answer. Vingegaard, who had previously inflicted a significant defeat on Pogacar at Hautacam in the 2022 Tour, was forced to limit his losses as the 26-year-old Pogacar embarked on an 11km solo ascent.
Pogacar crossed the finish line a remarkable two minutes and 10 seconds ahead of Vingegaard, a significant time gain that underscores his current formidable condition. Overnight leader Ben Healy of Ireland, meanwhile, wilted under the mountain’s pressure, finishing with a substantial 13-minute deficit on the day and relinquishing the yellow jersey. French President Emmanuel Macron was notably present at the mountaintop finish, reportedly shaking his head in admiration as Pogacar powered across the line.
A New Chapter: From Crankiness to Confidence
After the race, Pogacar’s demeanor offered a striking contrast to his previous self-admitted “cranky” disposition earlier in the Tour, where he had complained about attacks, the relentless heat, and overall tiredness. He had even suffered a crash in Stage 11, raising questions about his recovery. However, his performance in the Pyrenees told a different story.
“You don’t know how the body reacts after the crash, but it was not too bad, it was not a bad crash,” Pogacar stated, radiating confidence. “I was just looking forward for today. And then all the people were all the time coming to me and saying, ‘Oh yeah, this is the revenge time,’ and blah blah blah. And then when we approached the bottom of the climb, it was just a reverse story of a few years ago.”
This dominant display on Hautacam not only saw Pogacar claim his third stage win of this Tour and the 20th of his career, but also positioned him with a substantial lead of over three and a half minutes in the general classification over Vingegaard. With this emphatic performance, Tadej Pogacar appears to be hitting peak form at a crucial juncture, setting the stage for an electrifying second half of the Tour de France as he eyes a historic fourth victory.
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