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Pogacar retakes Tour de France lead with Victory on Hautacam

Tadej Pogacar of Team UAE has reclaimed the coveted yellow jersey at the Tour de France, delivering an awe-inspiring performance on Stage 12 atop the legendary Hautacam mountain

Pogacar retakes Tour de France lead with Victory on Hautacam

The Slovenian cyclist surged ahead during an 11-kilometer solo ascent, crossing the finish line a commanding 2 minutes and 10 seconds ahead of his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard. Overnight leader Ben Healy struggled to maintain his pace, ultimately finishing the stage with a staggering 13-minute deficit.

In a powerful gesture, Pogacar dedicated his victory to the late Samuele Privitera, a promising Italian cyclist who tragically lost his life following a crash at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta earlier this week. "This is for Samuele and his family," Pogacar stated, his voice filled with emotion. "It was the first thing I read today… I thought about it the whole final kilometer. This sport can be so cruel sometimes."

Privitera, just 19 years old, was competing in the first stage of the under-23 Giro when he suffered a fatal accident after losing control on a descent. Axel Merckx, owner and general manager of Hagens Berman Jayco, expressed the profound impact Privitera had on his team, stating, "He was irreplaceable. His joy, his spirit, his kindness were always a bright light to whatever room or race he was in at that moment. To lose him is devastating beyond words."

French President Emmanuel Macron was present at the mountaintop finish to congratulate Pogacar, highlighting the significance of the moment not just for the champion, but for the cycling community as a whole.

The performance on Hautacam has solidified Pogacar’s position as the frontrunner in the overall standings, now leading Vingegaard by 3 minutes and 31 seconds, with Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel trailing in third place at 4 minutes and 45 seconds. Evenepoel, who faced challenges during the stage, managed to finish seventh, losing 3 minutes and 35 seconds on the day.

As the Tour de France continues, the next challenge awaits in the form of an uphill individual time trial on Friday, a stage that Pogacar has expressed eagerness to tackle. The defending champion's performance on the Hautacam has set the tone for the remainder of the race, leaving competitors with a daunting task ahead.

Healy, who began the stage as the yellow jersey holder, faced a tough day on the bike, slipping to eleventh place in the overall standings, now over 13 minutes behind Pogacar. 

VIDEO: 2025 Tour de France Stage 12 Highlights

2025 Tour de France Stage 12 Top 10

1   Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG 210 04:21:19
2   Vingegaard Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike 150 + 02:10
3   Lipowitz Florian Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe 110 + 02:23
4   Johannessen Tobias Halland Uno-X Mobility 90 + 03:00
5   Onley Oscar Team Picnic PostNL 70 + 03:00
6   Vauquelin Kévin ARKEA-B&B HOTELS 55 + 03:33
7   Evenepoel Remco Soudal Quick-Step 45 + 03:35
8   Gall Felix Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 40 + 04:02
9   Roglic Primoz Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe 35 + 04:08
10   Rodriguez Cristian ARKEA-B&B HOTELS 30 + 07:26

2025 Tour de France GC after Stage 12

1  Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG 45:22:51
2  Vingegaard Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 03:31
3  Evenepoel Remco Soudal Quick-Step + 04:45
4  Lipowitz Florian Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 05:34
5  Vauquelin Kévin ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 05:40
6  Onley Oscar Team Picnic PostNL + 06:05
7  Roglic Primoz Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 07:30
8  Johannessen Tobias Halland Uno-X Mobility + 07:44
9  Gall Felix Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team + 09:21
10 Jorgenson Matteo Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 12:12