Tadej Pogacar Sprints to Victory in Opening Stage of 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné

Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates - XRG clinched the first stage of the 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné, leaving fans on the edge of their seats as he crossed the finish line ahead of his rivals

The dramatic sprint finish saw Pogacar narrowly outpace Jonas Vingegaard of Visma | Lease a Bike, who took second place, while Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Deceuninck secured third.

The stage, which unfolded over a challenging route, featured a series of attacks and counterattacks, culminating in a nail-biting finish where Pogacar's explosive speed proved decisive. With no time gaps separating the main contenders from the peloton, the results of the stage have set the tone for a fiercely competitive race. Pogacar now leads the general classification by four seconds over Vingegaard and six seconds over van der Poel, thanks to the bonus seconds awarded at the finish line.

"This win is a fantastic start to the Critérium du Dauphiné," said Pogacar, visibly elated after his victory. "The team worked incredibly hard today, and I’m grateful for their support. We’re looking forward to the challenges ahead, especially with the next stage being another hilly one."

In addition to leading the general classification, Pogacar also tops the points classification. However, Vingegaard, who is second in the points race, will don the green jersey in the next stage, representing the reigning world champion. Meanwhile, Remco Evenepoel leads the youth classification, showcasing the emerging talent in the peloton.

Paul Ourselin of Cofidis made a significant impact during the stage, securing four points from a breakaway to take the lead in the mountains classification. Visma | Lease a Bike currently holds the top position in the team classification, setting the stage for an exciting battle among the teams as the race progresses.

The second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné promises to be another gripping contest, with cyclists facing a hilly challenge over 204.6 kilometers from Premilhat to Issoire. Fans and experts alike are eager to see how the dynamics will shift as the competitors navigate the demanding terrain.

VIDEO: 2025 Criterium du Dauphine Stage 1 Finish

2025 Criterium du Dauphine GC after Stage 1

1    Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG 04:40:02
2    Vingegaard Jonas Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 04
3    van der Poel Mathieu Alpecin-Deceuninck + 06
4    Politt Nils UAE Team Emirates-XRG + 09
5    Evenepoel Remco Soudal Quick-Step + 10
6    Stewart Jake Israel-Premier Tech + 10
7    Page Hugo Intermarché-Wanty + 10
8    Tronchon Bastien Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team + 10
9    Venturini Clément ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 10
10    Thomas Benjamin Cofidis + 10