Tadej Pogacar claims Tour de France stage No. 25 in another mountains masterclass

Tadej Pogacar left it late, but when he took off - 2km from the top of the Col du Haag - he soared to a 25th career Tour stage victory on Saturday. At the same time as tightening his grip on the yellow jersey, the world champion made it 125 career wins on the 500th race day of his career.

After allowing the break to have it on Friday, UAE Team Emirates-XRG were unlikely to let a second day for the climbers - the first full day in the Vosges mountains and finishing on an unprecedented climb - slip through their fingers. 

After the early intermediate sprint was won by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), a sizeable group was again allowed to get away on the low slopes of the Grand Ballon. It was too large for many of their likings, and contained too much GC threat, as Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) was somehow able to slip into the break.

An aggressive surge over the summit, led by a polka dots hunting Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), was followed by Richard Carapaz (EF Education EasyPost). The pair were tracked down on the descent by Carapaz’s team-mate, Ben Healy, and the two Johannessen brothers, Anders and Tobias (Uno-X Mobility).

Thymen Arensman (Netcompany Ineos) along with Movistar’s Pablo Castrillo and Einer Rubio (Movistar) worked to bridge on the Col du Peage, only for Arensman to experience an unfortunate puncture. That ultimately cost him the opportunity and meant only Rubio could get across and make it six at the front.

All the while, the UAE-led peloton was keeping the breakaway at pretty close quarters, never managing much more than three minutes - roughly what they would need on the final climb to hold on.

Nevertheless they pressed on, with Paret-Peintre taking top mountains points on the Peage and the Ballon d’Alsace. It was there the yellow jersey's squad began to drive the pace, taking 40 seconds off the gap over the 10km of uphill. With 30km remaining, the gap was half its maximum, and the breakaway was down to five, Healy having done all he could for his team-mate. Another 10km later, there were four, as Anders Johannessen bid his brother 'au revoir.'

As they started the final ascent, the quartet held 1’20, with Paret-Peintre and Rubio dropping off as the road reared up. After another kilometre, the gap was less than a minute. Back in the bunch, Pidcock was feeling the effects of Friday, and struggling to hang on.

Carapaz looked likely to be the last man standing, and was able to steady the ship at one minute for an impressive four kilometres. Unfortunately, the favourites had still not begun their battle. Once Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) put Sepp Kuss on the front, the speed of the group intensified, before the Dane took over himself and another 30 seconds came out of the gap to Carapaz.

His effort was sufficient to distance Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) from the group of favourites, but Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Pogacar, Floria Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Vingegaard, Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) were all able to hang on - half of the riders in white jersey contention. The breakaway was done 8km from the finish, 2km from the top of the climb.

And just 500m later, Pogacar decided to take off. His effort was strong, but measured, enough to dispense with every rider with him and take him to the top with 20 seconds. It also threw a grenade in the group, as those chasing the podium and the white jersey looked to salvage what they could. 

Vingegaard proved the best of the rest, but Seixas showed himself every inch the future prospect he is being tipped as. The pair were able to link up before the plateau to the finish, becoming a trio with Pogacar’s team-mate, Del Toro, who was never going to contribute to chasing down his team-mate.

On the descent and the flat run-in to the line, Pogacar was able to double his advantage. Ten bonus seconds for winning the stage ensured he increased his lead over Vingegaard, who took none himself, by 56 seconds. Del Toro made it a UAE 1-2, and closed the gap on the riders ahead of him.

Seixas's third place on the stage gave him the lead in the best young rider competition by three seconds over Ayuso and puts him within 15 of the podium. Evenepoel had been able to limit his losses and claw his way back for fifth.

That's a leap forward of 54 seconds on yesterday. The Danish rider is four seconds more comfortable in second place. Assuming no major changes tomorrow, it'll be interesting to see what happens in Tuesday's time trial.

By three secconds over Juan Ayuso, and he's now just 15 seconds off the podium. He took ten off Remco today. Don't rule it out happening tomorrow.

The price of yesterday's exertions.

Those are some big gaps. We'll see how this one shakes out

Seixas third, Vingegaard fourth. Those bonus seconds will help.

He's done it again. Win number 125. it's another masterclass. He has no equal.

He's going to add the best part of a minute to his lead.

As he adds another couple of seconds to his lead.

It's not coming down. It's going up.

They all have a reason to ride.

The clock says 24 seconds, which may be too much to close. Or maybe not. Seixas has the podium in his sights. Del Toro tags on. He won't assist, but will take a free ride.

The third rider on the road, coming back to the wheel of Jonas Vingegaard, who is 16 seconds from Pogacar who is himself about to reach the plateau.

This is what the fans came to see, the greatest rider in history doing what only he can. Vingegaard has separated himself from the rest. Del Toro is doing well to stay up there, but he's losing the wheel of Ayuso.

1.5km from the top. We knew it was coming and there's a gap straightaway. Vingegaard is going to try to close it. No-one else surely has a hope.

It didn't take a Pog attack, but that doesn't mean we won't get one. There's not much of the climb left to do it on, though. Just 2km to the top.