July 17, 2025: Tadej Pogačar delivered a commanding performance in Stage 12 of the 2025 Tour de France, reclaiming the coveted yellow jersey after a decisive solo victory atop Hautacam in the Pyrenees.
The Slovenian champion attacked early on the final climb, leaving main rival Jonas Vingegaard behind with nearly 12 kilometers to go. Riding solo to the summit finish, Pogačar crossed the line over two minutes ahead of Vingegaard, securing his third stage win of this year’s Tour and the 20th of his career.
Germany’s Florian Lipowitz finished third, rounding out the podium on a day that significantly reshaped the general classification standings.
With the victory, Pogačar regained the overall lead from Ireland’s Ben Healy, who fell to 25th place after finishing 13 minutes and 38 seconds off the pace. Heading into Friday’s individual time trial, Pogačar now leads the GC by 3 minutes and 31 seconds over Vingegaard and 4 minutes and 45 seconds over Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel.
The Tour’s first true mountain stage lived up to expectations, as riders battled intense gradients and shifting weather conditions in the Pyrenees. While Pogačar emerged as the clear favorite once again, the battle for the podium is still wide open with several key stages remaining.