Instead, it was his Classics rival Pogacar who distanced him, with team UAE Emirates-XRG setting an infernal pace up the final slope to whittle the field down to a select group of climbers, including Remco Evenepoel, local boy Kevin Vauquelin, and Briton Oscar Onley, who ultimately finished third.

Defending Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar won Stage 7 after a frantic finish on Friday to reclaim the yellow jersey and overall lead in 2025.

Follow live text updates on stage seven of Tour de France from Saint-Malo to iconic finish at Mur-de-Bretagne Guerledan.

The defending champion conquers the steep Mur-de-Bretagne climb and holds a 54-second lead as the overwhelming favorite to win a fourth Tour title.

Pogačar is the overwhelming favorite to win a fourth Tour title and has been the best rider since the start of the Tour last weekend.

Completing the Tour de France route is a monumental achievement for any cyclist — amateur or pro. In 2021, our team not only rode the full route but also raised over £1 million for Cure Leukaemia. For me, it marked a deeply personal milestone in my cancer journey.

Ben Healy surged out on his own to win Stage 6 at the Tour de France. Mathieu van der Peul also took back the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogacar.