![\"MUR-DE-BRETAGNE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ULCYYohuwBYrWtnUyzfiwW.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRefresh <\/p>\n
2025-07-11T15:08:58.796Z<\/p>\n
Thanks for joining us today, on a stage where Tadej Poga\u010dar reclaimed control of the yellow jersey. Tomorrow attention should, for once, shift away from the Slovenian, and the sprinters come to the fore for a likely bunch sprint finish. Having had to battle through so many hill stages this first week, they won\u2019t want to let the opportunity slip.<\/p>\n
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(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T15:02:05.020Z<\/p>\n
Another consequence of Poga\u010dar\u2019s win is that he now leads the points classification. Jonathan Milan will wear the green jersey on his behalf tomorrow, and will hope to take the jersey outright in the coming two stages, both of which should be bunch sprints.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:59:52.753Z<\/p>\n
Though he was unable to come around his rival for the win, Jonas Vingegaard looked much better today than he did in the time trial. Has he sacrificed some of his time trialling speed in improving his punchy accelerations? Or was that time trial stage merely a bad day? Ultimately what will matter most is how well he goes on the long climbs, but while he remains 1:17 behind Poga\u010dar on GC, he remains very much in contention.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:53:01.082Z<\/p>\n
This is Poga\u010dar second win of this year\u2019s Tour, and 19th of his career, which puts him up to joint seventh in the all-time ranking. How long until Mark Cavendish should be worried?<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:52:06.922Z<\/p>\n
Jack Haig looked like the worst affected by the crash, and has abandoned the race.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:51:22.487Z<\/p>\n
Almeida has made it to the finish, his jersey torn, but doesn\u2019t look too hurt. His GC ambitions are over though, as he\u2019s lost over ten minutes.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:48:37.997Z<\/p>\n
![\"UAE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TPtxYjXamVZU3enwbGAn37.jpg\")
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(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:47:15.297Z<\/p>\n
As for some of the riders involved in the crash, Mas came home 51 seconds down and Healy 1:45, suggesting they weren\u2019t badly affected. Still no word of Almeida.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:43:20.527Z<\/p>\n
![\"UAE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/vHWDdo9FcAhoMZva3T3BQH.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:42:32.839Z<\/p>\n
That includes all of the top 6 on GC, minus Van der Poel.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:40:35.168Z<\/p>\n
There were only 7 riders left in the front group at the line – Poga\u010dar, Vingegaard, Onley, Gall, Jorgenson, Evenepoel and Vauquelin.<\/p>\n
\n2025-07-11T14:37:27.000Z<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:36:30.066Z<\/p>\n
This result also means that Poga\u010dar takes the yellow jersey back from Van der Poel again.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:36:10.561Z<\/p>\n
Van der Poel is only just arriving at the line now, having been dropped early on the climb. Despite the work from Alpecin during the day, he’s clearly too fatigued to compete for the stage win.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:35:18.263Z<\/p>\n
Onley produced yet another brilliant performance to finish third-place.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:34:39.175Z<\/p>\n
Vingegaard managed to stick in his slipstream for the sprint, but had to settle for second.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:34:08.946Z<\/p>\n
Poga\u010dar sprints…and Poga\u010dar wins!<\/p>\n
POGACAR WINS<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:33:30.833Z<\/p>\n
Narvaez still leads…<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:33:17.610Z<\/p>\n
Only and Jorgenson are also present.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:33:01.095Z<\/p>\n
Gall and Laurence are also here, the latter is a fast finisher…<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:32:44.186Z<\/p>\n
Narvaez is here and leading the group for Pogacar.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:32:15.334Z<\/p>\n
There’s about 10 riders left in the group.<\/p>\n
1KM TO GO<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:31:56.404Z<\/p>\n
Evenepoel knocks off the pace, everyone’s looking at each other.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:31:35.885Z<\/p>\n
Vauquelin leads a chase group that has bridged up to the trio.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:31:10.825Z<\/p>\n
Evenepoel moves to the front to do the pace-setting.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:30:56.175Z<\/p>\n
Only Evenepoel and Vingegaard are still with Pog.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:30:27.907Z<\/p>\n
And now Pogacar accelerates.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:30:13.940Z<\/p>\n
Van der Poel is dropped!<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:30:00.046Z<\/p>\n
Visma had taken over the front, but Wellens has tekn over for the start of the climb.<\/p>\n
MUR DE BRETAGNE<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:29:24.719Z<\/p>\n
At least 10 riders were involved in and\/or held up by that crash – Barguil, Haig, Mohoric, Madouas, Martin are among the others.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:28:37.807Z<\/p>\n
The peloton is smaller now after that crash, with about 30 riders left.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:28:03.276Z<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in the peloton, Soler leads for UAE with just over 3km to ride.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:27:17.225Z<\/p>\n
None of these riders look seriously hurt, but they stand to lose time.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:26:18.888Z<\/p>\n
Others involved include Mas, Healy and Buitrago.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:25:49.828Z<\/p>\n
There’s been a crash, with some big names involved – including Jo\u00e3o Almeida.<\/p>\n
CRASH<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:22:56.588Z<\/p>\n
There’s a big scramble for position at the front of the peloton as they loop round back to M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne.<\/p>\n
10KM TO GO<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:21:34.046Z<\/p>\n
Here was Ewen Costiou leading the race over the M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne.<\/p>\n
![\"Arkea-B&B](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Ecy6G9SF2o3zLBsLKqhZDF.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:18:48.334Z<\/p>\n
Soler has taken over at the front for UAE.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:18:33.758Z<\/p>\n
Costiou has been caught. Chapeau to the 22-year-old for what was a fine ride.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:17:19.191Z<\/p>\n
Wellens has dragged the peloton back to that Van Aert trio, and has Costiou in sight.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:16:38.826Z<\/p>\n
Van Aert has two riders with him, but barely any gap.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:15:54.925Z<\/p>\n
Attack from Wout van Aert! He’s made a move on the descent.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:15:35.445Z<\/p>\n
Alaphilippe is not in the peloton. He won’t be contesting the stage today.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:14:57.315Z<\/p>\n
Wellens moves to the front to the lead the peloton over the climb, 20 seconds after Costiou. There’s only about 50 riders left in it.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:14:19.417Z<\/p>\n
Costiou crests the climb still at the front of the race. That’s some moment for the young rider!<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:13:55.329Z<\/p>\n
Garcia was also caught, meaning Costiou is the only rider still ahead of the peloton.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:13:01.867Z<\/p>\n
Van der Poel looks to be struggling. He’s drifting down the peloton, very visibly in the yellow jersey.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:12:28.284Z<\/p>\n
Costiou is still going strong, with a lead of 30 seconds.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:12:07.849Z<\/p>\n
Simon Yates leads the peloton for Visma, and Thomas has been brought back, followed by Baudin.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:11:43.075Z<\/p>\n
A crash for Cl\u00e9ment Champoussin at the back of the peloton, but he looks OK.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:11:08.391Z<\/p>\n
They\u2019re cheering especially loudly, too, as a man from the local team leads the race – Ewen Costiou , who has dropped the rest of the break.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:10:29.883Z<\/p>\n
We’re on the M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne, and the crowds are huge!<\/p>\n
MUR-DE-BRETAGNE<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:08:49.603Z<\/p>\n
Costiou beats Garcia to the line to take the single KOM point on offer.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:08:14.680Z<\/p>\n
Baudin and Costiou have followed him, but Thomas is unable to.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:07:45.041Z<\/p>\n
Garcia Cortina has attacked, about 400m from the top of the climb.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:07:27.284Z<\/p>\n
Visma-Lease a Bike have emerged at the front of the peloton, as they start the climb.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:07:08.100Z<\/p>\n
The rider are climbing, up the first of the four ascents of the day – the C\u00f4te du village de M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne (not to be confused with the M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne, which is coming up next).<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:05:21.670Z<\/p>\n
The four breakaway riders aren\u2019t giving up. With 20km to go, they still have a lead of 1:05.<\/p>\n
20KM TO GO<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T14:02:14.616Z<\/p>\n
We\u2019re approaching the M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne, where the riders will climb to the finish line a first time, before lopping back there for the finish.<\/p>\n
Four years ago, Van der Poel launched a first attack in this first ascent, yet, despite being caught, still had the energy to win in the finale.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:58:05.129Z<\/p>\n
![\"Alpecin](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/jqZUFz6zDiV3FuLtywj554.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:56:00.433Z<\/p>\n
Evenepoel is safely back in the peloton.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:54:45.867Z<\/p>\n
The four leaders still have a minute on the peloton, as they pass under the 30km to go banner. The gap hasn’t come down in recent kilometres, but they still look doomed to be caught.<\/p>\n
30KM TO GO<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:53:40.669Z<\/p>\n
Tiesj Benoot is with the Visma team car picking up bidons. It’s a hot day out there, and the racing is about to intensify.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:50:03.117Z<\/p>\n
Evenepoel is making his way into the peloton after taking a comfort break. The racing isn\u2019t full-on just yet, so returning won\u2019t be a problem for it.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:46:39.746Z<\/p>\n
The peloton is thinning out a little on an uncategorised rise they’re currently climbing. Girmay and Milan are among those out the back, following their earlier efforts in the intermediate sprint.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:43:15.378Z<\/p>\n
The indefatigable Nils Politt is leading the peloton once again for UAE. He\u2019s brought the gap down to under a minute.<\/p>\n
40KM TO GO<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:40:33.566Z<\/p>\n
Haller is done. He\u2019s sat up, seeing the other four breakaway riders disappear ahead of him.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:37:26.030Z<\/p>\n
Thomas is really pressing on in the break. He was the rider who caused the brief split, and is doing a long turn at the front.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:35:08.746Z<\/p>\n
There\u2019s some action in the break, which broke apart for a few moments. Thomas and Costiou briefly got a gap over the others, before it was closed down.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:32:10.267Z<\/p>\n
UAE and Alpecin are back on the front of the peloton after the intermediate sprint, and the gap between it and the break has come down to 1:05.<\/p>\n
50KM TO GO<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:25:46.703Z<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the updated points classification. With those nine points, Girmay has jumped up two places to second:<\/p>\n
1 Milan 122<\/p>\n
2 Girmay 111<\/p>\n
3 Van der Poel 108<\/p>\n
4 Poga\u010dar 106<\/p>\n
5 Turgis 78<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:23:43.841Z<\/p>\n
It was a long, drawn-out sprint, with Milan edging Girmay at the line. Quinn Simmons almost took them by surprise by starting his sprint early, but both sprinters managed to pass him. Interestingly, neither Merlier nor Van der Poel went for it, and picked up no points.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:18:29.709Z<\/p>\n
That might start to change now, as Intermarch\u00e9\u2013Wanty take over at the front in anticipation of the intermediate sprint.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:17:32.811Z<\/p>\n
No change in the gap, which remains at 1:30.<\/p>\n
60KM TO GO<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:15:59.449Z<\/p>\n
Not long now until the intermediate sprint. Nobody in the break will be interested, but there\u2019s points on offer for the likes of Girmay and Merlier to try to eat into green jersey Milan\u2019s gap – and we\u2019ll get a good idea of how interested Van der Poel is in the points classification based on whether or not he goes for any points again.<\/p>\n
2025-07-11T13:10:53.914Z<\/p>\n
Away from the Tour, stage 6 of the women\u2019 Giro d\u2019Italia has recently come to a close – we won\u2019t spoil the result here, but click here<\/a> if you want to read about what happened.<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T13:03:51.210Z<\/p>\n Still the gap remains stable, at 1:30.<\/p>\n 70KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T13:01:39.916Z<\/p>\n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T12:56:16.875Z<\/p>\n We remain in a holding pattern, the gap between the break and the peloton at 1:40. The race will start to liven up ahead of the intermediate sprint, coming up in about 15km.<\/p>\n 75KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T12:51:45.410Z<\/p>\n Finally, the fifth member of the breakaway, Ewen Costiou, is a Tour de France debutant flying the flag for Brittany riding for local team Ark\u00e9a – B&B Hotels.<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T12:48:14.067Z<\/p>\n With the exception of Thomas, 34-year-old Marco Haller is the most experienced rider in the break. This is the tenth Tour de France of his career, but he has yet to win a stage. Could today be today? It feels like a long shot, but he\u2019ll be dreaming big.<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T12:44:19.019Z<\/p>\n Iv\u00e1n Garc\u00eda Cortina would have been the quickest rider in the break in the event of a pure sprint, though could also be competitive on an uphill finish like M\u00fbr-de-Bretagne. He can get over punchy climbs, as demonstrated by his top ten at the Tour of Flanders this spring.<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T12:41:10.171Z<\/p>\n Of the riders in the break, Baudin is one who loves the kind of terrain coming up later in the stage. He\u2019s a talented puncheur, and was second in a stage of the Tour de Romandie earlier this year.<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T12:37:16.781Z<\/p>\n The pace is up a bit from Alpecin at the front of the peloton, bringing the gap down to 1:15. Some riders are struggling to hang on at the back.<\/p>\n 90KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T12:32:33.021Z<\/p>\n Geraint Thomas is of course the headline name in the break. This is a different style of racing for the Welshman, who has generally either targeted GC (finishing on the podium three times in his last five appearances, including his victory in 2018), or, before that, as a super-domestique for the likes of Chris Froome.<\/p>\n This year, for what is his final Tour de France, the priority is stage wins; and though this break looks unlikely to succeed, his presence provokes his appetite, and we can expect him to get up the road more come the high mountains.<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T12:25:34.370Z<\/p>\n Still the peloton are keeping the break firmly in control, at 1:30. With no threat to GC, it does seem that Alpecin are riding for the stage win – Van der Poel must be recovered and feeling good.<\/p>\n 100KM TO GO<\/p>\n 2025-07-11T12:22:35.577Z<\/p>\n The highest placed rider on GC in the break is Geraint Thomas, in 39th at a distant 14 minutes, which means none are a threat to Van der Poel\u2019s yellow jersey.<\/p>\n Alpecin-Deceuninck will want to keep the yellow jersey for their leader today, especially with a couple of flat stages coming up after which he should be able to defend it on – unlike UAE Team Emirates – XRG, who had been eager to give it away when Poga\u010dar had it, the quirky phenomena of which we looked into this morning.<\/p>\n![\"Alpecin](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/kVb86w7UyhLVKHNmKvdLP9.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"MUR-DE-BRETAGNE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/sfoxVocGZk8QKMmc3fW6Zo.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"MUR-DE-BRETAGNE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nJgpgydoku7okgdANwCB6f.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/8VdAjdA3TNa5829tbTZDn4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"MUR-DE-BRETAGNE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/93kXCbHAx4uBeXNoBJ3GkK.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ag93FDMBv3mfWHxoA7rDv8.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VkkrW4DCJoR94vZjFcVEGX.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"SAINT-MALO,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/W7QnYrReKEifWYSu8snzUF.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Slovenian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7FBxN8HZQmhpQUez9aCKH3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Tour](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WmoJTFxNYo6E5tFQ6Wr64k.webp.webp\")
<\/p>\n![\"Stage](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/njwbjHBdK4KnmPS7d6YjNd.jpg\")
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