Tour de France Tour de France 2025, Stage 16: Montpellier to Mont Ventoux, 171.5 km

[Barnacle Bill]

Stage has turned out quite differently than I assumed when there was just the hopeless 3 man break with a token gap earlier.

 

[D. Pecher]

Just how long can Polit pull at the pointy end of the pack? I'm getting Jens Voigt vibes. UAE not giving him anyone else to help seems to indicate they are not going for the win anymore.

 

[Sciatic]

there definitely will not be enough motocams to follow even all the key riders once things split up on Ventoux

 

[ontheroad]

Just tuning in and that wasn't what I expected at all. Looks like Pogacar might have dialled it in for the race in terms of attacking and the stage is now up for grabs with Arensman looking the likely winner. Unless there is cooperation from the second group which is still possible.

 

[fenns]

Saving bullets for the Vuelta

And ensure the win in Paris - stage wins are insignificant compared to the overall win. Pog wants to win the Tour - entertaining us is a much lesser consideration.

Any GC fireworks we get today and the Alps are dependent om Jonas attacking - and all the evidence is that such attacks are more likely to hurt himself than Pog

 

[Heston]

Just how long can Polit pull at the pointy end of the pack? I'm getting Jens Voigt vibes. UAE not giving him anyone else to help seems to indicate they are not going for the win anymore.

I mean Arensman lost like 2 minutes to Pogacar/Vinge on Superbagnares. He's not losing 6 minutes on Ventoux.

 

[will-10]

49.6kph average for three hours with everyone wanting to be in the break.... there is only so much even UAE can do to control this

 

[D. Pecher]

49.6kph average for three hours with everyone wanting to be in the break.... there is only so much even UAE can do to control this

The question is how much fuel is left in the tank up the ventoux. Unlike the riders in the break, the peloton has taken it a bit easier over the last 50 or so kilometers.

 

[Miha81]

So break has this?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

So break has this?

I think so, yes

 

[Rob5091]

If Visma and RedBull take this up, it might get fun, but it seems to be between Arensmann and the rest for the stage.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Is Pogacar tired? UAE riders are not taking 7 minutes on Thymen

 

[moljoh]

Ala, keep track on who's in front

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Is Pogacar tired? UAE riders are not taking 7 minutes on Thymen

Yeah, a bit weird that they‘re not going for the win. With Wellens they could’ve easily held them closer.

 

[Tim Cahill]

When is it timed from? When they turn the corner?

 

[Cycling111]

Is Pogacar tired? UAE riders are not taking 7 minutes on Thymen

Team Soler.

The other day, as a domestique he lost time against Arensman. Today he´ll surely do better for his interests.

 

[D. Pecher]

So break has this?

Likely, but I wouldn't put a lid on that yet. Arensman & Co had to go flat out for nearly two hours to even get into a break. They must have expended an insane amount of energy and the actually hard part is yet to start. I doubt, if they make it, they won't have much more than a minute or two, unless of course Vingo and Pog are already concentrating on Thursday and only care about not losing time on each other today.

 

[moljoh]

Yeah, a bit weird that they‘re not going for the win. With Wellens they could’ve easily held them closer.

Naah, too easy Would be interesting to know what was the biggest gap recovered to win a stage from 20k from the finish

 

[ontheroad]

There is still hope for the second group as they have the advantage of being able to use up their doms if they can hang long enough up the climb.

Would like to see some of them bridging across.

 

[Didinho]

Julian for Mayo’s record. We’re witnessing history!!

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Lol, Ala goes already

 

[Peyroteo94]

Lol, I was saying Thymen would never lose 7 minutes...

 

[Brullnux]

Is Pogacar tired? UAE riders are not taking 7 minutes on Thymen

Didn't have the resources to stop the break

 

[Samamba]

Arensman just chilling why everyone is else is destroying themselves

 

[D. Pecher]

They've already lost half a minute and they're not even into the climb properly.