
28/07/2025
Van Aert Blazes to Champs-Élysées Victory as Pogačar Seals Fourth Tour de Title!
Paris, France – July 27, 2025 – The 112th edition of the Tour de France culminated today in a thrilling Stage 21 on the iconic Champs-Élysées, with a surprising and spectacular solo victory from Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike).
The Belgian powerhouse launched a decisive attack on the challenging Côte de la Butte Montmartre, dropping even the formidable Tadej Pogačar, to claim his second career stage win on cycling's most famous avenue.
The final 132.3 km stage from Mantes-la-Ville to Paris was anything but a ceremonial ride. Organizers, celebrating 50 years of Tour finishes on the Champs-Élysées, added three ascents of the steep Montmartre climb, transforming the traditional sprint finish into a tactical masterpiece.
Rain in Paris earlier in the day led to a neutralization of the general classification on the fourth crossing of the finish line, just before the first Montmartre climb, setting the stage for a daring finale.
Van Aert's incredible solo effort saw him cross the line 19 seconds ahead of the chasing group, which included Davide Ballerini (XDS Astana) in second and Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) in third.
Notably, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), who had a challenging Tour marked by a significant crash in Stage 17, managed to finish 13th on the stage, a commendable effort considering his earlier misfortunes.
While he wasn't contesting for the stage win, his presence in the mix on the Champs-Élysées demonstrates his resilience and determination after what could have been a Tour-ending incident.
While the stage belonged to Van Aert, the overall glory unequivocally went to Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).
The Slovenian superstar cemented his place in cycling history by securing his fourth Tour de France Yellow Jersey, a dominant performance that saw him maintain a commanding lead throughout the race. Pogačar’s consistent excellence and ability to respond to every challenge from his rivals, most notably Jonas Vingegaard, showcased why he is considered one of the greatest of his generation.
Here's a breakdown of the final jersey standings:
💛 Yellow Jersey (General Classification):
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Pogačar finishes the Tour with a comfortable lead of 4 minutes and 24 seconds over his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike). Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) rounded out the podium in third.
💚 Green Jersey (Points Classification): Jonathan Milan (Lidl–Trek)
Despite Van Aert's stage win, Jonathan Milan had already secured a commanding lead in the points classification, a testament to his consistent sprint performances throughout the three weeks.
Biniam Girmay, the reigning Green Jersey winner from last year's Tour, put up a brave fight but ultimately finished third in this classification. His strong start to the Tour, including a second-place finish on Stage 1, showed his intent, but a challenging latter half of the race, including the crash in Stage 17, made defending his title a bridge too far.
⛰️ Polka Dot Jersey (Mountains Classification): Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
A double triumph for Pogačar, who also clinches the Polka Dot Jersey, showcasing his prowess on the demanding climbs of this year's Tour.
⚪ White Jersey (Young Rider Classification): Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
The German sensation Florian Lipowitz, making his Tour de France debut, claimed the White Jersey for the best young rider, a promising sign for the future of cycling.
What a Tour de France it has been!
Congratulations to all the riders for their incredible effort and sportsmanship. The 2025 Tour will be remembered for its thrilling stages, dramatic moments, and the crowning of a true champion in Tadej Pogačar, along with the inspiring resilience of riders like Biniam Girmay.