Stage 12 Breakdown: Pogačar Rewrites Hautacam, Seizes Yellow
The Pyrenean Payback We’ve Been Waiting For
It took three years and one 13.5 km climb at 7.8%, but Tadej Pogačar has finally exorcised his Hautacam demons.
Today in Stage 12 of the 2025 Tour de France, the Slovenian superstar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) launched a vicious solo attack that shredded the GC, dropped Jonas Vingegaard on the climb he once ruled, and cemented his place atop the general classification once again.
The win wasn’t just tactical—it was personal.
🏁 Final Stage 12 Results
Rank | Rider | Team | Time Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates‑XRG | 4:21:19 |
2 | Jonas Vingegaard | Visma‑Lease a Bike | +2’10” |
3 | Florian Lipowitz | Red Bull‑BORA‑Hansgrohe | +2’23” |
4 | Tobias Johannessen | Uno‑X Mobility | +3’00” |
5 | Oscar Onley | Picnic PostNL | +3’00” |
Stat Flash: Pogacar climbed Hautacam at 20.6 km/h. Solo for the final 11.1 km. This was his 20th Tour de France stage win — and his 8th in the Pyrenees.
📊 Updated GC After Stage 12
Rank | Rider | Time Gap |
|---|---|---|
1 | Tadej Pogačar (UAE-XRG) | 45:22:51 |
2 | Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-LAB) | +3’31” |
3 | Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QS) | +4’45” |
4 | Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA) | +5’34” |
5 | Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B) | +5’40” |
Vingegaard now trails by 3 minutes and 31 seconds. Remco? Nearly 5 minutes back. This was no time gain. This was a hostile takeover.
How Pogi Torched the Race
🎯 The Move
Pogačar waited, watched, then detonated. When he hit the gas, there was no hesitation, no response. Vingegaard cracked, and the gaps yawned wider with every switchback.
🥵 The Climb
Hautacam — 13.5 km at 7.8%. Legendary. Brutal.
In 2022, it broke him.
In 2025, he owned it.
🏴☠️ The Victims
- Vingegaard: Managed the damage, but still lost 2’10”.
- Evenepoel: Faded and crossed 3’35” back.
- Roglič: Bled 4+ minutes.
- Jorgenson: Free-fell out of the top 10 entirely.
🦾 Most Combative: Bruno Armirail
Before Pogačar stole the show, Bruno Armirail (AG2R) went beast mode:
🛣️ 152 km in the breakaway
⚡ 43 km/h average
🧤 Solo leader until the final hammer drop
Deservedly awarded the red dossard.
📉 Who Lost Big Today?
- Matteo Jorgenson: GC collapse—lost over 10 minutes
- Remco Evenepoel: Hopes of yellow evaporating
- Primož Roglič: Lost ground to GC outsiders
- Oscar Onley / Tobias Johannessen: Heroic effort but still shelled
🧠 A Masterclass of Timing and Vengeance
This was the Pogačar performance everyone feared might come.
After playing cat-and-mouse through early mountain stages, he chose today—Hautacam, no less—to make a statement.
The last time this mountain saw him? He cracked.
This time? He cracked the entire GC.
Yellow back on his shoulders, fire in his legs, and control of the race in his hands.
📆 What’s Next: Stage 13 ITT — Loudenvielle to Peyragudes (10.9 km)
Short but savage.
Look for:
- Pogačar to defend or extend
- Vingegaard to claw back every second
- TT engines like Evenepoel to go all-in for pride
Explore Stage 13 ITT Route
