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Tour de France 2025: Kaden Groves clinches historic solo victory, Tadej Pogacar nears Yellow glory
Tour de France 2025: Australian Kaden Groves claimed his maiden Tour stage win while Tadej Pogacar remains on track to secure his fourth overall title.
Tour de France 2025: Australian sprinter Kaden Groves stormed to his first Tour de France stage win on Saturday, sealing a solo victory on Stage 20 after a daring attack in slippery, treacherous conditions. While the stage belonged to Groves, the overall Tour narrative remained centered on Tadej Pogacar, who stayed safely in the main peloton, preserving his commanding 4:24 lead over rival Jonas Vingegaard, reported BBC.
According to the report, the 26-year-old Slovenian will seal his title defense on Sunday, the final day. The race is expected to be largely ceremonial, running 132.3 km from Mantes-la-Jolie to Paris, with three loops around Butte Montmartre before the celebratory sprint finish on the Champs-Elysees.
Unless disaster strikes, Pogacar, according to Reuters, will be claiming the Tour de France title, cementing his status as one of cycling’s modern legends.
Also read: Belgian rider Tim Wellens secures maiden stage 15 win at Tour de France 2025
Kaden Groves’ triumph adds to earlier stage wins
Groves’, 26, win on Saturday added to his earlier stage victories at Vuelta a Espana and Giro d’Italia, completing a rare Grand Tour treble. Riding for Alpecin-Deveuninck, Groves held off late chasers to take the 184.2 km stage from Nantua, finishing in four hours, six minutes, and nine seconds. Dutch rider Frank van den Broek placed second (+54s), with Pascal Eenkhoorn close behind in third (+59s), the BBC report added.
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Tour de France 2025: Brave ride, close call
However, Groves’ win did not come without drama. Just 21 km from the finish, he narrowly avoided disaster when Spain’s Ivan Romeo and France’s Romain Gregoire crashed on a rain-slicked descent, reported Reuters. With exceptional bike-handling skills, Groves stayed upright and used the moment to launch a decisive solo breakaway with 17 km to go.
Bursting into tears at the finish, Groves said that all he is ever asked is whether he is good enough to win the Tour de France. “And now I have shown them. It is incredible,” he told Reuters.
FAQs
Q1. What is the total distance of the Tour de France?
The full 2025 Tour de France covers approximately 3,492 kilometres over 21 stages.
Q2. Why was today's Tour de France stage not contested for the general classification?
The penultimate stage is traditionally raced but does not significantly affect the general classification unless accidents or major time losses occur. The final stage on Sunday is processional until the last few laps.
Q3. What happens when a Tour de France rider needs the toilet?
Riders often relieve themselves discreetly during the race, sometimes while still riding or stopping briefly by the roadside. Nature breaks are an accepted part of long-distance cycling.
