Dutch rider Thymen Arensman wins Tour Stage 14, Tadej Pogacar retains yellow
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The pack of riders cycles through the town of Arreau during the 14th stage of the Tour de France.
PHOTO: AFP
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LUCHON-SUPERBAGNERES – Thymen Arensman of the Netherlands won the 14th stage of the Tour de France after a superb solo ride in the 183-km mountain trek between Pau and Superbagneres on July 19.
Slovenian Tadej Pogacar retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey as he took second place by beating chief rival Jonas Vingegaard, in a two-man sprint finish 1min 12sec behind Ineos Grenadiers rider Arensman.
“I just wanted to experience everything and I had to be really patient the first week,” said the 25-year-old Arensman.
“This is unbelievable now. Also, yeah, the way I did it... I can’t believe it. I was really fading on this last climb, the second half of the climb, but I think with all the fans they give me an extra few watts.
“I wanted to experience the biggest race in the world and then to win a stage in my first Tour and in this way is unbelievable, you know, it’s crazy.”
Ineos Grenadiers team’s Dutch rider Thymen Arensman cycles to the finish line to win the 14th stage of the 112th edition of the Tour de France cycling race.
PHOTO: AFP
Defending champion Pogacar extended his lead over Dane Vingegaard in the general classification by six seconds to 4:13 at the end of the Pyrenean stage.
The day belonged to Arensman, however, as the Dutchman went solo from the day’s breakaway in the penultimate climb to the Col de Peyresourde (7.1 km at 7.8 per cent).
He never looked back and held firm on his way up to Superbagneres (12.4 km at 7.3 per cent) as Vingegaard attacked several times in an attempt to drop Pogacar. But the world champion did not flinch and easily beat his rival in the final metres to further cement his domination.
Despite the joy of Arensman’s victory, there were some bad news as an Ineos team car hit and knocked down a spectator during the stage, TV footage showed.
The team car was in the middle of the road to the Col de Peyresourde, about 200m from the top of the ascent, when it struck the spectator, who was cheering the riders on.
A screengrab taken from a video showing a spectator being knocked down by an Ineos team car during the stage.
PHOTO: PAULMOUTARDE/X
Organisers said they were not aware of the accident while Ineos were not immediately available for comment.
Meanwhile, Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel pulled out of the Tour during the stage.
The double Olympic champion was third in the overall standings and had won Stage 5 in the 21-stage race, but appeared exhausted after Friday’s uphill time trial.
The Soudal Quick-Step rider won both the Olympic road race and time trial gold in Paris, shortly after finishing third at the 2024 Tour de France and claimed the best young rider’s white jersey.
But an accident in Brussels in December involving a postal delivery van scuppered the 25-year-old’s preparation for the 2025 Tour. AFP, REUTERS
