
STAGE 8 DS INSIGHTS
🚴‍♂️ Tour de France 2025 – Stage 8 DS Preview
📍 Route: Saint-Méen-le-Grand → Laval (Espace Mayenne)
đź“… Date: 12 July 2025
📏 Distance: 171.4 km
🗺️ Terrain: Flat stage with one Category 4 climb; ideal for sprinters. Slightly uphill run-in to the finish could favour powerful finishers.
đź§ DS Tactical Overview
After the explosive climbs of Stage 7, today is a regrouping opportunity for GC contenders and a full-blown sprint showdown for the fast men. Teams like Lidl–Trek, Intermarché–Wanty, Jayco AlUla, and Alpecin–Deceuninck will be on high alert, managing the breakaway and preparing for high-speed lead-outs.
GC riders will be looking to stay safe and conserve energy.
Tadej PogaÄŤar may target intermediate bonuses if available, but the stage win is likely outside his focus.
Wind could be a factor late in the day — echelons are not out of the question.
🏆 Classification Standings After Stage 7
🟡 General Classification (Yellow Jersey)
Rank Rider Team Time / Gap
1 Tadej PogaÄŤar UAE Team Emirates 29h12’55”
2 Remco Evenepoel Soudal Quick-Step +0’54”
3 KĂ©vin Vauquelin ArkĂ©a–B&B Hotels +1’11”
4            Jonas Vingegaard       Visma Lease a Bike +1’17”
5 Mathieu van der Poel Alpecin–Deceuninck +1’29”
🟢 Points Classification (Green Jersey)
Rank Rider Team Points
1 Tadej PogaÄŤar UAE Team Emirates 156 pts
2 Jonathan Milan Lidl–Trek 122 pts
3 Biniam Girmay Intermarché–Wanty 111 pts
4 Mathieu van der Poel Alpecin–Deceuninck 88 pts
5            Arnaud De Lie               Lotto–Dstny   82 pts
đź”´ Mountains Classification (Polka Dot Jersey)
Rank Rider Team Points
1 Tim Wellens UAE Team Emirates 8 pts
2 Tadej PogaÄŤar UAE Team Emirates 6 pts
3 Felix Gall Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale 5 pts
4 Wout van Aert Visma Lease a Bike
5 Michael Woods Israel–Premier Tech 3 pts
⚪ Best Young Rider (White Jersey)
Rank Rider Team Time / Gap
1 Remco Evenepoel Soudal Quick-Step 29h13’49”
2 KĂ©vin Vauquelin ArkĂ©a–B&B Hotels +0’17”
3 Oscar Onley Team dsm–firmenich PostNL +1’55”
4 Romain GrĂ©goire Groupama–FDJ +2’41”
5 Max Poole Team dsm–firmenich PostNL +3’04”
đź”§ Team Classification
Rank Team Time / Gap
1 **Visma Lease a Bike**
2 UAE Team Emirates +1’28”
3 Groupama–FDJ +7’14”
4 Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale +7’30”
5 ArkĂ©a–B&B Hotels +8’08”