STAGE 8 DS INSIGHTS

🚴‍♂️ Tour de France 2025 – Stage 8 DS Preview

📍 Route: Saint-Méen-le-Grand → Laval (Espace Mayenne)

📅 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.

🧠 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 Pogačar 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 Pogačar               UAE Team Emirates   29h12’55”

2             Remco Evenepoel       Soudal Quick-Step     +0’54”

3             Kévin Vauquelin           Arkéa–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 Pogačar               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

🔴 Mountains Classification (Polka Dot Jersey)

Rank    Rider    Team   Points

1             Tim Wellens    UAE Team Emirates   8 pts

2             Tadej Pogačar               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             Kévin Vauquelin           Arkéa–B&B Hotels      +0’17”

3             Oscar Onley    Team dsm–firmenich PostNL              +1’55”

4             Romain Grégoire          Groupama–FDJ             +2’41”

5             Max Poole        Team dsm–firmenich PostNL              +3’04”

🔧 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             Arkéa–B&B Hotels      +8’08”