Stage 16 DS Insights Preview
🏁 Stage 16 Tour de France – Montpellier → Mont Ventoux (171.5 km)
🗓️ Date: 22 July 2025
⛰️ Summit Finish
Stage Type: High Mountain | Legendary Climb Finish
Theme: The Giant of Provence returns… and it’s hungry for tired legs.
🧭 Stage Profile & Route Breakdown
Stage Start: Montpellier
Finish: Mont Ventoux summit (15.7 km @ 8.8%) via Bédoin
Terrain: Mostly flat for the first 135 km, followed by one of the most feared climbs in cycling. The iconic barren upper slopes will reveal everything.
Narrative: The final week begins. With Paris on the horizon, the question looms: Who will break, who will rise—and who still has fire in their legs?
🏁 Who will win the fight for which jersey?
Yellow. Polka dot. Green. White. Everything is still in play.
😮💨 Rest Day Reflection
A moment to breathe—but did they rest or rust?
“The rest day brings uncertainty. Some riders return sharper. Others lose rhythm. Will Pogačar continue his show of force, or will someone gamble big?”
💭 Riders were seen out spinning on easy roads, staff performed massages, tuned bikes, and mentally recalibrated. But one thing is clear:
“This last week is no cruise to the Champs-Élysées. It’s war.”
🧠 DS Tactical Viewpoint
“Ventoux doesn’t offer favours. It strips pretenders. UAE must keep things tight and launch when it hurts. Visma must ride together—no solo heroics. If you want to beat Pogačar, isolation is key. But right now? He looks unbreakable.”
🟡 Pogačar Watch:
Leads GC by over 4 minutes.
KOM challenger.
Green jersey contender.
Mentally and physically dominant.
💬 “He’s in a league of his own. The jersey is his to lose—but right now, he’s not losing anything.”
🎯 Top Contenders – Stage Win
Rider Why?
Tadej Pogačar Pure domination. Tour’s strongest climber.
Jonas Vingegaard Needs time. Might attack all or nothing.
Michael Woods Ventoux is his dream. Has the legs.
Florian Lipowitz White jersey lead. Could go long, as long as it’s not a threat to GC riders above.
Thymen Arensman Steady climber, stage win potential.
🏆 Jersey Competitions – Leaders & Contenders
🟡 General Classification (Yellow Jersey)
Rank Rider Team Time Gap
1️⃣ Tadej Pogačar UAE Team Emirates – XRG —
2️⃣ Jonas Vingegaard Visma Lease a Bike +4’13”
3️⃣ Florian Lipowitz Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe +7’53”
4️⃣ Oscar Onley Team Picnic PostNL +9’18”
5️⃣ Kévin Vauquelin Arkéa – B&B Hotels +10’21”
6️⃣ Primož Roglič Red Bull – BORA-Hansgrohe +10’34”
🔴 KOM (Polka Dot Jersey)
Rank Rider Team Points
1️⃣ Lenny Martinez Bahrain – Victorious 60
2️⃣ Tadej Pogačar UAE Team Emirates – XRG 52
3️⃣ Thymen Arensman INEOS Grenadiers 48
4️⃣ Jonas Vingegaard Visma Lease a Bike 39
5️⃣ Michael Woods Israel – Premier Tech 38
🟢 Points Classification (Green Jersey)
Rank Rider Points
1️⃣ Jonathan Milan 251
2️⃣ Tadej Pogačar 233
3️⃣ Mathieu van der Poel 210
4️⃣ Biniam Girmay 169
5️⃣ Tim Merlier 150
🤍 White Jersey (Best Young Rider)
Rank Rider Time Gap
1️⃣ Florian Lipowitz —
2️⃣ Oscar Onley +1’25”
3️⃣ Kevin Vauquelin +2’28”
4️⃣ Carlos Rodriguez +10’33”
5️⃣ Ben Healy +10’48”
👥 Team Classification
Rank Team Time Gap
1️⃣ Visma|Lease a Bike —
2️⃣ UAE Team Emirates +16’51”
3️⃣ Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe +50’38”
🧩 Final Thoughts – DS Summary
“We’re entering the final act. The GC battle could explode. Riders need to be bold. For some, it’s glory or nothing. For Pogačar? He’s aiming to win everything. Mont Ventoux will decide who’s still dreaming—and who’s already cooked.”
