Pogacar the fastest ever on Mont Ventoux, 17 new riders in the Top 50 all-time

There were no signs to announce this cataclysm. A big breakaway passed through Bedoin more than 6 minutes ahead of the peloton, with Arkea riders pulling on the first soft slopes of the bald mountain instead of the usual infernal pace set by UAE. A rider like Carlos Rodriguez, who didn't find his best level in this Tour, was still able to accelerate from the favourites group with 10 km to go.

The mistral was blowing in the face of the riders after Chalet Reynard, as the scorching heat wasn't enough. But that's how cataclysms are, they come sudden and without asking in the world of pro cycling too. And just like that, at the top of Mont Ventoux, Tadej Pogacar set a new climbing record: 54 minutes 30 seconds from the crossroad in Bedoin, with another 3 riders succeeding in breaking the benchmark of Iban Mayo, set in the infamous 2004 Dauphiné individual time trial. One of the most notorious climbing records in pro cycling has fallen.

After last year's Plateau de Beille watts festival, what Pogacar and Vingegaard did today was not that shocking anymore but what was more striking was the overall level. No less than 17 riders managed to climb Mont Ventoux in less than one hour, including the stage winner, Valentin Paret-Peintre. It was by far the fastest ascent on this terrible mountain, despite coming after 2 weeks ridden at record-breaking speed, 44 km/h since Lille.

It appears that most of the riders made very good use of the rest day and recharged their batteries for a brutal last week. With Jonas Vingegaard, in pole position. He declared that he would keep fighting Pogacar and that the 3rd week is his strong point, and he definitely kept his word, delivering on Ventoux his best performance of this edition so far. Three big attacks with three different lead-outs proved that his teammates are also up to the task, and the same can be said about Visma's strategy, with Benoot and Campenaerts sent ahead as satellite riders. Will this be enough to ambush and gain more than 4 minutes on Pogacar in the Alps? This still seems highly unlikely, Tadej looked very solid and out-sprinted him on the last ramp just to show him that he's still ahead. It was a small part of the psychological warfare he unleashed on Visma | Lease a Bike during these days.

But the fact remains: for the first time in this Tour, Pogacar couldn't drop Vingegaard despite Jonas riding into a headwind for the last 5 kilometers. This time, Tadej really tried. It was also the first time this month that a grimace appeared on the face of the Slovenian, and his mouth was finally used for oxygen intake. It was one of those showdowns that as a cycling fan, it makes you find the Alpine mountain stages still worth watching. But 4 minutes can be lost only after a Granon/Col de la Loze crisis by Pogacar, and not gained by Vingegaard in a mountain raid.

Many cycling fans, including myself, don't find it very appealing or iconic enough when the stage winner of a legendary mountaintop finish like Mont Ventoux comes from the breakaway, but today was not the case. I think it was actually good for cycling that the breakaway made it to the finish line in front of Pogacar, after the way Nils Politt treated the Movistar riders just for doing their job.

Plus, the sprints between Valentin Paret-Peintre and Ben Healy were at least as exciting as those between Pogacar and Vingegaard. In the end, the French stage victory truly arrived this time after a teamwork masterpiece by Soudal-Quickstep who rode again like a Wolfpack. They proved that even after a cataclysm like Remco Evenepoel's abandonment, there is life and hope. Vive le Tour!

UPDATED TOP 50 ascents on Mont Ventoux:

1. 2025: 54:30 Tadej Pogacar 23.67 km/h

2. 2025: 54:32 Jonas Vingegaard 23.66 km/h

3. 2025: 55:38 Primoz Roglic 23.19 km/h

4. 2025: 55:40 Florian Lipowitz 23.17 km/h

5. 2004: 55:51 Iban Mayo 23.10 km/h

6. 2025: 56:16 Oscar Onley 22.93 km/h

7. 2004: 56:26 Tyler Hamilton 22.86 km/h

8. 2025: 56:49 Carlos Rodriguez 22.70 km/h

9. 1999: 56:50 Jonathan Vaughters 22.70 km/h

10. 2004: 56:54 Oscar Sevilla 22.67 km/h

11. 2025: 57:20 Felix Gall 22.50 km/h

12. 2025: 57:25 Adam Yates 22.47 km/h

13. 2025: 57:29 Kevin Vauquelin 22.44 km/h

14. 2025: 57:32 Sergio Higuita 22.42 km/h

15. 1999: 57:33 Alexander Vinokourov 22.42 km/h

16. 1994: 57:34 Marco Pantani 22.41 km/h

17. 1999: 57:34 Wladimir Belli 22.41 km/h

18. 2004: 57:39 Juan Miguel Mercado 22.38 km/h

19. 1999: 57:42 Joseba Beloki 22.36 km/h

20. 2004: 57:49 Lance Armstrong 22.31 km/h

21. 1999: 57:52 Lance Armstrong 22.29 km/h

22. 2025: 57:53 Jordan Jegat 22.29 km/h

23. 2021: 57:55 Miguel Angel Lopez 22.27 km/h

24. 2004: 58:14 Inigo Landaluze 22.15 km/h

25. 1999: 58:15 Kevin Livingston 22.15 km/h

26. 1999: 58:31 David Moncoutie 22.05 km/h

27. 2004: 58:35 José Enrique Gutierrez 22.02 km/h

28. 2022: 58:35 Ruben Guerreiro 22.02 km/h

29. 2009: 58:45 Andy Schleck 21.96 km/h

30. 2009: 58:45 Alberto Contador 21.96 km/h

31. 2025: 58:46 Valentin Paret-Peintre 21.95 km/h

32. 2025: 58:46 Ben Healy 21.95 km/h

33. 2013: 58:47 Chris Froome 21.94 km/h

34. 2009: 58:48 Lance Armstrong 21.94 km/h

35. 2009: 58:50 Fränk Schleck 21.93 km/h

36. 2025: 58:50 Santiago Buitrago 21.93 km/h

37. 1999: 58:51 Unai Osa 21.92 km/h

38. 2009: 58:53 Roman Kreuziger 21.91 km/h

39. 2002: 59:00 Lance Armstrong 21.86 km/h

40. 2025: 58:58 Tobias Johannnessen 21.88 km/h

41. 2025: 58:59 Sepp Kuss 21.87 km/h

42. 2025: 59:00 Ilan Van Wilder 21.86 km/h

43. 1994: 59:02 Richard Virenque 21.85 km/h

44. 1994: 59:02 Armand De Las Cuevas 21.85 km/h

45. 1994: 59:02 Luc Leblanc 21.85 km/h

46. 1994: 59:02 Miguel Indurain 21.85 km/h

47. 1994: 59:02 Roberto Conti 21.85 km/h

48. 2009: 59:03 Franco Pellizotti 21.85 km/h

49. 2000: 59:05 Marco Pantani 21.83 km/h

50. 2000: 59:05 Lance Armstrong 21.83 km/h