Thymen Arensman produced a sensational ride to win Stage 19 of the 2025 Tour de France, holding off the sport’s biggest names on the final mountain test to claim his second victory of the race. The Dutch rider attacked solo on the brutal climb to La Plagne and clung on to finish just two seconds ahead of a fast-closing Jonas Vingegaard and race leader Tadej Pogacar.
The shortened stage from Albertville to La Plagne was reduced by nearly 40km following route changes due to local agricultural issues. That didn’t stop the drama. Despite intense pressure throughout the day, Pogacar retained his grip on the yellow jersey, with Vingegaard still second overall. Third place looks increasingly likely to go to Florian Lipowitz after he broke clear of Oscar Onley late in the climb to take a crucial time gain.
Arensman, who had already triumphed in the Pyrenees earlier in the race, seized his chance after a quiet day for the general classification contenders. With no interest in the overall standings, the Ineos Grenadiers rider launched an aggressive solo attack, relying on the possibility that his rivals would hesitate to chase.
His gamble paid off. Despite a surging finish from Pogacar and Vingegaard in the final kilometre, Arensman hung on, gritting his teeth through every metre of the final stretch. “I didn’t take no for an answer,” he said after the stage, reflecting on the defiant mindset that carried him to victory. “Everyone knows Tadej and Jonas are almost aliens. I can’t believe I beat them today.”
Further down the mountain, Lipowitz’s team tactics worked to perfection. A descent attack by Primoz Roglic forced Onley to respond early, weakening the Scot before the final climb. As cold rain fell on the approach to La Plagne, the pace intensified. When the key moves came, Onley couldn’t match Lipowitz’s final push.
With two stages remaining, Pogacar leads the race into the weekend. Saturday’s route to Pontarlier is not expected to shake the general classification, while Sunday’s finale in Paris modelled on the 2024 Olympic road race presents a technical and challenging conclusion. For now, Pogacar remains focused on survival. “I just want to reach Paris in yellow,” he said, clearly feeling the toll of a grueling three weeks.
