UNO-X MOBILITY 10 The Norwegian-rooted outfit has built one of the most virtuous trajectories of the last decade in professional cycling. Born as a Continental team, it climbed the ranks and earned its place in the WorldTour after growing exponentially year by year, winning Tour stages, Classics in Belgium and much more besides. Yesterday it reached one of its highest points yet with Træen in the yellow jersey – and it is not over, because this Tour still holds major ambitions, from Johannessen’s place in the general classification (sixth last year) to at least one stage win.
TRÆEN 9 In the space of a few months, he has become a genuine specialist in the “bidon breakaway.” Last year at the Vuelta, a day on the attack earned him the leader’s jersey, which he wore for several days before finishing ninth overall. His advantage over the big names at the Tour is enormous for now, and who knows whether he might even repeat a top-ten finish. It will be difficult, because the level here is sky-high, but he climbs well and it will take quite a while before he disappears from the radar.
PEDERSEN 8 To him and to Lidl–Trek; to Vacek (10, whose work was exceptional and whose white jersey he may well keep until Thursday), and to Simmons, crucial in the stitching-together effort before taking second on the stage. On a searing July afternoon at the Tour, they salvage, at least in part, a 2026 that has so far brought more lows than highs, by taking the stage – Pedersen’s third Tour win – collecting valuable points for the green jersey, which the Dane will wear tomorrow, and surging to the top of the team classification with a sizeable advantage over second place.
FRIGO 7 The Veneto rider from NSN Cycling Team is a guarantee by now. If he is on the start list and the race is demanding, you already know you will find him up the road. Yesterday, objectively, it would have been difficult to do better than fourth place, which now sits alongside his two second places and a third at the Vuelta, as well as a third at the Giro. What he is missing now are a win and a fifth place. Let’s go with envelope A.
QUINN 7 He came within touching distance of a career-defining dream: wearing the Tour’s yellow jersey. He, a rider who has never won as a professional and who has spent a lifetime working for others. His form is good, like that of the whole EF EasyPost team, who once again give a lesson in how to go in the break, and from here to the end of the Tour they should have several more chances to shine. At the finish he looked so disappointed and dejected that, had I been there, I would have given him a big hug.
VAUQUELIN 6 The Netcompany INEOS rider is out of contention on the general classification and is going on more through willpower and pride than genuine condition. From the team car they are putting him under no little pressure: all of France is watching you and cheering for you, they tell him. But yesterday, as for all the other riders in the break, there was little to be done. He was dropped on the climb, but fought his way back, and even had a go with a Del Toro-style move in the final corner. He will try again, perhaps on harder mountainous days, with better legs and, ideally, with a team-mate or two alongside him, which never hurts.
MOVISTAR 6 As at the Giro, they keep trying; as at the Giro, they are not getting much in return. But García Pierna and Castrillo confirm what we have seen over these past weeks: they are in excellent shape and, above all, the latter could really have his say in the high mountains, perhaps even shifting his focus towards the polka-dot jersey.
DEBRUYNE 6 I will keep backing Vertsynge, but at the moment the one really flying is him — the Pharaoh — one of the most active riders in the break, and after coming very close to a stage win at the Dauphiné, he has gone close again here.
ZIMMERMANN AND HERMANS 5 Of all the riders who broke clear on the final climb, the only ones really missing were them. Given their quality, current form and characteristics, it was perfectly reasonable to expect to see them up front.
GRÉGOIRE 4 The disappointment of the day. Speaking of France watching you, Grégoire was targeting a stage win in the French national champion’s jersey; and speaking of riders we all expected to see up front in the closing kilometres – or perhaps capable of getting back on in the descent after the final climb – he was one of the first names everyone had in mind as the Dane’s main rival, all the more so after seeing him in the break giving only the bare minimum of turns, clearly trying to save himself. Of course, beating Pedersen would have been difficult for anyone, but at the very least he might have lasted a little longer.
VAN DER POEL 2 And finally him, one of the riders most eagerly awaited yesterday. Since the opening time trial, he has been seen hardly at all. He stayed on the sidelines, watching the others and waiting for better days. As he has already accustomed us to doing, he will probably ride himself into form as the Tour goes on, but the stage to Foix was a missed opportunity.