Tour de France 2025 Stage 13: Brutal uphill time trial to Peyragudes

🕹 One man, one mountain, no margin for error

Tour de France 2025 Stage 13 serves up the season’s first and only pure mountain time trial – and what a beast it is. A short 10.9-kilometre effort, but what it lacks in distance, it makes up for in pain.

From Loudenvielle to the Altiport 007 runway in Peyragudes, riders face a flat 3 km stretch before grinding uphill for 8 km at 7.8%. And just when the legs are screaming, the final 1 km kicks up at 13%, with ramps reaching 16%.

This is no ordinary TT. It’s a climb against the clock, the air, and themselves.

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🧭 Tour de France 2025 Stage 13 – The route: flat, then fiercely uphill

• Start: Loudenvielle (flat for 3 km)
• Climb: 8 km at 7.8% average
• Final km: ramps up to 13–16% on the Peyragudes runway
• Total distance: 10.9 km
• Elevation gain: ~670 metres
• Intermediate checks: at 4.0 km and 7.6 km

While a flat opening might offer a false sense of ease, the real test begins shortly after the first time check. From there, it’s all about power, pacing, and pain tolerance.

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🎭 History, psychology and revenge

This exact climb was used during the 2022 Tour, where Tadej Pogacar out-kicked Jonas Vingegaard to take the stage. It was a rare moment in that Tour where Pogacar had the upper hand. Three years later, the Slovenian arrives in yellow and full confidence after blowing the race apart on Hautacam.

Jonas Vingegaard, however, will remember this climb—and possibly use that memory to fuel redemption.

Remco Evenepoel, who has looked more consistent than explosive, enters as a wildcard. He recently beat Pogacar and Vingegaard in a time trial at the Critérium du Dauphiné, though that was a very different course.

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🧠 Strategy and pacing: a tricky balance

Unlike a standard TT, Tour de France 2025 Stage 13 is a delicate balance between two extremes:

1. You can’t go out too hard – riders need to save energy for the punishing final 2 km.
2. You can’t go out too easy – the early flat kilometres are the only place to gain serious time via aerodynamics.

Expect some riders to blow up halfway. This course rewards control, discipline, and explosive climbing ability, not pure power.

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🏆 Favourites – will the big three deliver?

This is a stage designed for the best of the best. But fatigue, pressure, and heat could swing things.

*** Top favourites:

• Tadej Pogacar – Currently in yellow and flying. His explosive climbing style fits this profile perfectly.
• Remco Evenepoel – Strongest TT engine of the three; if he paces well, he could surprise.
• Jonas Vingegaard – Brilliant climber, but needs to bounce back from Pogacar’s demolition on Hautacam.

** Outsiders:

• Ben Healy – Back down in GC but still a dangerous all-rounder on steep terrain.
• Florian Lipowitz – Rising star with serious legs; third on Hautacam.
• Kévin Vauquelin – Consistent, solid climber with potential to crack top 5 today.

* Dark horses:

• Thymen Arensman, Mattias Skjelmose, Primoz Roglic – All have the pedigree, but form is a question mark.

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⏱ GC update before Tour de France 2025 Stage 13:

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO)
2. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) + 3:31
3. Remco Evenepoel (BEL) + 4:45
4. Florian Lipowitz (GER) + 5:34
5. Kévin Vauquelin (FRA) + 5:40
6. Oscar Onley (GBR) + 6:05
7. Primoz Roglic (SLO) + 7:30
8. Tobias H. Johannessen (NOR) + 7:44
9. Felix Gall (AUT) + 9:21
10. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) + 12:12

With Evenepoel and Vingegaard separated by just over a minute, and Lipowitz lurking behind, expect the GC podium fight to heat up again.

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📺 Timing

• First rider: 13:10 CEST
• Last rider (Pogacar): expected at 17:31 CEST

🔗 Check out the full TDF 2025 preview here:
https://thetipster.com/tour-de-france-2025-preview/