🟡 Tour de France 2025 Stage 6: Brutal Normandy Test for Pogacar & Punchers

📝 Stage 6 Preview: Puncheurs Face Relentless Normandy Climbing

Tour de France 2025 Stage 6 offers no relief. At 201.5 kilometres, it's the longest stage so far, packed with 3,500 metres of elevation gain across relentless Normandy terrain. The route from Bayeux to Vire Normandie culminates with a 700-metre wall at 10.2% — a finale that’s sure to shake up the GC.

The day begins calmly, but the action kicks off early with the Mont Pinçon (5.6 km at 3.7%) at kilometre 38. The peloton will then grind over a constant sequence of sharp climbs: La Rançonièrre (2.2 km at 7.9%), Côte de Mortain (1.6 km at 9.5%), and Côte de Juvigny-le-Tertre (2.2 km at 7.3%). Even the “uncategorised” hills, like the Batonnière and Tertre Bizet, offer no real recovery.

It’s a perfect battleground for aggressive GC riders, or a strong breakaway packed with punchy climbers. With the final action launching on the Côte de Vaudry (1.2 km at 7.2%), followed by a short descent, the race will likely be decided on the vicious 700m ramp at 10.2% in Vire Normandie.

🔗 Check our full TDF preview here

🔁 Stage 5 Recap: Evenepoel Delivers, Pogacar Grabs Yellow

Remco Evenepoel dominated the 33-kilometre individual time trial in Caen, clocking 36:42 to win his third chrono of the season. But it was Tadej Pogacar who emerged as the big winner overall — taking second place and enough time to seize the yellow jersey.

Edoardo Affini surprised with a strong third-place ride, while Jonas Vingegaard delivered a sub-par effort, losing 1:21 to the Belgian champion. Mathieu van der Poel, who started the day in yellow, finished 18th and dropped to sixth in the standings.

🥇 Stage 5 Results:

1. Remco Evenepoel (BEL) – 36:42
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) + 0:16
3. Edoardo Affini (ITA) + 0:33
4. Bruno Armirail (FRA) + 0:35
5. Kévin Vauquelin (FRA) + 0:49

🔝 GC after Tour de France 2025 Stage 5:

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO)
2. Remco Evenepoel (BEL) + 0:42
3. Kévin Vauquelin (FRA) + 0:59
4. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) + 1:13
5. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) + 1:22
6. Mathieu van der Poel (NLD) + 1:28
7. João Almeida (POR) + 1:53
8. Primoz Roglic (SLO) + 2:30
9. Florian Lipowitz (GER) + 2:31
10. Mattias Skjelmose (DEN) + 2:32

⭐ Tour de France 2025 Stage 6 Favourites

• *** Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel
• ** Jonas Vingegaard, Oscar Onley, Kévin Vauquelin, Alex Aranburu
  • Wout van Aert, Ben Healy, Lenny Martinez, Neilson Powless, Thibau Nys

It’s a day for GC men to test each other — and for the breakaway to believe. With a wall finish and over 3,500m of climbing, Tour de France 2025 Stage 6 may be the most unpredictable yet.