Here’s Jeremy Whittle’s Tour de France 2025 stage eight race report from Laval:
That’s all for today. Thanks for following the blog and for your emails.
It’s been a brilliant day for Jonathan Milan, who was already wearing the green jersey, but has now bagged himself a win on the Tour de France 2025 after being pipped on previous sprint stages.
Join me tomorrow for another flat sprinter’s stage in Châteauroux, which has temporarily renamed itself Cavendish City in honour of Mark Cavendish.
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Here are some pictures from the today’s podiums:
'I'm really happy and we deserve it', says Milan after a 'tough and stessful' final
Jonathan Milan spoke to reporters after winning stage eight. He’s the first Italian to win a stage at the Tour de France since Vincenzo Nibali’s success in Val Thorens on stage 20 of the Tour in 2019. He said:
I think I don’t understood what we [just] did. To come with some expectations and dreams and then to bring them home are two different good things.
The Lidl-Trek riders said he was confident in the team.
Today it was really focused, believeing in it. My guys did an amazing job into the final. It was a tough and stressful final. It was dragging up and I knew I had to wait as long as I could.
I like these kind of finals. I’m really happy and we deserve it. We desrve one [a win] and now lets try and rest as much as possible and try again tomorrow.
The Italian rider added:
Winning with this jersey on myshoulder means a lot for me and for my country. I’m really happy with the result and I’ll try and bring more home.
KOM classification: top five after stage eight
Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates XRG), 8pts
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG), 7pts
Ben Healy (EF Education-Easypost), 4pts
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) 4pts
Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), 3pts
Points classification: top five after stage eight
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), 192pts
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG), 156pts
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), 124pts
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), 108pts
Anthony Turgis (Total Energies), 93pts
General classification: top 10 after stage eight
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) 29hrs 48mins 30secs
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step) +54secs
Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) +1min 11secs
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 17secs
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +1min 29secs
Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 34secs
Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL) +2mins 49secs
Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +3mins 2secs
Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +3mins 6secs
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) +3mins 43secs
Top five on stage eight
1. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
2. Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)
3. Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
4. Pascal Ackermann (Israel Premier Tech)
5. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Caps)
Milan wins stage eight!
A great sprint for Jonathan Milan! The Lidl-Trek rider and green jersey leader takes the stage win. Mathieu van der Poel lead out Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Kaden Groves, while Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) sat on Milan’s wheel.
Updated
2km to go: The peloton have been riding at 80km/h into the approach. The road is ramping up a bit now.
4km to go: The bunch are driving uphill now with Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step) back at the front. Alpecin-Deceuninck are dominant.
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6km to go: It’s getting a bit tense at the front, with the riders vying for position on relatively narrow roads with a few 90 degree turns thrown in.
Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step) is next to Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) towards the back of the bunch, while Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) is at the front with his teammates.
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Very much enjoyed receiving this email from Jason in Seattle:
I am enjoying your commentary during this uneventful stage.
Race radio talking about cows, your cheese lunch. All part of the experience.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the blog today and my snippets during a not very eventful (so far) stage.
9km to go: Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step) is back in the peloton. He just needs to work his way up to the front now. The team’s are getting their lead out trains in order.
10km to go: Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step) has a mechanical but grabs a new bike and is back on the road. Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech) tried to slow going into a roundabout because of a puncture and hit the deck. He’s OK though and back up.
Burgaudeau and Vercher win the combative award
13km to go: Matteo Vercher is done! Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Energies) goes on without his teammate. It’s just been announced that the duo have been awarded the most combative award for today’s stage.
16km to go: The breakaway have just reached the summit of the 900m catgeory four Côte de Nuillé-sur-Vicoin with Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Energies) crossing the KOM line first. The peloton follow.
Updated
18km to go: Jonas Rutsch (Intermarché-Wanty) has crashed! He was lying on the ground and it didn’t look great but he’s up and back on his bike with a rip in the back of his jersey. From the TV footage, it looks as if a rider ended up riding over his back due to the crowded road.
22km to go: The peloton are riding through narrower roads now. The gap between them and Matteo Vercher and Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Energies) has increased to 56sces. It might be that the peloton have decided to let the pair go for now to avoid it getting too hectic too soon.
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27km to go: The two French riders have been out for 50km, at a pace of 48.2 km/h since their attack. They maintain a gap of about 30secs.
31km to go: The peloton are looming behind the shoulders of Matteo Vercher and Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Energies). The have about a 26sec gap now.
The Côte de Nuillé-sur-Vicoin is coming up in about 15km.
Updated
35km to go: Andie has emailed in from “on the road somewhere between Czech Republic and Germany” and asks:
Do you have an update on the likes such as Pod, Remco and Jonas? Thank you sooo much!
I don’t have much to report except that Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) are safely tucked away in the peloton, spinning along and staying out of trouble.
41km to go: The Total Energies duo are head down, doing rotations and have upped their gap to 41secs.
Arnaud De Lie of Lotto-Caps has just had a wheel change.
46km to go: Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates XRG) just crashed but it doesn’t look as if it’s anything serious. He’s been given a fresh bike from the team car and is back on his way to the peloton.
Paul has emailed in from south-west Oregon and asks:
Where’s your favourite place on today’s stage for a backdrop shot as the riders go by? Is there a favourite community/town/city you like on this stage?
Hope you are well and actually in France instead of being virtually reporting.
Sadly I am not in France. Today’s live blog comes to you from London. You ask a good question but I don’t know if I have a favourite spot. I do enjoy seeing the dense crowds cheering at the riders as they push up climbs, so perhaps today’s short category four climb will give us some interesting scenes.
56km to go: Matteo Vercher and Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Energies) have almost a minute on the peloton now. Jayco-Alula’s Mauro Schmid is 13secs behind the bunch.
Here are some pictures of fans and spectators along today’s stage:
69km to go: The pair out front (Total Energies’ Matteo Vercher and Mathieu Burgaudeau) have increased their gap to 30secs.
Updated
78km to go: Matteo Vercher and Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Energies) have attacked and created a very slim 12sec gap. Perhaps they were bored and fancied spicing things up a bit, or maybe they have bigger ambitions?
82km to go: Here are the results from the intermediate sprint in Vitré.
1. Milan, 20 pts
2. Merlier, 17 pts
3. Turgis, 15 pts
4. Girmay, 13 pts
5. Rex, 11 pts
6. Coquard, 10 pts
7. Simmons, 9 pts
8. Zimmermann, 8 pts
9. Van Sintmaartensdijk, 7 pts
10. Powless, 6 pts
11. De Lie, 5 pts
12. Burgaudeau, 4 pts
13. Wellens, 3 pts
14. Rickaert, 2 pts
15. Naberman, 1 pt
85km to go: Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) scooped up some more points, crossing the line at the intermediate sprint. Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Energies) accelerated after the intermediate sprint but Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) was on him.
Updated
87km to go: UAE Team Emirates XRG have radioed to update Tadej Pogačar about the Giro d’Italia Women 2025 results. Slovenian professional cyclist, Urška Žigart, who is Pogačar’s other half, came seventh in today’s stage. It was won by Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), with Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) second.
We have about 2km to the intermediate sprint. So far, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) has dominated these, grabbing 92 of his 132 points in intermediate sprints.
Updated
98km to go: There’s been a couple of punctures; one for Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and one for Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) that resulted in a rear wheel change.
103km to go: My lunch has arrived: a beautifully crafted fancy cheese, plum chutney and tomato sandwich. Some of the riders have been tucking into their various snacks. Even the commentators on TNT Sports are discussing cheese tasting notes.
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113km to go: Still no takers for an attack, so the peloton are happily cycling along chatting. At 85.5km in, there’s an intermediate sprint, with points for the green jersey classification.
Also, it’s worth noting that the riders have to wait an extra day this year for their first rest day, due to Bastille Day on 14 July. They’re racing for maximum exposure on TV during the national day of France.
Mark Renshaw has told XDS Astana over the team radio that they look “beautiful” riding together on the TV coverage.
120km to go: The long string of riders are eating up the kilometres through the French countryside. The average speed of the stage so far is 42km/h, although they were clocking 60km/h on the slight downhills. Still, Intermarché-Wanty and Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) are still at the front of the bunch. Further back the jersey wearers are spinning and chatting.
Glen has kindly extended an invite for me to join Monday’s Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy stage. He’s emailed in to say he and a Canadian mate from back in schooldays will hop from the village of Tauves to Mont Dore, before “hiking up a gorgeous route to near the top of the stunning and expansive-viewed last col (St Robert) with views down the hairpins, set before the final drag up the Puy du Sancy”.
That sounds idyllic but unfortunately, I will be glued to my computer live blogging that stage. Have fun Glen and drop me an email on Monday.
Apologies, it turns out that the email link for you to send me your thoughts, questions and predictions wasn’t right. It should be updated now, so if you have already sent an email, please try resending it to the email address now linked. Thank you!
135km to go: João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG) is riding today but must be feeling very sore. Prior to stage eight, Almeida said:
I have a broken rib, a lot of bruises and a lot of skin missing. I almost didn’t sleep so it won’t help and my finger is also painful so let’s see how it goes holding the handlebar and everything.
140km to go: We’re 30km in and Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) and Jonas Rutsch (Intermarché-Wanty) are still driving the bunch at a pace of about 41km/h.
I’m currently pondering some plans to go and see the Tour at a stage or two next week. Is any one else heading out to France for this race or the Tour de France Femmes?
Updated
It’s another packed weekend of sport. You can see what the Guardian team have lined up with the coverage guide here:
148km to go: It’s all still very calm in the peloton. After yesterday’s bumpy stage, the riders are taking the more relaxed moments where they can – who can blame them? Intermarché-Wanty and Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) are still driving the bunch.
One of the team’s has radioed its riders to say that this region is known for having lots of cows. I think that sums up the level of action right now.
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153km to go: According to the Tour race centre, the wind as well as the heat will make things uncomfortable for the peloton today.
Blowing from the north-east, it will be in their faces for practically the entire stage, at an average speed of 15 km/h, slowing the peloton down.
159km to go: It’s hot out there. The temperature is 30C at the front of the race, in fact. It’s also very exposed as they ride through towns. Lots of supporters are out for the riders, which is great to see.
Updated
162km to go: Today, after Dunbar’s withdrawal, there are 176 riders in the bunch. They’re very much chilling as they roll through the picturesque French countryside. Intermarché-Wanty and Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) are up at the front of the pack.
Eddie Dunbar withdraws from the Tour de France 2025
Jayco Alula have said that the Irishman Eddie Dunbar will withdraw from the Tour as he wasn’t able to start today. On social media, the team said:
Following a crash in the final kilometres of yesterday’s stage, Dunbar has been suffering with pain in his wrist and a decision was taken to stop, for his safety.
The racing has begun!
171km to go: The flag has dropped but the peloton is staying together, casually rolling. No takers for an early attack yet.
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Third placed on yesterday’s stage, the 22-year-old Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL) has caught the attention of Tour pundits as one to watch. The Scot spoke to TNT Sports about yesterday’s result and also his hopes for Monday’s mountain stage:
On yesterday’s third place finish:
It’s a little bit of a suprise but these kind of stages suit me well. To be behind Pogačar and Vingegaard yesterday gives you a bit of confidence … It’s nice to be able to pay the team back.
Looking ahead:
[I’m going to] take it easy and try to recover. [I’m] looking forward to Monday, it should be another one that suits me.
And here’s a reminder of the GC rankings before the proper action starts today:
The top 10 on GC after stage seven
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG), 25hr 58min 04secs
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step), +54secs
Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), +1min 11secs
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), +1min 17secs
Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), +1min 29secs
Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 34secs
Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL) +2min 49secs
Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +3min 2secs
Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +3min 6secs
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) + 3min 43secs
Updated
Today’s rollout has begun
Stage eight of the Tour de France 2025 is under way. The peloton have rolled out from a Saint-Méen-le-Grand. There’s a 6.4km neutralised section before the racing begins at about 1.25pm CEST/12.25pm BST.
Jonas Vingegaard’s fans are out in force ahead of stage eight:
There’s been a medical update on Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) and João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG) from the Tour de France race centre:
Santiago Buitrago “did not have concussion, but has superficial abrasions and contusions to the right thigh”. He should start today.
The same goes with Joao Almeida. “It’s confirmed he has an uncomplicated left-sided rib fracture, as well as some profound abrasions to his body”, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG doctor explained yesterday evening. “Fortunately no concussion. We will be monitoring him carefully going forward. The next few days will be difficult for him, but at this point, he should be able to start.”
Updated
Yesterday, Bahrain Victorious’s Jack Haig and Soudal-Quick-Step’s Mattia Cattaneo had to withdrew from the Tour de France 2025. Haig’s team confirmed that he had suffered a concussion after a crash, while Cattaneo’s team said he would not be continuing due to injuries.
Here are all the withdrawals so far:
Stage one:
Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon-Ag2R La Mondiale)
Stage three:
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Stage five:
Emilien Jeannière (Total Energies)
Jasper De Buyst (Lotto-Caps)
Stage seven:
Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious)
Mattia Cattaneo (Soudal-Quick-Step)
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Here is the route profile of stage eight:
Updated
Today’s official race briefing comes from French ex-professional cyclist, Jean-Marc Marino:
Stage eight, Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval Espace Mayenne, 171.4km, [is] a mostly flat stage with a final one kilometre climb at 2%. But it will take a sprinter who’s not worn out from previous days to win this stage.
The stage starts in Saint-Méen-le-Grand, birthplace of Louison Bobet, one of Brittany’s legends. Then we pass through Romillé, the home town of Gérard Huet, and Ballots, birthplace of Jacky Durand.
There will be an intermediate sprint in Vitré, a finish location of the Route Adélie. There’s a very slight bump, 15km from the finish, but it’s only 900m at 3.8%. Then a technical section through Laval leads into the finale, with a one kilometre uphill false flat in front of the Espace Mayenne. A fairly fresh sprinter will be needed to take the win.
Stage eight: Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval, 171km
Here’s a look at today’s stage, Saturday 12 July: Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval, 171.4km, with William Fotheringham’s preview:
The start tips its hat to the triple winner Louison Bobet, the baker’s boy from Saint Méen, then the route heads east; if the prevailing wind – westerly – does its thing, this will be very fast, but the scenario is well trodden: early doomed break featuring lowly French teams cheered on by the local crowd – think Arkéa, Cofidis, Total Energies – and a sprint finish for Philipsen and company after five days’ waiting.
The preview was written before the Tour, so Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won’t be in the mix today after having to withdaw from the race on stage three. It’ll be a day for the sprinters though, so keep an eye out for Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) and Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step).
Preamble
After a series of hilly stages over the past couple of days, the peloton will head out today on a 171.4km flat route from Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval, with an elevation gain of 1,700m. There’s only one climb, the category four Côte de Nuillé sur Vicoin, coming 16km before the finish. It’s a short climb at 900m with an average gradient of 3.8% so it shouldn’t be a problem for the sprinters who will be eyeing up a stage win today.
With that in mind, sprinters such as Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) and Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step) are expected to be in the mix, but there could also be a surprise from lesser known names. I’ll also be keeping an eye out to see how Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) tackle that short climb before the finish. As always, I’d love to hear your predictions so please do email them to me.
The peloton are scheduled to roll out at 1.10pm CEST (12.10am BST) and the finish is estimated to be at about 5.04pm CEST (4.04pm BST).
If you want to catch up on yesterday’s stage first, here is Jeremy Whittle’s stage seven race report from Mûr-de-Bretagne:
And a refresher of who’s who and the teams competing in this year’s Tour:
