In a stage originally designed for the sprinters, it was Tadej Pogačar who stole the spotlight—once again proving that when it comes to winning, he rarely misses a beat. The Slovenian star kicked off his 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné campaign with a commanding victory in Stage 1, outsprinting two of cycling’s biggest names in a dramatic and unexpected finale.
Riding for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Pogačar was part of a late-race breakaway that materialized just 6 kilometers from the finish. The elite group included Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), both Tour de France rivals and formidable finishers in their own right. But it was Pogačar who had the final word, taking the win and the first yellow jersey of the race.
In a day full of surprise moves and atypical tactics, even Pogačar admitted he wasn’t expecting to be on the podium.
“Obviously, it’s good, but the real test is coming at the end of the weekend,” he said after the stage. “I wasn’t expecting it. I was all prepared to come back to the bus pretty fast after the finish—to take a shower, get in a comfortable seat, and enjoy the rest of the day. But I don’t mind being here either,” he added with a smile.
The decisive moment came on the climb of the Côte de Buffon, where the pace of the peloton slowed just enough to allow Vingegaard to make a rare offensive move. Pogačar and Van der Poel were quick to respond, forming a high-powered trio at the front. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal–Quick-Step) soon bridged the gap, creating a five-man breakaway packed with talent and intent.
“I followed the moves on the steep part of the climb,” Pogačar explained. “Visma were clearly going for the stage win—they were trying, with everybody, to attack from the top. That one hurt. Fortunately, I had good legs and could cover all the attacks. Even Jonas made a final move—like the cherry on top.”
With around 2 kilometers to go, the group began sizing each other up for the sprint. Pogačar, fully aware of Van der Poel’s explosive speed, recalibrated his focus.
“I started thinking more about the sprint than just the GC,” he said. “I knew Van der Poel was the fastest in the group. But after a finish like that, everyone is a bit slower—so anything can happen.”
As the leaders passed under the flamme rouge, Van der Poel launched his sprint, testing both his form and fitness following a recent wrist injury. Vingegaard and Pogačar held his wheel, waiting for the perfect moment. It was Pogačar who eventually surged past the former world champion, claiming the win in classic fashion.
“It’s a stage win. I could go home from the Dauphiné happy already,” he said. “But I still want to see how the shape is in the time trial and on the mountain stages. I can’t say today proves my form is incredible—but it’s a great start.”
Jonas Vingegaard, who finished second, was also upbeat about his performance.
“I had a good day, to be honest,” he said. “I’m happy with how it went. Happy I could make a difference. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever finished second in a bunch sprint—so I’m pleased.”
Stage 1’s unexpected outcome sets the tone for what looks to be an especially competitive edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné. With so many top riders showing aggressive form early on, the battle for overall victory could be more unpredictable than ever.
Looking ahead, Stage 2 will take the riders south from Prémilhat, covering 204.6 kilometers of rolling terrain. With six categorized climbs on the route before the finish in Issoire, the day promises more opportunities for breakaways—and perhaps more surprises.
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