Unstoppable in Yellow: UAE Team Emirates-XRG Dominate Second Week

As the second week of the 2025 Tour de France got underway, UAE Team Emirates-XRG tightened their group on the race with a commanding series of performances across the Pyrenees. The team delivered day after day, with Tadej Pogačar rising to every challenge in emphatic fashion. Now with five stage wins and a 4'13" lead, the Slovenian heads into the final week in full control of the yellow jersey.

 

The week began in chaotic fashion as the race resumed on Stage 11. On the roads around Toulouse, the tension from the first rest day spilled into the peloton, and a touch of wheels saw Pogačar crash inside the final kilometres. In a show of sportsmanship, the GC group eased to allow the World Champion to rejoin. At the front of the race, Jonas Abrahamsen held on to win from a two-man breakaway, capping an emotional comeback just four weeks after breaking his collarbone. With no changes in the GC standings, Ben Healy retained yellow by 29 seconds, but with the mountains looming, UAE Team Emirates-XRG were perfectly poised to strike.

 

Stage 12 brought the Tour's first true summit finish, and with it, a major shift in momentum. As a 50-man breakaway surged clear, Tim Wellens made his way into the move, giving the team presence up the road. Behind, Nils Politt drove the pace, setting the stage for fireworks on Hautacam. As the climb began, it was Narvaez and Yates who turned the screws, shedding the GC group and softening the legs. Then came the launch. Narvaez went all-in, slingshotting Pogačar into a trademark long-range attack. Vingegaard tried to follow, but cracked. Alone and on his way to Yellow once again, Pogačar crossed the line over two minutes clear. His win, dedicated to the late Samuele Privitera, was both dominant and deeply moving – a tribute that resonated throughout the peloton.

 

The following day saw Pogačar produce a performance for the history books, taking his 21st career Tour de France win, the youngest rider ever to do so. He achieved the feat in stunning fashion, conquering the Stage 13 mountain time trial on the slopes of Peyragudes. Fastest at every split, the Yellow Jersey holder was untouchable from start to finish, extending his overall lead beyond four minutes. Adam Yates added to the team's strong showing with a top-ten finish, reinforcing UAE Team Emirates-XRG's strength in depth.

 

Stage 14 rounded out the Pyrenean block with three iconic climbs. The Aspin, the Tourmalet, and the Peyresourde. While the breakaway would sweep up the stage win through Thymen Arensman, the GC race was very much on behind. On the final ascent, it was once again Pogačar and Vingegaard. Vingegaard launched an attack in a bid to shake the Yellow Jersey, but Pogačar responded with composure, matching his rival move for move. Pogačar eventually crossed the line in second, gaining more time on the GC contenders. His advantage at the top grew to 4'13". A commanding gap heading into the final week.

 

Stage 15 delivered another memorable day for UAE Team Emirates-XRG as Tim Wellens surged to an emphatic solo victory. The Belgian national champion attacked with 43.5km remaining from the day's breakaway and never looked back, crossing the line alone to complete his Grand Tour stage win set, adding a Tour triumph to previous wins at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. His victory, coming on the eve of Belgium's national holiday, marked the team's fifth stage win of the race. Tadej Pogačar finished safely in the peloton, retaining his overall lead of +4'13" over Jonas Vingegaard. With momentum firmly on their side, UAE Team Emirates-XRG head into the final rest day in total control of both the stage wins tally and the general classification.