In a wet and gripping Stage 20 of the Tour de France 2025, Slovenian sensation Tadej Pogacar edged closer to claiming his fourth career title, while Australian rider Kaden Groves executed a stunning late breakaway to secure his maiden Tour stage victory. With just one stage remaining, Pogacar holds a commanding lead and looks set to join an elite group of four-time Tour champions.
Tadej Pogacar keeps focus amid title anticipation
Despite a significant 4-minute, 24-second advantage over rival Jonas Vingegaard, Pogacar remained cautiously optimistic after the penultimate stage concluded in Pontarlier. He safely finished alongside the Dane, both clocking identical times while staying well clear of any on-course threats or breakaway chaos.
“I am more or less sure of my overall victory, but I still don't want to say anything about it. I want to stay focused until I have crossed the finish line in Paris,” Tadej Pogacar said, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the race’s finale.
If victorious, the 25-year-old will tie Chris Froome’s tally of four Tour de France wins and add another Grand Tour title to his growing legacy, having already conquered the Giro d’Italia in dominant fashion last season.
Stage 20 belongs to Kaden Groves
While Tadej Pogacar maintained his grip on the yellow jersey, it was Kaden Groves who stole the show. The 26-year-old launched a solo attack with 16 kilometers remaining, navigating slick and treacherous conditions with supreme control and power to cross the finish line 54 seconds ahead of Frank van den Broek and 59 seconds clear of Pascal Eenkhoorn.
“Winning in all three Grand Tours is a dream of every rider,” said Kaden Groves after sealing his 10th major race win. “We saw today as a chance to win from the breakaway. We played our cards correctly and I had super strong legs.”
The route through eastern France presented multiple tactical opportunities with three minor climbs and one moderate ascent up Cote de Thesy. Frenchman Jordan Jegat and Australian Harrison Sweeny each made bold moves during the stage, but neither could hold off the determined Groves.
A final Tour de France stage unlike any other
Though the final stage of the Tour de France is often ceremonial, 2025 breaks tradition with a punchier 132.3-kilometer course. Instead of leisurely laps around Paris, riders will battle three climbs up Montmartre Hill, including the challenging cobbled Rue Lepic, known from the Paris Olympics.
“I am unsure of how the final stage will pan out,” Pogacar admitted. “The course is relatively short, and that will make for a rather punchy effort.”
The stage concludes, as always, on the iconic Champs-Elysees, but the cobbled climbs and intense finish leave room for unpredictability, though a Tadej Pogacar triumph now seems all but inevitable.