Although the Tour de France peloton will be tackling a few Jura hills on Saturday on the penultimate stage towards Pontarlier, the major mountains are well and truly over in this 2025 edition. On Friday, from Albertville to La Plagne, in a stage shortened to 93 kilometres, the final big climbs of the Tour de France were covered, and Thymen Arensman claimed victory. Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet fought as hard as he could and sits seventeenth overall two days before the finish in Paris.
On the second day in the Alps, the riders were expecting a dynamic stage. It was even more so than expected. Instead of the 123 kilometres initially scheduled by the organizers, only 93 kilometres were to be covered this Friday from Albertville to La Plagne, due to the withdrawal of the Col des Saisies at the start of the race. It was therefore after only fifteen kilometres, and after passing the intermediate sprint, that the peloton tackled the demanding Col du Pré (12.5 km at 8%), where the race broke out straight away. Primoz Roglic launched the attacks among the GC riders, and after trying to follow a first move, Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet was forced to let the yellow jersey peloton slip away. “It was difficult yesterday, and it was again today at the start,” commented Stéphane Goubert. “It was slightly better in terms of feelings at the end of the race, but he is still very far from his real level. We will sit down to analyse all this after the Tour, it is not the right time. As for Valentin, he’s struggling a bit with bronchitis, and he gave it his all yesterday to try to do his best.”
“We have to try where we can try,” Stéphane Goubert
After getting over the Cormet de Roselend (5.8 km at 6.6%), Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet eventually crossed the finish line at the top of La Plagne (19.5 km at 7%) in 35th position, just over fifteen minutes behind the winner Thymen Arensman. The French rider therefore lost one spot (17th) in the overall classification of the Tour de France with forty-eight hours to go before the end of the race in Paris. “The guys fought well, but with the next two days in mind, in order to perform there as well as possible,” added Stéphane Goubert. “We have to try where we have a chance at the moment. We have to accept that we couldn’t compete in the high mountains this year, and we have to be aggressive on terrains that suit us better. Tomorrow is one of those days.” Four listed climbs will have to be overcome on Saturday in the penultimate stage of the Tour, towards Pontarlier, with the last one being twenty-five kilometres from the finish. A perfect profile for the breakaway.
