What a day for Tadej at the Tour! On the French national holiday, Bastille Day, he claimed an exceptional stage win and extended his lead over his rivals in the general classification. Tadej rode solo to the finish of Stage 10 in Le Lioran after his UAE Team Emirates – XRG squad did an outstanding job in the Massif Central.
First, they neutralized a breakaway of 31 riders who went in search of the stage win. As the last to be caught, Tadej’s teammates reeled in Javier Romo (Movistar) 38 kilometers from the finish of this extremely demanding 166.6-kilometer stage. But immediately after that, Richard Carapaz (EF Education Easy Post) attacked, starting the climb to the Pertus pass with a lead of a good minute.
Tadej set off in pursuit a kilometer below the summit and quickly made up 40 seconds, and after catching the Ecuadorian, he rode the final 15 kilometers alone. He took the win in Le Lioran—where in 2024 Jonas Vingegaard (Visma Lease a Bike) beat him in a sprint—despite a very strong chase group forming behind him.
Tadej reached the line 32 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe) and 34 seconds ahead of Paul Seixas (Decathlon). Vingegaard finished 7th, 44 seconds back, so Tadej extended his overall advantage over him to 3:36. This time, Tadej’s teammate Isaac del Toro did not have his best day, as he trailed by 1:31 and slipped from 3rd to 7th place in the overall standings.
»An incredible day, the team did an amazing job—we’ve been targeting this stage for a long time. Two years ago Jonas beat me fair and square in the sprint, and this time too I had similar legs in the finale, completely destroyed. I enjoyed the day; only in the last kilometer did I know I would win. I remembered it was Bastille Day, I wanted to honor the yellow jersey. Thanks to all the fans along the road. The atmosphere was amazing, even though some fans along the route saw us off with boos—but to them we say: you gave us even more strength,« Tadej said at the finish.
»We were testing new radios; when there were lots of fans around, I couldn’t hear anything. So in the last 10 kilometers I didn’t know what the gap was, who was doing what. In my head there was only one thing: go full gas to the top. I knew the road well, because we also checked it out yesterday. I had some doubts, because the year before last Jonas caught me and I was empty for the sprint. I had that in mind until the final few hundred meters,« Tadej revealed.
It was his third stage win at this year’s Tour; in his career he has already celebrated 24. At the same time, he put on the yellow jersey for the 60th time in his career (6th this year). He moved into a tie for 3rd place with Miguel Indurain on the all-time list. Ahead of him are only Bernard Hinault (75) and Eddy Merckx (96).
»Up to now, the Tour has been perfect for me and for the team. It suited us very well. Even today, with one climb, it was ideal for each of our riders. Everyone was able to do their job, and I finished it off. Isaac also did well, he tried to follow the others; he’s a fighter and he’ll keep fighting for the places at the top,« added Tadej.
For him, it was his third victory on Bastille Day; he already celebrated on July 14 in 2021 and 2024. »You never know how long this will last. We have to be grateful for these moments, when we race in France, at the biggest race in the world, which isn’t that far from our homes. I have to enjoy this moment; I saw a lot of Slovenian flags by the roadside. We have to enjoy the race,« Tadej concluded.
After an exceptionally demanding test in the Massif Central, Tadej and his teammates are hoping for two calmer days in the flat stages 11 and 12.