Breaking news Tour de France 2025: Ben Healy Wins Stage Six, Van der Poel Pips Pogacar to Yellow Jersey – As It Happened
**July 9, 2025 — An exhilarating sixth stage of the 112th Tour de France unfolded today, showcasing the relentless spirit of cycling’s finest athletes as they navigated treacherous climbs, strategic breakaways, and fierce rivalries. The day’s events culminated in a dramatic sprint finish, with Ben Healy claiming victory, and a tight battle for the yellow jersey saw Mathieu van der Poel edge out Tadej Pogacar in an electrifying contest. Here’s a detailed account of how the stage unfolded.**
Stage Overview
**Stage 6:** Clermont-Ferrand to Le Puy-en-Velay
**Distance:** 180 km
**Profile:** A challenging route featuring rolling hills, a grueling ascent of the Mont Mézenc (1,754 meters), and a fast, technical finish in Le Puy-en-Velay.
**Key Features:** Multiple categorized climbs, a mid-stage breakaway, and a high-speed finale.
Early Breakaway Forms
The stage kicked off under clear skies with a brisk peloton setting a steady pace. Within the first 20 kilometers, a strong breakaway established itself, comprising Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), Michael Matthews (Team Jayco-Alula), and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ). The trio quickly built a lead of over three minutes, leveraging their strength on the rolling terrain.
**Healy’s aggressive move:** Demonstrating early intent, Healy attacked on the first climb, attempting to shake off his breakaway companions and set himself up for a stage victory. His effort was met with spirited resistance from Matthews and Gaudu, who refused to let him go.
The Battle on the Climb
As the peloton approached the ascent of the Mont Mézenc, the gap hovered around four minutes, giving the breakaway a comfortable cushion. The climb proved decisive:
– **Gaudu** launched an early attack, trying to split the breakaway.
– **Healy** responded swiftly, matching the move and maintaining his composure.
– **Matthews** hung in, waiting for the right moment.
Meanwhile, the peloton, led by teams like INEOS Grenadiers and Jumbo-Visma, began to reel in the breakaway, setting a furious pace on the lower slopes of the climb.
**Key moment:** Near the summit, Healy surged ahead of Gaudu and Matthews, gaining a slight advantage heading into the descent. His tactical move put him in prime position for the stage win.
The Descent and Final Kilometer
Descending rapidly, the breakaway members jockeyed for position, aware that the stage victory would be decided in the final kilometers.
In the final 2 km, a ferocious sprint developed:
– **Ben Healy** launched a powerful acceleration from the front, opening a small gap.
– **Michael Matthews** and **David Gaudu** fought back but couldn’t catch him.
**Healy’s victory:** Crossing the line in a time of 4h 15m 27s, Healy claimed his first Tour de France stage win, drawing cheers from the crowd and his team’s support staff.
The Fight for the Yellow Jersey
While Healy celebrated his victory, the overall classification was heating up. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) clashed in the battle for the yellow jersey.
Key moments in the GC battle:
– **Pogacar’s aggressive moves:** The two-time Tour winner attempted multiple attacks in the final ascent, trying to isolate van der Poel.
– **Van der Poel’s resilience:** The Dutch superstar responded with measured attacks, maintaining his composure and avoiding costly splits.
– **The decisive move:** With 1 km remaining, Van der Poel launched a powerful sprint, just edging out Pogacar at the line by a wheel’s length.
**Result:** Van der Poel took the yellow jersey by a narrow margin, signaling a shift in the race’s dynamics. Pogacar, although disappointed, remained within striking distance.
– Post-Stage Reactions
**Ben Healy:**
*”This win means everything to me. The team worked tirelessly, and I knew I had the strength to go all the way today. It’s a dream come true.”*
**Mathieu van der Poel:**
*”Holding onto the yellow jersey is a huge relief. Tadej pushed me hard today, but I’m confident in my form. The race is far from over.”*
**Tadej Pogacar:**
*”I gave it my all today. Mathieu was just a bit stronger in the finish. I’ll come back stronger in the next stages.”*
Standings After Stage 6
| Position | Rider | Team | Time | Overall Gap |
|————|——–|——-|——-|————–|
| 1 | Mathieu van der Poel | Alpecin-Deceuninck | 19h 45m 12s | +0s |
| 2 | Tadej Pogacar | UAE Team Emirates | +2s | +2s |
| 3 | Jonas Vingegaard | Jumbo-Visma | +7s | +7s |
**Points Classification Leader:** Mathieu van der Poel
**King of the Mountains:** David Gaudu
Looking Ahead
With van der Poel taking the yellow jersey, the race intensifies. The upcoming stages feature more mountain climbs, steep descents, and opportunities for breakaways. The battle between Pogacar and van der Poel promises to be one of the most compelling narratives of the 2025 Tour.
**Fans can expect more dramatic attacks, strategic maneuvers, and perhaps surprises as the peloton heads into the Alps and beyond.**
Today’s stage showcased the essence of the Tour de France: resilience, strategy, and the relentless pursuit of glory. Ben Healy’s breakthrough victory, coupled with van der Poel’s narrow victory in the battle for yellow, kept fans on the edge of their seats. As the race progresses, the competition promises to reach new heights, with the yellow jersey changing hands and legends being written anew.
**Stay tuned for more updates, live coverage, and in-depth analysis of the Tour de France 2025 as the race unfolds.**
