Tadej Pogacar delivered a masterclass on Stage 12 of the Tour de France, dismantling his rivals on the grueling climb to Hautacam and reinforcing his dominance in the 2025 edition of the race. The Slovenian soared to victory on the first summit finish of the year, finishing more than two minutes ahead of defending champion Jonas Vingegaard and extending his overall lead to an imposing 3 minutes 36 seconds.

With nine stages left, Pogacar’s third Tour title is beginning to feel like a formality. He now leads the general classification in commanding fashion and showed no signs of weakness following his crash the previous day near Toulouse.

“I feel like I’m living a fairytale,” said Pogacar after securing his eighth career stage win in the Pyrenees. “I’m in peak form, wearing the rainbow jersey, and surrounded by a phenomenal team. I’ll try to stay in this moment as long as I can.”

Despite lingering nerves at the start — a nod to his 2022 defeat at the same location — Pogacar’s response was emphatic. He attacked decisively on the lower slopes of the 13km Hautacam climb, launched by teammate Jhonatan Narváez, and steadily distanced Vingegaard, who struggled in the searing heat.

Vingegaard’s isolation at the base of the final climb raised eyebrows about Visma-Lease a Bike’s tactics. With Matteo Jorgenson and Simon Yates both dropping off earlier on the Col du Soulor, the Dane was left to fend off Pogacar’s assault alone. Now facing threats not only from Pogacar but also from rising talents like Scotland’s Oscar Onley — fifth on the stage and sixth overall — Vingegaard’s hopes of a yellow jersey defense are quickly fading.

The punishing Pyrenean heat also took its toll on other GC contenders. Ireland’s Ben Healy lost nearly 14 minutes, while Remco Evenepoel faltered on the Col du Soulor, falling behind in the standings.

Amidst the fierce racing, somber emotions lingered after the tragic death of 19-year-old Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera in the Giro delle Valle d’Aosta. The young rider, competing for Hagens Berman Jayco, died after a high-speed crash on a descent. Stage 2 of the Italian race was canceled in his honor, and Tour riders observed a moment of applause in Auch before Thursday’s start.

Meanwhile, the debate over whether the peloton should have waited after Pogacar’s crash near Toulouse continued to ripple through the cycling world. Though some, like Demi Vollering — who lost her Tour Femmes title last year after a similar crash — praised the sportsmanship of the men’s peloton, the incident proved irrelevant in light of Pogacar’s overwhelming form.

Stage 13, a time trial from Loudenvielle to Peyragudes, now looms, but it’s unlikely to derail Pogacar’s momentum. If anything, it offers another opportunity for the race leader to press his advantage — unless Evenepoel or Vingegaard can conjure something special to turn the tide.