Our continuing coverage of the other big event going on this month.
| Stage | Date | Start > Finish | Type | Distance (km) | Distance (mi) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Sat 07/12 | Saint-Méen-le-Grand > Laval Espace Mayenne | Flat | 171.4 | 106.5 | Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) |
Tour de France 2025 Stage 8 Summary: Jonathan Milan Claims First Tour Victory in Laval Sprint
Stage 8 of the 2025 Tour de France, a 171.4 km flat route from Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval Espace Mayenne, delivered a thrilling sprint finish on July 12, 2025. Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) powered to his first-ever Tour stage win, outpacing Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in a chaotic uphill sprint. Milan’s victory, clocked at 3 hours and 50 minutes, marked the first Italian stage win since Vincenzo Nibali in 2019, ending a 113-stage drought.
The stage saw a subdued peloton with no early breakaways due to hot weather (31°C) and a headwind. A two-man breakaway by TotalEnergies’ Mathieu Burgaudeau and Matteo Vercher gained traction after the intermediate sprint, which Milan won, but they were reeled in with 13 km to go. Mechanical issues plagued some riders, including Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step), who missed the sprint due to a late mechanical. Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Mathieu van der Poel led out Groves, but Milan timed his move perfectly, surging past with 200 meters left to claim the win and solidify his lead in the points classification, earning the green jersey outright.
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) retained the yellow jersey, finishing safely in the peloton, leading Remco Evenepoel by 54 seconds in the general classification. The stage, described as a recovery day after tougher earlier stages, set the stage for another sprint opportunity on Stage 9. Milan’s triumph was a testament to Lidl-Trek’s teamwork and his raw power, as he celebrated a milestone for both himself and Italy.