Arensman climbs to misty Tour de France win as Pogacar extends lead

LUCHON-SUPERBAGNERES, France: Dutch rider Thymen Arensman climbed to victory on the gruelling stage 14 of the Tour de France in the Pyrenees on Saturday as defending champion Tadej Pogacar extended his overall race lead.

Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, who had been third overall, pulled out of the race on the day’s first climb, the daunting 2180m altitude Tourmalet.

As the disappointed Belgian Soudal Quick-Step rider left the race Arensman attacked on the third of four mountains on a colossal climb day while Slovenian Pogacar outsprinted Jonas Vingegaard for second just over a minute behind the winner.

Crossing the line in the mist at 1840m altitude, Arensman flung himself to the ground exhausted after taking a first win on this Tour for British team Ineos.

“After all that effort it was beautiful to win.

“I was focussed on trying to get in the breakaway and luckily I had good legs today,” Arensman said.

The 25-year-old produced a virtuoso climb amidst suffocating packs of near hysterical fans who had waited all day for the peloton to pass.

Behind him Pogacar fought off a string of attacks from his arch rival Vingegaard on a day the Slovenian never looked like attacking for the win.

Winner of the past two stages Pogacar pounced for the line from 50 meters with his trademark kick gaining another six seconds on the Dane.

Pogacar, overall race winner in 2020, 2021 and 2024, now leads Vingegaard by 4min 13sec with Florian Lipowitz moving into third place at 7min 53sec.

Pogacar praised Arensman as “the strongest of the breakaway and strongest of the race.”

“That was one hell of a ride from him. You could only see 20m ahead,” said the race leader.

“I was quite scared racing down the Tourmalet, I was behind