The king has dominated again. Tadej Pogačar wins the seventh stage of the Criterium du Dauphine 2025, Grand-Aigueblanche - Valmeinier 1800, 131.6 km, and effectively secures the overall classification victory. Nothing doing for Jonas Vingegaard, who finished 14" behind - the Dane couldn't even attempt the slightest reaction against the current world champion, absolute ruler in French territory. Clear signals ahead of the Tour de France, with Pogačar fully intending to make it four victories in the race's history book.

THE RACE. Fifteen riders initiated the day's breakaway, namely Clément Braz Afonso (Groupama – FDJ), Santiago Buitrago, Tostein Træen (Bahrain-Victorious), Romain Bardet, Juan Guillermo Martinez (Team Picnic PostNL), Jordan Jegat (Team TotalEnergies), Louis Meintjes (Intermarchè – Wanty), Sepp Kuss (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Ben Healy (EF Education – EasyPost), Alexey Lutsenko (Israel-Premier Tech), Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), Ivan Romeo (Movistar Team), Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility), Sergio Higuita (XDS Astana Team).

Bardet himself, now close to retirement - the Frenchman will bid farewell to professional cycling tomorrow - attempted a solo move, but in the final part, the general classification riders made their move, with Kuss starting to set the pace at the front trying to make the race leader crack. With 10 km to go, Tadej Pogačar played his usual script, dropping Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel: the overall leader crushed all his rivals, dominating again at Valmeinier. With his usual incredible ease.

"Today we wanted to maintain control until the climb" - he declared at the finish line - "we controlled various attacks, the idea was to defend, then there was an attack by Visma, so I defended by attacking in turn. I believe Vingegaard was strong today, I didn't push and didn't use all my energy because it was really hot, I think at the Tour it will be different, Vingegaard will go faster". The challenge has been launched, awaiting the great battle.

7TH STAGE FINISH ORDER

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in 4h10'00"

2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +14"

3. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +1'21"

4. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) +2'26"

5. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) +2'39"

6. Ben Tulett (Visma-Lease a Bike) +3'48"

7. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) s.t.

8. Emanuel Buchmann (Cofidis) +3'51"

9. Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) s.t.

10. Guillaume Guyonnet (Groupama-FDJ) s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 25h44'58"

2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1'01"

3. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +2'21"

4. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) +4'11"

5. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) +5'55"

6. Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) +6'50"

7. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +7'18"

8. Ben Tulett (Visma-Lease a Bike) +7'24"

9. Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) +7'41"

10. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) +7'43"