As it happened: Yellow jersey changes hand while GC shaken up by crash on stage 7 of the Tour de France

Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 7 of the 2025 Tour de France!

There's just over an hour until the riders roll out from Saint Malo, with an iconic finish on the Mûr-de-Bretagne awaiting them.

The testing 2km climb was the venue for Mathieu van der Poel's first Tour de France stage win in 2021. Could we experience a case of déjà vu later today?

Here's how the stage profile looks for today's 197km route.

Yesterday's stage threw up an interesting tactical battle between Visma-Lease a Bike and UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Here's what world champion Tadej Pogačar had to say about the situation.

READ: 'Visma tried to do, I don't know what…' - Tadej Pogačar irritated by rival tactics to try to keep him in the Tour de France yellow jersey

Here are the rankings as they stand going into today’s seventh stage.

The riders are on the move, making their way along the seaside in Saint-Malo in the neutralised zone.

It certainly is a day for the beach - the temperature is in the mid twenties, so the riders are in for another uncomfortably hot day in the saddle.

Mathieu van der Poel, back in the yellow jersey.

The riders will see the flag in just a few minutes. After yesterday's breakaway success, we imagine many will want to get up the road today, so this could be another frenetic start.

It's a beautiful day in Brittany - here were the riders at the unofficial start

And we're off!

OFFICIAL START

A group of about 15 riders have gone off the front right from the flag.

Wout van Aert was in that group, and has gone off the front of it and now leads the race alone.

Mauro Schmid joins Van Aert, as the race behind looks aout to reform.

Van Aert and Schmid only have a lead of about 5 seconds over the chasing peloton.

Bryan Coquard has dropped back from the peloton to pick up a bandage from the team car. He hasn't been involved in an incident today, but clearly something ails him.

Van Aert and Schmid are growing their lead, up to 14 seconds. They're two very powerful riders, but will likely need some company if they're to make it to the finish.

More attacks keep coming out of the peloton, but so far no group has managed to form behind the two leaders.

The scene at the start today in Saint-Malo.

15 seconds is Van Aert and Schmid's lead.

180KM TO GO

That lead has come tumbling, and the pair have been caught. The peloton is all back together again.

That’s the trigger for another series of attacks, led by Julian Alaphilippe. None have managed to get a gap yet, though.

Neilson Powless does now have a gap, but only of a few seconds.

Valentin Madouas has bridged up to Powless with an explosive attack, along with a few other riders.

That group has been brought back, and the race is, once again, all back together.

Here were Van Aert and Schmid during their ultimately unsuccessful attack.

EF are looking lively today, encouraged by Healy’s victory yesterday. Alex Baudin followed Powless by trying his own attack, but he too has been brought back.

The pace remains relentless, but no riders have managed to get off the front of the peloton. This is an exhausting start to the stage for everyone.

Anthony Turgis briefly managed to gain a small gap, but it was shut down. Almost 40km into the stage and still no break.

160KM TO GO

Madouas is on the move again, and has a gap. It’s only a few seconds, but that’s more than anyone has managed for a little while.

Madouas has been caught.

Powless is among the next to try an attack in yet another flurry of moves, nearly losing control of his front wheel in the process.

Still no break has come close to forming. Many riders in the peloton will be in a world of pain and hating this!

150KM TO GO

Van Aert is pushing on at the front again, but no gaps have been opened.

A more promising group of four have emerged. Powless, Mohorič, Teunissen and Gachignard have a 4 second lead.

But as we speak that gap has disappeared, and they've been brought back by the peloton.

A new group of 5 has formed..and this time the peloton has sat up. Could this be it?

Those five riders are: Alex Baudin, Marco Haller, Iván García Cortina, Ewen Costiou - and former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas.

The peloton has indeed sat up - the break’s lead is up to 45 seconds.

140KM TO GO

We aren’t done yet! The break’s lead has gone up to over a minute, but Decathlon have upped the pace in the peloton and are chasing.

Now more attacks are coming from the peloton, instigated by an Uno-X Mobility rider.

UAE have taken control again with Marc Soler, and those attacks haven’t been allowed to go clear.

The peloton has now calmed down. It does look like this five-man group will be the break of the day.

The break's lead is up to 1:20.

130KM TO GO

Here are the five riders up the road.

Alpecin-Deceuninck have joined UAE Team Emirates - XRG at the front of the peloton. They could be riding in defence of Van der Poel’s jersey, but equally could be controlling the break to set up their leader for another stage win.

Van der Poel did look very tired yesterday, but at the same time this finish suits him beautifully, and of course he won here four years ago.

The break aren't being allowed much of a lead. UAE and Alpecin's work is keeping them at about just 1:20.

120K TO GO

Mechanical for Luka Mezgec. Better to have one now when the pace is down than during the breathless racing earlier.

Alpecin-Deceuninck riding at the front of the peloton.

The break's lead has increased a little in recent kilometres, to 1:40. But you sense they're going to need quite a bit more if they're to make it to the finish to contest the stage.

110KM TO GO

The highest placed rider on GC in the break is Geraint Thomas, in 39th at a distant 14 minutes, which means none are a threat to Van der Poel’s yellow jersey.

Alpecin-Deceuninck will want to keep the yellow jersey for their leader today, especially with a couple of flat stages coming up after which he should be able to defend it on - unlike UAE Team Emirates - XRG, who had been eager to give it away when Pogačar had it, the quirky phenomena of which we looked into this morning.

Why are star riders at the Tour de France trying to avoid leading the biggest race of the year?

Still the peloton are keeping the break firmly in control, at 1:30. With no threat to GC, it does seem that Alpecin are riding for the stage win - Van der Poel must be recovered and feeling good.

100KM TO GO

Geraint Thomas is of course the headline name in the break. This is a different style of racing for the Welshman, who has generally either targeted GC (finishing on the podium three times in his last five appearances, including his victory in 2018), or, before that, as a super-domestique for the likes of Chris Froome.

This year, for what is his final Tour de France, the priority is stage wins; and though this break looks unlikely to succeed, his presence provokes his appetite, and we can expect him to get up the road more come the high mountains.

The pace is up a bit from Alpecin at the front of the peloton, bringing the gap down to 1:15. Some riders are struggling to hang on at the back.

90KM TO GO

Of the riders in the break, Baudin is one who loves the kind of terrain coming up later in the stage. He’s a talented puncheur, and was second in a stage of the Tour de Romandie earlier this year.

Iván García Cortina would have been the quickest rider in the break in the event of a pure sprint, though could also be competitive on an uphill finish like Mûr-de-Bretagne. He can get over punchy climbs, as demonstrated by his top ten at the Tour of Flanders this spring.

With the exception of Thomas, 34-year-old Marco Haller is the most experienced rider in the break. This is the tenth Tour de France of his career, but he has yet to win a stage. Could today be today? It feels like a long shot, but he’ll be dreaming big.

Finally, the fifth member of the breakaway, Ewen Costiou, is a Tour de France debutant flying the flag for Brittany riding for local team Arkéa - B&B Hotels.

We remain in a holding pattern, the gap between the break and the peloton at 1:40. The race will start to liven up ahead of the intermediate sprint, coming up in about 15km.

75KM TO GO

Still the gap remains stable, at 1:30.

70KM TO GO

Away from the Tour, stage 6 of the women’ Giro d’Italia has recently come to a close - we won’t spoil the result here, but click here if you want to read about what happened.

Not long now until the intermediate sprint. Nobody in the break will be interested, but there’s points on offer for the likes of Girmay and Merlier to try to eat into green jersey Milan’s gap - and we’ll get a good idea of how interested Van der Poel is in the points classification based on whether or not he goes for any points again.

No change in the gap, which remains at 1:30.

60KM TO GO

That might start to change now, as Intermarché–Wanty take over at the front in anticipation of the intermediate sprint.

It was a long, drawn-out sprint, with Milan edging Girmay at the line. Quinn Simmons almost took them by surprise by starting his sprint early, but both sprinters managed to pass him. Interestingly, neither Merlier nor Van der Poel went for it, and picked up no points.

Here’s the updated points classification. With those nine points, Girmay has jumped up two places to second:

1 Milan 122

2 Girmay 111

3 Van der Poel 108

4 Pogačar 106

5 Turgis 78

UAE and Alpecin are back on the front of the peloton after the intermediate sprint, and the gap between it and the break has come down to 1:05.

50KM TO GO

There’s some action in the break, which broke apart for a few moments. Thomas and Costiou briefly got a gap over the others, before it was closed down.

Thomas is really pressing on in the break. He was the rider who caused the brief split, and is doing a long turn at the front.

Haller is done. He’s sat up, seeing the other four breakaway riders disappear ahead of him.

The indefatigable Nils Politt is leading the peloton once again for UAE. He’s brought the gap down to under a minute.

40KM TO GO

The peloton is thinning out a little on an uncategorised rise they're currently climbing. Girmay and Milan are among those out the back, following their earlier efforts in the intermediate sprint.

Evenepoel is making his way into the peloton after taking a comfort break. The racing isn’t full-on just yet, so returning won’t be a problem for it.

Tiesj Benoot is with the Visma team car picking up bidons. It's a hot day out there, and the racing is about to intensify.

The four leaders still have a minute on the peloton, as they pass under the 30km to go banner. The gap hasn't come down in recent kilometres, but they still look doomed to be caught.

30KM TO GO

Evenepoel is safely back in the peloton.

We’re approaching the Mûr-de-Bretagne, where the riders will climb to the finish line a first time, before lopping back there for the finish.

Four years ago, Van der Poel launched a first attack in this first ascent, yet, despite being caught, still had the energy to win in the finale.

The four breakaway riders aren’t giving up. With 20km to go, they still have a lead of 1:05.

20KM TO GO

The rider are climbing, up the first of the four ascents of the day - the Côte du village de Mûr-de-Bretagne (not to be confused with the Mûr-de-Bretagne, which is coming up next).

Visma-Lease a Bike have emerged at the front of the peloton, as they start the climb.

Garcia Cortina has attacked, about 400m from the top of the climb.

Baudin and Costiou have followed him, but Thomas is unable to.

Costiou beats Garcia to the line to take the single KOM point on offer.

We're on the Mûr-de-Bretagne, and the crowds are huge!

MUR-DE-BRETAGNE

They’re cheering especially loudly, too, as a man from the local team leads the race - Ewen Costiou , who has dropped the rest of the break.

A crash for Clément Champoussin at the back of the peloton, but he looks OK.

Simon Yates leads the peloton for Visma, and Thomas has been brought back, followed by Baudin.

Costiou is still going strong, with a lead of 30 seconds.

Van der Poel looks to be struggling. He's drifting down the peloton, very visibly in the yellow jersey.

Garcia was also caught, meaning Costiou is the only rider still ahead of the peloton.

Costiou crests the climb still at the front of the race. That's some moment for the young rider!

Wellens moves to the front to the lead the peloton over the climb, 20 seconds after Costiou. There's only about 50 riders left in it.

Alaphilippe is not in the peloton. He won't be contesting the stage today.

Attack from Wout van Aert! He's made a move on the descent.

Van Aert has two riders with him, but barely any gap.

Wellens has dragged the peloton back to that Van Aert trio, and has Costiou in sight.

Costiou has been caught. Chapeau to the 22-year-old for what was a fine ride.

Soler has taken over at the front for UAE.

Here was Ewen Costiou leading the race over the Mûr-de-Bretagne.

There's a big scramble for position at the front of the peloton as they loop round back to Mûr-de-Bretagne.

10KM TO GO

There's been a crash, with some big names involved - including João Almeida.

CRASH

Others involved include Mas, Healy and Buitrago.

None of these riders look seriously hurt, but they stand to lose time.

Meanwhile in the peloton, Soler leads for UAE with just over 3km to ride.

The peloton is smaller now after that crash, with about 30 riders left.

At least 10 riders were involved in and/or held up by that crash - Barguil, Haig, Mohoric, Madouas, Martin are among the others.

Visma had taken over the front, but Wellens has tekn over for the start of the climb.

MUR DE BRETAGNE

Van der Poel is dropped!

And now Pogacar accelerates.

Only Evenepoel and Vingegaard are still with Pog.

Evenepoel moves to the front to do the pace-setting.

Vauquelin leads a chase group that has bridged up to the trio.

Evenepoel knocks off the pace, everyone's looking at each other.

There's about 10 riders left in the group.

1KM TO GO

Narvaez is here and leading the group for Pogacar.

Gall and Laurence are also here, the latter is a fast finisher...

Only and Jorgenson are also present.

Narvaez still leads...

Pogačar sprints...and Pogačar wins!

POGACAR WINS

Vingegaard managed to stick in his slipstream for the sprint, but had to settle for second.

Onley produced yet another brilliant performance to finish third-place.

Van der Poel is only just arriving at the line now, having been dropped early on the climb. Despite the work from Alpecin during the day, he's clearly too fatigued to compete for the stage win.

This result also means that Pogačar takes the yellow jersey back from Van der Poel again.

There were only 7 riders left in the front group at the line - Pogačar, Vingegaard, Onley, Gall, Jorgenson, Evenepoel and Vauquelin.

That includes all of the top 6 on GC, minus Van der Poel.

As for some of the riders involved in the crash, Mas came home 51 seconds down and Healy 1:45, suggesting they weren’t badly affected. Still no word of Almeida.

Almeida has made it to the finish, his jersey torn, but doesn’t look too hurt. His GC ambitions are over though, as he’s lost over ten minutes.

Jack Haig looked like the worst affected by the crash, and has abandoned the race.

This is Pogačar second win of this year’s Tour, and 19th of his career, which puts him up to joint seventh in the all-time ranking. How long until Mark Cavendish should be worried?

Though he was unable to come around his rival for the win, Jonas Vingegaard looked much better today than he did in the time trial. Has he sacrificed some of his time trialling speed in improving his punchy accelerations? Or was that time trial stage merely a bad day? Ultimately what will matter most is how well he goes on the long climbs, but while he remains 1:17 behind Pogačar on GC, he remains very much in contention.

Another consequence of Pogačar’s win is that he now leads the points classification. Jonathan Milan will wear the green jersey on his behalf tomorrow, and will hope to take the jersey outright in the coming two stages, both of which should be bunch sprints.

Thanks for joining us today, on a stage where Tadej Pogačar reclaimed control of the yellow jersey. Tomorrow attention should, for once, shift away from the Slovenian, and the sprinters come to the fore for a likely bunch sprint finish. Having had to battle through so many hill stages this first week, they won’t want to let the opportunity slip.