Norwegian rider Soeren Waerenskjold wins fastest-ever Tour de France stage

Norwegian cyclist Soeren Waerenskjold achieved a stunning victory in the fastest-ever stage of the Tour de France, crossing the finish line just ahead of Olav Kooij and Jasper Philipsen. The relatively short and flat 161.3-kilometer route from Vichy to Nevers in central France set a new record for stage speed, with an average of 50.9 km/h. Despite finishing last among 175 riders the previous day due to a crash, Waerenskjold's late attack secured his first Tour de France stage win. He admitted to surprise at his own success, stating, "It means everything. It's my biggest win so far." He had previously expressed doubts about his chances against faster sprinters. Tadej Pogačar successfully defended his overall lead in the general classification, finishing within the main bunch alongside his closest challenger, Jonas Vingegaard. Pogačar extended his lead to over three and a half minutes after securing his third stage win earlier in the race. The stage saw several breakaway attempts, including efforts by Mathieu van der Poel, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Julian Alaphilippe, Mathis Le Berre, Nelson Oliveira, and Anthon Charmig. However, all were eventually caught by the peloton as riders positioned themselves for the final sprint, setting the stage for Waerenskjold's unexpected triumph.

“

It means everything. It's my biggest win so far, and like I said when I came here, I knew that there are two or three guys that are faster than me, but if I'm lucky and I have a good sprint like today, then it's possible.