If you were looking for a turning point in the 2025 Tour de France, you just found it. Stage 5 wasn't just a race against the clock; it was a total vibe shift for the entire peloton.
We headed into Caen—a city celebrating its 1000th birthday, by the way—expecting a showdown. We got a massacre. 33 kilometers of flat, screaming-fast asphalt through the Normandy countryside. No hills to hide behind. Just pure power and aerodynamics.
Evenepoel’s Masterclass and the Yellow Jersey Swap
Remco Evenepoel is basically a cheat code in this discipline. Let’s be real. The "Aero Bullet" lived up to every bit of the hype. He didn't just win; he dismantled the field. Clocking in at 36 minutes and 42 seconds, he averaged a staggering 54 km/h. Imagine driving your car at that speed through a neighborhood—now imagine doing it on two wheels while wearing a skin-tight suit and a golden helmet.
But here is the thing. Even with Remco's brilliance, the big story was the man who finished 16 seconds behind him.
Tadej Pogačar.
💡 You might also like: Listen to Dodger Game: How to Catch Every Pitch Without a Cable Bill
Honestly, Pogačar looks scary this year. While he didn't grab the stage win, his performance was enough to snatch the Yellow Jersey from Mathieu van der Poel. MVDP fought like a lion, but a 33km flat time trial is a nightmare for a guy his size against the pure specialists. He finished 1 minute and 44 seconds down. Respectable? Yes. Enough to keep the lead? Not even close.
The Numbers That Matter
- Stage Winner: Remco Evenepoel (36:42)
- The Gap: 16 seconds to Pogačar
- Top Speed: Pogačar hit 73 km/h on the descent into Caen
- Average Speed: 54 km/h (Remco's winning pace)
The Vingegaard "Shock"
You've probably heard the whispers already. What happened to Jonas Vingegaard?
Usually, the Dane has all the answers in the "Race of Truth." Not today. Vingegaard finished 13th, bleeding 1 minute and 21 seconds to Remco. More importantly, he lost over a minute to his primary rival, Pogačar.
It was a bad day at the office. Visma-Lease a Bike looked a bit stunned in the post-race interviews. Their sports director, Grischa Niermann, admitted they didn't expect to lose that much ground so early. Is it a lack of form, or just a bad day? In a race this long, a minute can be a lifetime, especially when you're chasing a Pogačar who seems to be getting stronger every day.
📖 Related: LeBron James and Kobe Bryant: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Local Heroes and Surprise Packets
If you want a feel-good story, look at Kévin Vauquelin. The local kid from Arkéa-B&B Hotels was flying. At one point, his team radio was screaming that he was faster than Roglič and Vingegaard. He ended up 5th on the stage, just 49 seconds off the lead. For a 24-year-old, that is a massive statement.
Then you have Edoardo Affini. The Italian powerhouse from Visma held the "hot seat" for what felt like forever. He eventually took 3rd place, which is a huge result for him, even if it didn't help Vingegaard’s overall standings much.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Time Trial
A lot of casual fans think a flat 33km TT is "easy" because there are no mountains. Wrong. It’s actually more brutal. On a mountain, you can find a rhythm. In a flat TT like this one in Caen, you are constantly "on the rivet." There is no coasting. The wind in Normandy is notorious, and the riders had to fight a headwind on the way back into the city.
One tiny mistake in your tuck, one second where you stop pushing the 58-tooth chainring, and your gap disappears.
👉 See also: Lawrence County High School Football: Why Friday Nights in Louisa Still Hit Different
Tour de France Stage 5 Highlights: The GC Shakeup
The General Classification (GC) looks completely different now. The "Big Four" era is feeling more like a "Big Two" battle between Pogačar and Remco, with Vingegaard and Roglič now forced into an aggressive, attacking role for the mountains.
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) - The new boss.
- Remco Evenepoel (+42s) - Within striking distance.
- Kévin Vauquelin (+59s) - The French hope.
- Jonas Vingegaard (+1:13) - The defending champ with work to do.
Your Next Moves Following Stage 5
The race is far from over, but the hierarchy has been established. If you’re following the Tour, here’s how to interpret what just happened:
- Watch Vingegaard closely in Stage 6: He needs to prove this was a fluke. If he loses more time on the hills to Vire Normandie, his bid for a third title is in serious jeopardy.
- Don't count out Remco for Yellow: He’s only 42 seconds back. With another time trial later in the race, Pogačar can't afford to let him hang around.
- Keep an eye on the "secondary" GC guys: Roglič and Jorgenson are over a minute back now. They have to start taking risks in the medium mountain stages to bridge the gap.
The Tour has truly begun. Caen gave us the data; now we see how the riders use it.
Actionable Insight: If you're managing a fantasy cycling team, now is the time to pivot. Vingegaard’s value is dipping, while Pogačar looks like the safest bet in the history of the sport. However, watch for the French riders like Vauquelin—the "home soil" motivation is real this year.