Jonas Vingegaard crossed the line in a group behind Pogacar on stage 5 - Here’s why he didn't lose time to UAE rival Pogacar
Cycling
Yesterday the fifth stage of the Tour de France ended in a sprint in Pau, as expected on the eve of the first high-mountain test with the Tourmalet and other major climbs today. Just over 5 kilometres from the finish, right before the safety zone began (a fixed kilometre mark makes little sense; the danger of the run-in should dictate whether to extend or reduce that buffer), a mass crash split the bunch.
That meant any gaps between groups at the line would see the time losses of the trailing groups count towards the general classification. A first group of sprinters came in, led by stage winner Olav Kooij.
The second group, featuring the favourites, was headed by Tadej Pogacar in 21st, closely followed by Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas. Jonas Vingegaard, involved in the crash, crossed in 53rd, just ahead of race leader Torstein Traeen. At first it looked like the Dane had conceded time to the Slovenian, but in the end he had not. Here’s why.
Article 14 of the regulations sets out an exception for stages deemed to finish in a bunch sprint. In these finales, a real split between groups is only recognised when the time gap at the line is three seconds or more.
This means that even if two groups cross the finish one or two seconds apart, all riders are credited with the same time on GC. Only gaps of at least three seconds trigger time losses.
Hugo Page linking Pogacar’s group to Vingegaard’s
A Cofidis rider proves decisive
In the case of Pau, the situation was striking because Cofidis rider Hugo Page played a decisive role. The Frenchman managed to bridge Pogacar’s group to Vingegaard’s right before the line.
Although he technically finished 12 seconds after the Slovenian, his presence linked both groups under the judges’ criteria, preventing a valid separation for the general classification.
As a result, Vingegaard did not lose time to Pogacar despite being caught up in the crash. A conclusion that keeps the duel between the two big favourites intact, right before the race hits its first major high-mountain test, where differences will depend solely on the legs.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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