The riders in the Tour de France 2025 had to contend with some particularly testing weather conditions on this 14th stage between Pau and Luchon-Superbagnères. Météo France forecast drizzle at the start in Pau and light rain at the finish in Luchon-Superbagnères. But the combination of rain, cold temperatures at altitude and the formidable slope of Superbagnères turned the climb into a Dantean challenge, where every pedal stroke became a battle against the elements. Slippery roads and reduced visibility due to low clouds added a perilous technical dimension to this final Pyrenean stage, testing not only the legs but also the mentality of the riders in this unforgiving mountain setting. At the finish line, Thymen Arensman was ahead of the inseparable Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar.
The conditions didn’t discourage the 6,000 or so fans who turned out in force to cheer on the riders in the peloton (even more), and carry young rider Lenny Martinez to an exceptional Best Climber polka-dot jersey. In a cycling family tradition, where his grandfather brought the polka-dot jersey back to Paris, Lenny is making history by being the rider to score 50 points for the 50th anniversary of the distinctive best climber jersey (he wins a special bonus). It’s a great story that will be written on the lines and twists and turns of the Luchon-Superbagnères climb.
In the streets of Luchon, people are hurrying to the cafés and restaurants, taking a break in front of the town hall specially decorated for the occasion, preparing their official Tour de France supporter outfits, cheering on the caravan and its goodies, giving the riders a standing ovation as they hurry to finish this terrible stage. And then tomorrow, the peloton will set off again from Muret, while the supporters continue to enjoy the Haut-Garonnais Pyrenees with a hike, a paragliding jump, or a bike climb to the summit of Luchon-Superbagnères…
The Communauté des Communes des Pyrénées Haut-Garonnaises (CCPHG), represented by its Chairman, Alain Puente, and its Vice-Chairman, Denis Martin, was a partner of the day with Écosystem, and its famous ambassador Jérome Roy, to raise awareness of the issue of sorting waste, whether compostable, recyclable or reconditionable. This partnership is in line with the commitments made by the CCPHG in terms of ecological transition and the protection of sensitive natural areas such as Natura 2000.
Thousands of supporters in Luchon, and millions more behind their television screens, followed the queen stage of the Pyrenees. With the town centre returned to pedestrians, tens of thousands of supporters were busy on the allées d’Etigny, discovering local produce, enjoying a drink on the terrace, equipping themselves for the next ride or enjoying themselves at the stands of the Tour’s caravan. In terms of TV audiences, France Télévision announced over 5 million viewers for the finish of the fourteenth stage in Luchon-Superbagnères. Luchon tops the ratings for the Tour de France!
On café terraces and in the streets of Luchon, many people are already looking forward to the next stage of the Tour de France in Luchon and on the slopes of Luchon-Superbagnères. Fervour, enthusiasm, the magic of the Tour, sport, influence, passion, legend, emotion, mountains, tradition – when is the next stage of the Tour de France 2026 in Luchon?
