Evenepoel abandons race as Arensman wins stage 14

Remco Evenepoel finished third in the Tour de France in 2024 before going on to win both the Olympic road race and time trial gold in Paris the same year

Remco Evenepoel was forced to abandon this years Tour de France as Thymen Arensman claimed his maiden stage win.

Tadej Pogacar marginally extended his commanding overall lead over Jonas Vingegaard as the reigning champion finished second on a gruelling mountain stage, with Vingegaard third.

But Evenepoel, who was third in the general classification coming into a third punishing day in the Pyrenees, is now out of the race.

The double Olympic champion faltered on the first of four climbs on the 182.6km stage from Pau and had to withdraw, midway through the ascent of the mighty Col du Tourmalet.

"I didnt have the best preparation coming into the Tour," said the Soudal Quick-Step rider. "But I did everything I could to be in the best possible shape.

"Sadly, I just wasnt at 110%, which is what you need at the Tour de France to fight for the general classification."

German debutant Florian Lipowitz, 24, finished fifth on the day and climbed into the final GC podium place, and although British rider Oscar Onley lost time to Lipowitz, the 22-year-old Scot still moved up one place to fourth overall.

Dutch debutant Arensman reached the summit finish at the ski resort of Luchon-Superbagneres just over a minute before Pogacar for the 25-year-olds first stage win and a first on this years Tour for British team Ineos Grenadiers.

"I cant really believe it," said Arensman. "Going to my first Tour, I just wanted to experience everything.

"I had to be really patient the first week because it was really bunchy so I had to wait until the mountains, and then the first opportunity I got I was second on Le Mont-Dore [on stage 10].

"It was already an amazing experience on my first Tour but this is unbelievable."

Evenepoel finished third on his Tour debut last year and was again in a podium position, as well as wearing the white jersey for best young rider.

But the 25-year-old had struggled over the past two days, losing more than six minutes to Pogacar on the previous two stages alone, and he was soon in trouble on the days first climb.

He said: "For three days already, I wasnt feeling good and today in the morning I could feel I was empty, and then on the climb the legs just werent there. Its a pity I had to retire but its not something that will change my relationship with the race."

Soudal Quick-Steps sports director Tom Steels believes it was the right call for Evenepoel to withdraw from the race.

"He was very disappointed that he had to leave the Tour," said Steels.

"He was world champion on the road (in 2022), world champion in time trial (2023 and 2024).

"I think thats his next goal to aim at. If he continued in the condition he had then maybe the rest of the season is lost."

Thymen Arensman has competed in the Giro dItalia and Vuelta a Espana nine times but this is his first Tour de France

On the days third climb, TV footage showed that an Ineos team car hit and knocked down a spectator as the crowds thronged the road up the Col de Peyresourde.

The team has been approached for comment.

It was early on that penultimate climb that Arensman, his Ineos team-mate Carlos Rodriguez and Tobias Johannessen caught Lenny Martinez, who was first over the opening two climbs.

Arensman stretched his lead over the yellow jersey group to more than three minutes heading into the final 20km and did enough to stay clear on the 12.4km climb to the finish.

"It was also the way I did it," said Arensman. "Carlos was in that [lead] group and was also super strong. He did a really good job for me but yeah, I think I just had amazing legs.

"I had a gap on the GC group and I thought three and a half minutes probably isnt enough, I have to move.

"I cant believe I held them off. I was really fading on the second half of the last climb, but I think all the spectators gave me a few more watts."

There will be a hilly 169.3km stage from Muret to Carcassonne on Sunday, before the second rest day of this years Tour.