Norwegian cyclist Soren Waerenskjold stunned the field with an aggressive late-race surge to win the fastest stage in Tour de France history. Competing in his fourth tour, the 26-year-old earned his first stage victory, marking only the second win ever for the Uno-X Mobility squad.
The stage was completed at an average pace of 50.9km per hour, establishing a new record and surpassing the previous mark of 50.3kph set in 1999. Meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar maintains his lead in the general classification, holding a buffer of three minutes and 36 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard.
During the final approach, Cees Bol initiated an early move toward the finish line. When other contenders hesitated, Waerenskjold seized the opportunity to accelerate past the barriers with 400 meters remaining. Despite late efforts from Olav Kooij and Jasper Philipsen, Waerenskjold held his lead to win by nearly a bike length. Philipsen, who finished third, was later relegated, allowing Milan Fretin to take the final spot on the podium.
Waerenskjold, who previously placed second on stage seven, described the result as the most significant achievement of his career. He noted that while other riders may have higher top speeds, a well-timed sprint allowed him to secure the surprise victory.
