Slovenian climber Matej Mohoric, aboard Bahrain Victorious, secured a dramatic victory in the 19th stage of the 110th Tour de France. The long, grueling battle stretched over more than 173 kilometers, linking the towns of Moirans-en-Montagne and Poligny as Mohoric edged out his closest rival Kasper Asgreen of Soudal Quick-Step in a razor close finale. The stage delivered relentless tempo from the opening kilometer, turning the race into a high-stakes sprint through a rolling landscape that tested every rider’s endurance and strategic nerve.
From the start, a fierce pace shattered the peloton into a dynamic split, with more than 40 riders weathering the chaotic tempo. Among the breakaway was Mohoric himself, the previous day’s winner Kasper Asgreen, veteran time trialist Victor Campenaerts representing Lotto Dstny, and Ben O’Connor of AG2R Citroën Team. Asgreen, O’Connor, and Mohoric formed a compact trio that repeatedly tried to pull clear, but Mohoric demonstrated superior final sprinting power to claim victory as the road narrowed toward the finish. The result underscored his strength in one-day accelerations and his team’s tactical judgment under pressure, marking a significant moment in Bahrain Victorious’ campaign and reinforcing Mohoric’s status as a reliable stage hunter in the race’s high-stakes battle for prestige and stage honors. (Cited from race organizers and team press notes.)
The race program for Saturday presents a demanding 133-kilometer ride from Belfort to Le Markstein, a route packed with elevation and strategic opportunities. Competitors will scale six classified climbs, including a Category 3 ascent, three climbs categorized in the second tier, and two Category 1 climbs that will extract every ounce of effort from contenders. The Petit Ballon path covers 9.3 kilometers at an average grade of 8.1 percent, while the Col du Platzerwasel stretches for 7.1 kilometers at approximately 8.4 percent. Together these ascents contribute roughly 3,600 meters of vertical difficulty to the stage, setting the scene for a decisive finale ahead of the ceremonial Paris finish the following day. Teams will weigh the value of early advantage against the risk of losing momentum in the concluding kilometers, with riders eyeing both stage glory and overall classification implications as the race approaches its climax.