Tadej Pogacar shatters Iban Mayo's 2004 Mont Ventoux record
Every visit to Mont Ventoux adds a new chapter to the history of the Tour de France, and it also sees the stars of today measure themselves against the indelible names of yesteryear. On stage 16, Tadej Pogačar climbed the 21.5km ascent in a staggering 54:51 - a full minute faster than Iban Mayo’s long-standing record.
The Tour de France returned to Mont Ventoux on stage 16 for its 11th summit finish on the Bald Mountain and its first visit since the double ascent of 2021, when Wout van Aert swooped to victory in Malaucène.
Prior to Tuesday, outright record for the ascent was held by Iban Mayo, who clocked 55:51 in the mountain time trial at the 2004 Critérium du Dauphiné. The fastest ascent in the 21 years since had come from Miguel Ángel López in the 2021 Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge, when he clocked 57:55 for the 21.5km ascent from Bedoin.
Before Tuesday, the record time for Mont Ventoux on the Tour was set by Marco Pantani in 1994, when he clocked 57:34 in his fruitless pursuit of early escapee Eros Poli on a stage that finished over the other side in Carpentras.
In the 21st century Tour, the quickest time prior to this year the 58:45 set by Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador in 2009. Chris Froome clocked 58:47 during his exhibition in 2013.
This year is one to remember, marked by the nail-biting battle between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard - and the blistering 54:51 ascent that came with it.
Mont Ventoux - outright record times
| Ranking | Year | Race | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2025 | Tour de France stage 16 | Tadej Pogacar | 54:51 |
2 | 2004 | Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (ITT) | Iban Mayo | 55:51 |
3 | 2004 | Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (ITT) | Tyler Hamilton | 56:26 |
4 | 1999 | Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (ITT) | Jonathan Vaughters | 56:50 |
5 | 2004 | Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (ITT) | Oscar Sevilla | 56:54 |
6 | 1999 | Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (ITT) | Alexandre Vinokourov | 57:33 |
Mont Ventoux - Fastest times in Tour de France
| Year | Quickest rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
1994 | Marco Pantani | 57:34 (Tour record) |
2000 | Marco Pantani | 59:05 |
2002 | Lance Armstrong* | 59:00 |
2009 | Andy Schleck | 58:45 |
2013 | Chris Froome | 58:47 |
2021 | Jonas Vingegaard | 59:15 |
2025 | Tadej Pogacar | 54:51 |
