Feature
Tour de France 2025 through the lens of James Startt - Stage 12
On each stage at the Tour de France, James Startt selects his image of the day, offering a unique perspective on the rolling citadel and the characters who inhabit it.
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James Startt
It’s lonely on the road, with only thousands upon thousands of screaming fans for company. Jonas Vingegaard wanted to be by himself on the climb to Hautacam on stage 12 of the Tour de France, but not like this.
His Visma | Lease a Bike squad dictated the terms on the preceding Col du Soulor in a bid to put Tadej Pogačar in difficulty, but nobody has been able to lay a glove on the world champion this year. He deftly sidestepped their onslaught before delivering a crisp blow of his own 12km from the top of Hautacam.
Vingegaard followed for a few pedal strokes before realising he couldn’t match his rival’s pace. Three years ago, Vingegaard sealed Tour victory on this climb. On Thursday, the same road was the site of an exercise in damage limitation.
By the summit, Vingegaard had conceded more than two minutes to Pogačar, and he now lies 3:31 down in the overall standings. The Tour is still long, of course, but that’s not necessarily an immediate consolation on an afternoon like this.
James Startt is covering his 36th Tour de France. He is a two-time winner of the World Sports Photography awards and he currently serves as the creative director to inGamba luxury cycling tours.
