Tour de France 2025 through the lens of James Startt - Stage 19
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.
Stage 19 of the Tour de France was shortened to 95km, missing out on the Col des Saisies, the route of the final Alpine leg still brought the race through some demanding terrain en route to the finish at La Plagne.
Between the mighty Col du Pré and the climb of Cormet de Roselend, the race swooped along the Barrage de Roselend, the dam built in the early 1960s for hydroelectric power generation. Here, Tadej Pogacar and the yellow jersey group sweep over the Lac de Roselend in pursuit of escapees Primoz Roglic, Lenny Martinez and Valentin Paret-Peintre.
At this point in the Tour, reservoirs of power are running low, but Pogacar et al still had one last battle beneath the rain on the hard final ascent to La Plagne.
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.
