Kévin Vauquelin
Kévin Vauquelin (born 26 April 2001 in Bayeux, France) is a talented French climber and time trialist racing for Arkéa–B&B Hotels. He impressed early in his pro career with strong GC performances in week-long stage races and continues to develop as a consistent contender on mountainous terrain. In 2024, he claimed his first Tour de France stage win and has also shown the versatility to become a serious threat in hilly classics. Find Kévin Vauquelin’s latest results, stats and race calendar on this page.
Biography of pro cyclist Kévin Vauquelin
Kévin Vauquelin has quickly become one of the most exciting riders in French cycling. Strong on punchy hilltop finishes and increasingly capable in the high mountains and against the clock, he combines aggression with a leader's instinct.
His rise from promising stage-hunter to top-ten Tour de France finisher in the space of two seasons marked him out as a rider with real Grand Tour ambition, and earned him a place at one of the sport's biggest teams.
Early life and rise in Normandy
Vauquelin was born and raised in Bayeux, in the Calvados department of Normandy, and developed through the Pôle Espoirs cycliste de Caen, the regional development hub. He came up as a talented all-rounder, equally at ease climbing and racing on hilly, aggressive terrain.
He turned professional with Arkéa-B&B Hotels and built his early reputation with strong rides in week-long stage races and the hilly Classics, showing the kind of consistency and finishing strength that hinted at a much bigger future.
Tour de France stage win and GC breakthrough
Vauquelin's 2024 season was a turning point. He took tenth overall at Tirreno-Adriatico and eighth at the Itzulia Basque Country, finished second at La Flèche Wallonne, and then won stage 2 of the 2024 Tour de France into Bologna on his debut, a hugely emotional victory in a race that had started in his home region of Normandy, and the first Tour stage win by a Norman rider in decades.
He went further in 2025. Vauquelin took the white jersey as best young rider after stage 2, briefly held it before the first time trial, and rode consistently through the mountains to finish seventh overall in Paris, the best-placed French rider in the race. Another runner-up finish at Flèche Wallonne in Huy confirmed his class on the steepest finishes.
Rider profile: strengths, style and characteristics
Vauquelin is a puncheur who has grown into a Grand Tour contender. He excels on short, sharp climbs and uphill finishes, climbs well in the high mountains, and time-trials competently, a balanced profile that suits week-long stage races and the Ardennes Classics. Described as a natural leader, he races aggressively and is unafraid to take the initiative.
Personal life
A proud Norman from Bayeux, Vauquelin became something of a hometown hero when the 2024 Tour passed through his region, and his rise has been closely followed in French media. He came to wider prominence through the Tour's behind-the-scenes coverage, becoming one of the home crowd's favourites.
Records and milestones
- 7th overall and best French rider, Tour de France (2025)
- White jersey (best young rider), Tour de France (2025, early stages)
- Stage 2 winner, Tour de France (2024), first Norman stage win in decades
- 2nd, La Flèche Wallonne (2024 and 2025)
- Top-ten overall finishes at Tirreno-Adriatico and Itzulia Basque Country
- Signed a three-year contract with INEOS Grenadiers from 2026
What's next for Kévin Vauquelin?
With a move to INEOS Grenadiers, Vauquelin steps up to a team built for Grand Tour success. The targets are clear: to build on his top-ten Tour de France finish and push towards the podium, to chase a win in the Ardennes Classics, and to fulfil his potential as a French Grand Tour leader for years to come.
