Tour de France 2025: Explosive controversy between Pogačar and Evenepoel on stage 5

The 2025 Tour de France saw a shocking moment during stage five, a 33km individual time trial around Caen. World and Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) dominated the race, taking the victory and the yellow jersey. But the post-race stole the show with an unexpected verbal altercation between Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG).

At the press conference, a visibly frustrated Pogačar took to the stage to tease his Belgian rival, declaring his victory a product of “luck and cheating.” These provocative remarks, delivered in a mocking tone, sparked an uproar among fans and the media. The tension was palpable, but Remco Evenepoel was quick to respond. With a scathing five-word response— “The clock speaks, not you” —the Belgian shut the Slovenian up, leaving Pogačar in embarrassed silence in front of the stunned crowd.

This clash, a rare occurrence between two of the peloton’s leading lights, has inflamed social media, where supporters of both camps are clashing. Evenepoel, already struggling after a crash early in the Tour, proved his superiority in this flat time trial, while Pogačar, despite being well-prepared, was unable to compete. This verbal duel adds a new dimension to their rivalry, already intense after the Critérium du Dauphiné. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), third in the stage, stayed back, avoiding controversy.

With the 2025 Tour de France shaping up to be more competitive than ever, this incident promises some explosive stages to come. All eyes are now on the mountains, where Pogačar could seek revenge. Stay tuned for the rest of this thrilling saga!