Wærenskjold wins fastest Tour de France stage at 50.9 km/h

Norwegian sprinter Søren Wærenskjold won the fastest road stage in the history of the Tour de France on Wednesday, July 15, as the race continued its relentless pace across central France. The UnoX Mobility rider triumphed in a mass sprint at the end of the 161-kilometer stage from Vichy to Nevers, averaging a record-breaking speed of 50.9 kilometers per hour.

The stage saw no change in the general classification, with four-time winner Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG retaining the yellow jersey. He leads his main rival, Jonas Vingegaard, by three minutes and 36 seconds, with Remco Evenepoel a further 30 seconds back in third place.

Wærenskjold’s victory shattered a 27-year-old record set by Mario Cipollini in 1999. The Norwegian launched his sprint in the final few hundred meters, following an early move from Cees Bol, and held off a late charge from Olav Kooij, who finished second. Jasper Philipsen crossed the line third but was relegated for an irregular move in the sprint, promoting Milan Fretin to the podium.

The day’s frenetic pace was set by a combination of factors, including a favorable tailwind, a flat course with wide highways, and aggressive racing from the...