Pogačar reclaims yellow jersey and showcases dominance at Tour de France

MUR-DE--BRETAGNE, France (AP) — Less than a week after the Tour de France began, world champion Tadej Pogačar secured a second stage win at the top of a challenging climb and and reclaimed the yellow jersey on Friday.

The 197-kilometer (122-mile) Stage 7 between Saint-Malo and Mûr-de-Bretagne did not feature a major difficulty until the finishing loop, including the iconic Mur-de-Bretagne ascent. Called the “Alpe d’Huez of Brittany” by the cycling-crazed Bretons because of its steep gradient, the climb was tackled twice and the finish line was set up at the top.

Pogačar and his teammates from UAE Team Emirates-XRG were in total control in the stage finale, which was contested by a small group of riders including two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard — Pogačar's main rival — and Remco Evenepoel.

Pogačar launched the sprint some 200 meters from the finish and Vingegaard jumped on his wheel but was unable to overtake his rival. Pogačar had time to raise his right arm in triumph as he crossed. Behind Vingegaard, Oscar Onley completed the stage podium.

“We did an amazing job, all the teammates were perfect,” Pogačar said. “We had a plan, we stuck to it, and we won. Tim (Wellens) led me out to the bottom of the final climb. And then (Jhonatan) Narvaez did a superb job to keep things under control until the sprint.”

Pogačar is the overwhelming favorite to win a fourth Tour title. He has been in supreme form since the start of the season and has been the best rider since the start of the Tour last weekend.

His latest win marked his 19th Tour stage victory overall. This week, the defending champion claimed the 100th professional victory of his stellar career in typically flamboyant style, beating Mathieu van der Poel in a dash to the line to win the hilly fourth stage.

Pogačar was also impressive during the first time trial of the race and is expected to dominate even more when the Tour reaches the mountains.

This is the 42nd time Pogacar leads the overall standings.

Overall, Pogačar has a 54-second lead over Evenepoel, with Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin in third place, 1:11 off the pace. Jonas Vingegaard was fourth, 1:17 behind, followed by Van der Poel, the overnight leader who was dropped early in the final climb.

A five-man break including former Tour champion Geraint Thomas formed soon after the start, gaining an early lead of 1 minute, 40 seconds. Frenchman Ewen Costiou, a Tour debutant, attacked from that group and tried to go solo, leading the race over the first ascent of the Mûr-de-Bretagne. But with the chase raging behind him, the task was way too big and he was caught by the group including all of the main contenders with 12 kilometers left.

As riders scrambled for position at the front, a dozen of them were caught in a high-speed crash on a downhill some six kilometers from the finish line. Pogačar's teammate Joao Almeida was among those involved.

“I’m super happy with the win today. But not everything is perfect, Joao is going for X-rays after his crash," Pogačar said. “He’s in great shape so I really hope it’s nothing broken and he can continue.”

Almeida escaped without a concussion but has “an uncomplicated left-sided rib fracture, as well as some profound abrasions to his body," UAE Team Emirates-XRG said. He is expected to start Saturday's stage.

The peloton exits Brittany during Stage 8, a 171-kilometer (106.5-mile) mainly flat trek from Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval on roads sheltered from the wind. Expect a bunch sprint.

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The pack rides during the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 197 kilometers (122.4 miles) with start in Saint-Malo and finish in Mur-de-Bretagne Guerledan, France, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

The pack with Netherlands' Mathieu van der Poel wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey rides along the beach during the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 197 kilometers (122.4 miles) with start in Saint-Malo and finish in Mur-de-Bretagne Guerledan, France, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

A spectator with sunflowers on the head poses during the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 197 kilometers (122.4 miles) with start in Saint-Malo and finish in Mur-de-Bretagne Guerledan, France, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

France's Ewen Costiou looks back to the pack as he rides during the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 197 kilometers (122.4 miles) with start in Saint-Malo and finish in Mur-de-Bretagne Guerledan, France, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 197 kilometers (122.4 miles) with start in Saint-Malo and finish in Mur-de-Bretagne Guerledan, France, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Italy's Mattia Cattaneo competes during the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race, an indivdual time-trial over 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) with start and finish in Caen, France, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s former Chief Justice David Maraga said he was arrested Monday alongside other activists protesting planned construction inside Nairobi National Park.

Police fired tear gas canisters at the protesters who were marching outside the park while carrying banners with messages denouncing land grabs.

Maraga was detained and later released while staging a sit-in on a major road outside the national park’s main gate. He was wearing a green T-shirt similar to those worn by other activists.

The police have yet to comment on the reason for his arrest.

Maraga wrote on X that he was arrested while heading to present a petition to the Kenya Wildlife Service.

“Our national heritage and environment must be safeguarded from greed and unnecessary destruction without public participation,” he said.

Hundreds of activists joined the protest against the planned construction inside the park and the relocation of an orphanage, calling it an attempt to grab public land.

Kenya has experienced incidents of land grabbing in the past, and environmentalists have often spoken out when parks and other green spaces are encroached upon.

Amnesty International in Kenya expressed solidarity with the protesters and called for members of the public to be included in decisions affecting the country’s environmental heritage.

“We want to categorically state that Nairobi National Park is not for sale; our public spaces, our environment, and our rights cannot be traded away behind closed doors,” the rights group said.

The Kenya Wildlife Service on Sunday defended the construction as part of a plan to expand the orphanage and improve the visitor experience, effectively dismissing claims of land grabbing.

Kenya Wildlife Service security personnel stand at the entrance to Nairobi National Park during a protest over plans affecting the park in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)

Plainclothes police officers arrest protesters during a demonstration against plans they say would affect wildlife habitat in Nairobi National Park in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)

Protesters carry placards during a demonstration against plans they say would affect wildlife habitat in Nairobi National Park in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)

Protesters flee as anti-riot police launch tear gas during a protest over plans affecting Nairobi National Park in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)

Kenya's former chief justice and presidential contender David Maraga, center, is shielded by protesters in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, June 8, 2026, during a protest over plans affecting Nairobi National Park. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)