Team Picnic PostNL

Tour de France Week 1 – Race Report

Tour de France
July 14, 2025
Tobias Lund Andresen
Tobias Lund Andresen
Warren Barguil
Warren Barguil
Pavel Bittner
Pavel Bittner
Sean Flynn
Sean Flynn
Niklas Märkl
Niklas Märkl
Tim Naberman
Tim Naberman
Oscar Onley
Oscar Onley
Frank van den Broek
Frank van den Broek

14th July – Stage 10: Ennezat – Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy

Monday’s are for rest days at the Tour de France, you say? This year due to Bastille Day falling on the Monday, the Tour de France peloton had one more stage to deal with before getting to the first rest day. It wasn’t just any stage that lay ahead of them, the most amount of altimeters of the race so far spread across several climbs would make for a tough day out.

It was a good day to make the breakaway so a fierce battle ensued at the start of the stage. Team Picnic PostNL tried to make the move with Frank van den Broek but unfortunately he just missed the main group that went clear, so instead the team fully turned their attention to protecting and looking after Oscar Onley. It was a day where you had to step on the pedals throughout the route and coming into the final 30 kilometres Warren Barguil and Frank van den Broek were with Onley in the reduced yellow jersey peloton.

Out front those ahead fought for the stage win, while behind there were several attempts to try and split up the yellow jersey group, with Onley really attentive and following closely at the front. On the penultimate ascent the group split with Onley making into the nine who forged on. It then became a showdown on the final ascent, where it was a case of pushing all the way to line with Onley securing 14th place on the stage and with that holding onto seventh on GC going into the first rest day.

Team Picnic PostNL coach Matt Winston expressed: “It was a really good job again by the guys and Oscar showed on the final climbs that he was in good shape and in a good position. We go into the rest day having had a very good first week at the Tour. We will continue with our approach of taking it step-by-step and we’ll re-evaluate along the way. I hope that we can continue performing and riding like this as a team in the coming days.”

Results

  • 38.134/H
  • 165.3KM
  • 4307M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1YATES SimonTeam Visma | Lease a Bike4:20:05-
2ARENSMAN ThymenINEOS Grenadiers0:09-
3HEALY BenEF Education - EasyPost0:31-
14ONLEY OscarTeam Picnic PostNL4:57-
71BARGUIL WarrenTeam Picnic PostNL17:17-
76VAN DEN BROEK FrankTeam Picnic PostNL18:50-
128MÄRKL NiklasTeam Picnic PostNL35:56-
129BITTNER PavelTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
130FLYNN SeanTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
134ANDRESEN Tobias LundTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
144NABERMAN TimTeam Picnic PostNL36:52-

13th July – Stage 9: Chinon – Châteauroux

Read up as Pavel Bittner sprinted to fourth place on the day.

12th July – Stage 8: Saint-Méen-le-Grand – Laval

After a strong showing on the hills on Friday where Oscar Onley battled to third place, Team Picnic PostNL turned their focus to the sprint where they planned to set-up Tobias Lund Andresen for the punchy finish into Laval.

It was a steady afternoon with no breakaway for a long time, before two riders went up the road. However, the peloton were always in control and those ahead were caught inside the last ten kilometres. The team bided their time on the technical run-in, where several roundabouts stretched out the peloton before things bunched up again. Coming into the last kilometre Pavel Bittner brought Lund Andresen forward, dropping him off in the top ten wheels as the sprint approached. Lund Andresen delivered an impressive kick and came around several riders, having to go the long way around in the final sweeping corner to the line, taking sixth place on the stage; making it another day where Team Picnic PostNL were in the mix for a top result at the Tour de France.

Lund Andresen expressed: “At ten kilometres to go we found each other and from there it was mostly like we planned. I think we maybe lost our focus a bit going into the last five kilometres with the right hand turn before the big roundabout, as you needed to be at the front there because it dragged up. We had to use too much energy then to move forward and because we were out of position there, we were a bit too far back on the last climb with one and a half kilometres to go. Pavel then brought me up and dropped me off, but it cost a bit in my legs. In the end I think I still had more left to sprint for than the sixth place.”

Results

  • 44.629/H
  • 171.4KM
  • 1257M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1MILAN JonathanLidl - Trek3:50:26-
2VAN AERT WoutTeam Visma | Lease a Bike,,-
3GROVES KadenAlpecin - Deceuninck,,-
6ANDRESEN Tobias LundTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
36ONLEY OscarTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
59BITTNER PavelTeam Picnic PostNL0:33-
69MÄRKL NiklasTeam Picnic PostNL0:53-
70BARGUIL WarrenTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
92FLYNN SeanTeam Picnic PostNL1:11-
94VAN DEN BROEK FrankTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
129NABERMAN TimTeam Picnic PostNL2:21-

11th July – Stage 7: Saint-Malo – Mûr-de-Bretagne

Click here to read up as Oscar Onley took an impressive third place on the day.

10th July – Stage 6: Bayeux – Vire Normandie

With yesterday’s time trial behind them, the Tour de France peloton were back together for Thursday’s 201 kilometre test; and the day with them most climbing of the race so far. Without any big mountains, it was going to be a tough day of rolling roads where the peloton would always be on the pedals and potentially a good one for the breakaway.

Like most squads, Team Picnic PostNL aimed to make the move and it was a day the likes of Frank van den Broek had marked in their road book. It was a full-gas start and the peloton fought hard for over 80 kilometres, with attack-after-attack of which Van den Broek was particularly active in, before the elastic eventually snapped and an eight-rider group went clear. With the Team Picnic PostNL squad in the peloton, they turned their attention to looking after Oscar Onley and getting him through the final in a good way.

Healy took the win from the break out front, but in the peloton the expected increase in pace happened over the last climbs, with Onley well positioned by the squad. The yellow jersey group then fought it out for the remaining top ten places; with Onley showing good legs once more to take 13th place on the day.

Team Picnic PostNL coach Matt Winston expressed: “Frank tried really hard to go in the breakaway today which was a plan. He was in lots of attacks that tried to go clear but the peloton fought for over two hours, and eventually eight really strong guys went up the road. The guys then really rallied around Oscar and looked after him in the final, on what was a break stage, but we knew in the finish it would be hard in the peloton. They did that in a good way and Oscar finished with the GC guys and took 13th on the stage. So it was another good day ticked off, and we’ll focus on tomorrow now.”

Results

  • 45.767/H
  • 201.5KM
  • 3309M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1HEALY BenEF Education - EasyPost4:24:10-
2SIMMONS QuinnLidl - Trek2:44-
3STORER MichaelTudor Pro Cycling Team2:51-
13ONLEY OscarTeam Picnic PostNL5:27-
41BARGUIL WarrenTeam Picnic PostNL6:49-
70VAN DEN BROEK FrankTeam Picnic PostNL9:00-
75ANDRESEN Tobias LundTeam Picnic PostNL9:06-
108MÄRKL NiklasTeam Picnic PostNL19:54-
125NABERMAN TimTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
140FLYNN SeanTeam Picnic PostNL29:27-
144BITTNER PavelTeam Picnic PostNL,,-

9th July – Stage 5: Caen – Caen

Stage 5 of the Tour de France brought the first real test against the clock: a 33-kilometre individual time trial beginning and ending in Caen. The parcours combined long, open roads where riders could settle into a rhythm with more technical sections at the start and finish of the parcours.

Oscar Onley, sitting 7th on GC at the start of the day, knew this would be a key moment to limit losses and defend his position among the overall contenders. He rode a steady and composed effort, navigating the early corners well before settling into his pace on the long stretches through Normandy’s countryside. Onley stopped the clock at 38 minutes and 44 seconds, good enough for 23rd place, 2:02.91 down on stage winner Remco Evenepoel. It was a solid performance from the young Scot, who now sits in 11th place in the general classification.

As for the team, it was a solid day all around, where the riders made it through the day safely. Everyone finished unscathed, setting them up perfectly for the tough days ahead.

After catching his breath, Onley said: “”I’m quite happy with today’s time trial. I usually struggle on these fast courses, but I can really see the progress, thanks to the team’s investments over the past few months. I’m feeling good so far and looking forward to the next opportunities.”

 

Results

  • 53.951/H
  • 33KM
  • 191M
  • Time Trial
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1EVENEPOEL RemcoSoudal Quick-Step36:42-
2POGAČAR TadejUAE Team Emirates - XRG0:16-
3AFFINI EdoardoTeam Visma | Lease a Bike0:33-
23ONLEY OscarTeam Picnic PostNL2:02-
76MÄRKL NiklasTeam Picnic PostNL4:07-
78BARGUIL WarrenTeam Picnic PostNL4:08-
83FLYNN SeanTeam Picnic PostNL4:17-
113NABERMAN TimTeam Picnic PostNL4:37-
148VAN DEN BROEK FrankTeam Picnic PostNL5:06-
170ANDRESEN Tobias LundTeam Picnic PostNL5:37-
176BITTNER PavelTeam Picnic PostNL5:52-

8th July – Stage 4: Amiens Métropole – Rouen

Read more on Oscar Onley’s 4th place in stage 4 here.

7th July – Stage 3: Valenciennes – Dunkerque

Read more on Pavel Bittner’s 5th place in stage 3 here.

6th July – Stage 2: Lauwin-Planque – Boulogne-sur-Mer

After Saturday’s opening stage, the peloton headed to Boulogne-sur-Mer where a punchy finish awaited them. Rolling out from the start heavy rain fell on the bunch but as they ticked the kilometres off the sky cleared and the sun came out. It was another nervous stage with a few comings together, but Team Picnic PostNL rode well as a group and managed to keep each other out of trouble.

Coming into the last 20 kilometres and narrow, steep climbs, the team looked to position Oscar Onley for the finale. Over the penultimate categorised ascent Onley made it into the reduced front group, carrying that onto the last categorised climb. There he followed an attack by Vauquelin near the top, but no one was able to get away. Despite a few more attacks in the group, the reduced bunch came together for the final kilometre drag to the line. Onley followed the wheels well and gave everything he had until the finish, taking a strong sixth place on the day.

At the finish Onley expressed: “It was about staying safe on the narrow roads today and the guys really helped me with that, and when there was an opportunity in the final then also to take it too. The Tour is really intense and you can’t afford to make any mistakes on the road, as everyone is on a high level. I punctured at a bad moment and then the road blocked so it was difficult to move up, but the guys did what they could to bring me forward and I managed to get there over the climbs. Maybe it wasn’t necessary to respond to Vauquelin when he attacked, as there are a lot of stronger guys here who could have done that, so it’s possibly a bit of inexperience from me there. In that last kilometre there was a bit where I was on Alaphilippe’s wheel with Pogacar and Van der Poel ahead of me, and I thought to myself it doesn’t get much bigger than this. It’s nice racing against these guys, it’s a pleasure and you can get a lot of satisfaction out of it. In the end I just gave everything I had, and it’s not the type of parcours that suits me 100 percent, so we can be happy with that and the sixth place. The legs are good so we’ll keep hunting for those stages.”

Results

  • 43.916/H
  • 209.1KM
  • 1953M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1VAN DER POEL MathieuAlpecin - Deceuninck4:45:41-
2POGAČAR TadejUAE Team Emirates - XRG,,-
3VINGEGAARD JonasTeam Visma | Lease a Bike,,-
6ONLEY OscarTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
57ANDRESEN Tobias LundTeam Picnic PostNL1:34-
63VAN DEN BROEK FrankTeam Picnic PostNL2:43-
75BARGUIL WarrenTeam Picnic PostNL3:22-
81BITTNER PavelTeam Picnic PostNL4:07-
128MÄRKL NiklasTeam Picnic PostNL7:49-
141NABERMAN TimTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
147FLYNN SeanTeam Picnic PostNL8:48-

5th July – Stage 1: Lille – Lille

The Tour de France fanfare rolled out from Lille on Saturday afternoon, with a relatively flat route that returned to the city for a what on paper was expected to be bunch sprint finish. However, all eyes were on the sky and the swirling wind which could cause echelons throughout the day.

Things started off like normal though, with a five rider group going clear from the flag drop, while all Team Picnic PostNL riders remained in the peloton. Those ahead built up a two minute advantage but with over 140 kilometres to go the pace and nervousness increased in the peloton. Unfortunately, Sean Flynn was involved in a fall but thankfully he was able to continue and returned to the peloton on his spare bike.

The original break was caught, and a new duo formed out front, but they were caught too with over 50 kilometres remaining. Things were calm for a while, but coming through a technical few kilometres the bunch stretched out and once they left town with 20 kilometres to go, they entered a crosswind section. With an incredibly fast pace the peloton split into groups, with Niklas Märkl making the front split of around 30 riders for the team. The rest of the squad were in the larger chasing peloton, but the gap continued to grow to the line. Ahead, Märkl used his skills as a lead-out rider to surf the wheels, eventually sprinting to a solid 13th place come the line.

At the finish Märkl said: “It was a super hectic stage out there today, pretty much like we and everyone else expected. From kilometre zero everyone was in the peloton was fighting for space and to be at the front, and it was super hard to stay together as a team. I think we managed that well in parts though. We knew there was a crucial moment where it could split again at around 25 kilometres to go. It did just that and I made it into the front group but unfortunately the rest of the guys were caught behind. We were racing for the win but I made a few mistakes in the final straight which cost us a top, top result today but we were still up there, and there are 20 nice stages to come.”

Results

  • 47.576/H
  • 184.9KM
  • 1065M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1PHILIPSEN JasperAlpecin - Deceuninck3:53:11-
2GIRMAY BiniamIntermarché - Wanty,,-
3WÆRENSKJOLD SørenUno-X Mobility,,-
13MÄRKL NiklasTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
43BITTNER PavelTeam Picnic PostNL0:39-
53ANDRESEN Tobias LundTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
74ONLEY OscarTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
85FLYNN SeanTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
107BARGUIL WarrenTeam Picnic PostNL1:06-
141VAN DEN BROEK FrankTeam Picnic PostNL5:18-
143NABERMAN TimTeam Picnic PostNL,,-