Jake Stewart Clinches Victory in 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné Stage

In a thrilling conclusion to Stage 5 of the Critérium du Dauphiné 2025, Jake Stewart of Israel-Premier Tech emerged victorious in Mâcon after a fiercely contested race marked by strategic attacks and a dramatic sprint finish. This stage, held on June 12, 2025, set the stage for three challenging mountain stages ahead, highlighting Stewart's potential as a rising star in professional cycling.

The race commenced in Saint-Priest, where 149 riders faced a demanding 183-kilometer route to Mâcon. While the stage was less grueling than the impending Alpine challenges, it featured significant climbs that posed strategic opportunities for breakaway attempts. Early on, riders Enzo Leijnse (Picnic PostNL) and Pierre Thierry (Arkea-B&B Hotels) initiated a break at just 1.5 kilometers into the race, quickly joined by Jordan Labrosse (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale).

As the race progressed, notable teams like EF Education-EasyPost and Cofidis led the chase, with multiple counterattacks attempting to disrupt the peloton's rhythm. According to the official race report from A.S.O., the maximum lead of the breakaway reached 2 minutes and 10 seconds before being reeled in as the peloton prepared for the crucial climbs (A.S.O., 2025).

The pivotal moments occurred during the cat-3 climbs of Côte de Saint-Amour and later, Col de Fontmartin and Col de Boubon. As the lead group advanced, counterattacks by riders such as Mathieu Burgaudeau and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) kept the racing dynamic, but the pace of the peloton ultimately proved overwhelming.

As the race entered its final kilometers, the tension escalated. Lidl-Trek and Soudal Quick-Step collaborated to close in on the lead group, which was caught just inside the last 2 kilometers. With the sprint teams establishing their positions, Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek appeared poised for victory, having already won a stage earlier in the event. However, it was Stewart who accelerated past Milan in the final stretch, securing his first UCI World Tour win. Axel Laurance (Ineos Grenadiers) and Soren Waerenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) rounded out the podium places (UCI, 2025).

Stewart's victory is significant, marking a milestone in his career and positioning him as a contender for future races. "This win gives me immense confidence moving forward, especially with the challenging stages ahead," Stewart remarked post-race. He is expected to be a key player in the upcoming mountain stages, where strategic climbing and endurance will be paramount.

As the race progresses into the mountainous terrain of the Alps, the implications of this stage could reshape the competition. Current overall leader Remco Evenepoel, despite a fall during the finale, retained the yellow and blue jersey, indicating the intense competition for the overall title (Cycling News, 2025).

Experts such as Dr. Michael Thompson, a cycling analyst at the University of Colorado, noted that Stewart's sprint victory could indicate a shift in the dynamics of this year's Critérium. "Stewart's performance shows that he is not just a sprinter but a complete cyclist capable of handling various race conditions," he stated (Thompson, 2025).

With three mountain stages looming, cycling fans and analysts alike are eager to see how Stewart's newfound momentum will translate in the challenging climbs ahead. The Critérium du Dauphiné continues to serve as a significant precursor to the Tour de France, and the outcomes of the remaining stages will be closely watched by teams and supporters (BBC Sport, 2025).