The day the cycling giants fell: How Vuillermoz outsmarted the favorites

Chris Froome, Joaquim Rodriguez, Dan Martin, Peter Sagan—they all made their presence felt during the eighth stage of the Tour de France. On the now-famous uphill finish at the Mûr-de-Bretagne, it was a battle of titans. Then, out of nowhere, a diminutive French climber emerged. Breaking away from the wheel of yellow jersey holder Froome, and with special motivation from above, he was the first to cross the finish line: his name is Alexis Vuillermoz.

The Frenchman was born on June 1 in Saint-Claude, a picturesque village in the Jura region near the Swiss border. Cycling ran in his blood—his father was passionate about the sport and passed that love on to his son. Together, they attended the Tour de France whenever it passed nearby. Witnessing La Grande Boucle firsthand was a revelation for Alexis, who knew then and there that he wanted to ride a bike.

But his start wasn’t on the road. Vuillermoz began his career as a mountain biker, and he found success there. At just 20 years old, he became a world champion in cross-country’s Team Relay event with the French team, which included Jean-Christophe Péraud, who would later finish third in the 2014 Tour de France. A year later, Vuillermoz claimed the national championship title in the U23 category, but his true passion lay on the road. Quietly, he began building a resume that eventually caught the attention of Sojasun (later Saur-Sojasun), which signed him for the 2012 season.

At the French Pro-Continental team, Vuillermoz took time to find his rhythm. During his first season, he split his focus between road cycling and mountain biking, but in his second year, he fully committed to racing on skinny tires. He adapted quickly—so much so that when the team earned a wildcard for the Tour de France, Vuillermoz was mentioned as one of their riders for the race. He completed his debut Tour, finishing 46th in Paris. However, that year was overshadowed by a personal tragedy: the death of his father. His greatest source of support and inspiration was gone.

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Vuillermoz won another stage in the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2022.

Strong results on the Mur de Huy foreshadowed his career highlight

In 2014, the short Frenchman made his debut in the WorldTour when AG2R La Mondiale took a chance on Vuillermoz. The team was impressed by his climbing abilities and his strength on shorter, punchy climbs. He debuted at the Giro d’Italia in spectacular fashion, serving as the key domestique for team leader Domenico Pozzovivo and finishing an impressive 11th in the general classification. That same year, he also secured his first professional victory at the Tour du Gévaudan Languedoc-Roussillon. But “Pikachu,” as he is nicknamed, wasn’t done yet—he had room to grow, and the upcoming season promised even more.

Vuillermoz was seen as one of the key riders for his French team in one-day races. He proved this was a good choice by finishing sixth in La Flèche Wallonne and winning the GP de Plumelec-Morbihan. He was selected for the Tour de France as one of the team’s stage hunters. In stage three, he came tantalizingly close: the Tour finished on the Mur de Huy, and Vuillermoz was the team’s spearhead for the day. He finished third, behind Joaquim Rodríguez and Chris Froome, but the best was yet to come.

Five days later, Vuillermoz delivered his crowning moment. Not once, not twice, but three times he attacked on the Mûr-de-Bretagne. He seemed almost possessed, but it was his late father who inspired him to give everything. “I thought about my dad, who passed away three years ago,” Vuillermoz said after his victory. “He’s the one who got me interested in cycling. I hope he’s proud of me.”

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Alexis Vuillermoz donned the leader's jersey after his victory in the Critérium du Dauphiné.

From French hope to road captain at TotalEnergies

Winning a stage in the Tour de France was the pinnacle of Alexis Vuillermoz’s career, but he proved he was no one-hit wonder. Thanks to his strong performances that season, he quickly became the French name to watch in hilly classics. In 2017, he won the Tour du Limousin and had an excellent autumn campaign, finishing sixth in the Giro dell'Emilia and securing two fourth-place finishes at the GP Québec and the Giro di Lombardia. However, after turning 30, his results began to decline. By 2020, he was no longer much more than a domestique at AG2R. Seeking a fresh start, he joined TotalEnergies, where he became one of the team’s most experienced riders.

With his new team, Vuillermoz still managed a strong top-10 finish at La Flèche Wallonne in 2022, showcasing his tactical brilliance in the Critérium du Dauphiné. In stage two, he wasn’t just the strongest but also the smartest, taking the stage win and earning the leader’s jersey. It was a new high point for the Frenchman, who hadn’t won a race in over three years. But time was catching up with him, and Vuillermoz found it increasingly difficult to compete with the best. In 2024, he retired after the Tour de Luxembourg.

When you think of the Mûr-de-Bretagne, you probably think of Mathieu van der Poel’s incredible double victory in 2021. Or perhaps Cadel Evans, who was the first to win there in 2011. Maybe even Dan Martin, who followed his second place in 2015 with a triumphant win three years later.

But please, also remember Alexis Vuillermoz—and think of his father.

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