As it turned out, Tadej Pogačar’s spell in the polka-dot jersey was remarkably short-lived at the 2025 Tour de France—just one day, to be exact. The Slovenian superstar, fresh off a dominant ride in Stage 2 that earned him both stage honors and a brief stint as the leader of the King of the Mountains (KoM) classification, ceded the jersey to his own teammate, Tim Wellens, in a twist that once again showcased the strategic depth and cohesion of the UAE Team Emirates – XRG squad.
Stage 3 of the Tour was not one of the high-mountain epics that typically define the polka-dot race. Instead, it was a transitional stage—rolling terrain, a few short climbs, and one categorized ascent where a single KoM point was on offer. While seemingly insignificant in the grand scheme of the mountains classification, that solitary point would prove decisive, at least for now.
Heading into the stage, Pogačar wore the polka-dot jersey on countback, having scored a point the day before. With just one categorized climb to tackle on Stage 3, few expected a significant shuffle in the classification. But UAE Team Emirates – XRG had other ideas. Rather than sit back and defend the jersey passively, the team executed a textbook plan that allowed Belgian national champion Tim Wellens to snatch the point and leapfrog his Slovenian captain into the lead.
The move came on the short Category 4 ascent located roughly halfway through the stage. As the peloton approached the climb, the pace began to ramp up. While some teams appeared content to let the point go uncontested, UAE turned up the heat. A sudden acceleration by Wellens with around 500 meters to the summit took many by surprise. He surged ahead of a small breakaway and crested the climb first, securing the lone point available.
Because both he and Pogačar now had one point each, the jersey changed hands on a countback, with the tie-breaker being determined by stage placings. Wellens, having finished ahead of Pogačar on the day, took the polka-dot jersey off his teammate’s shoulders. The transition was symbolic of the camaraderie and trust that defines the UAE Team Emirates – XRG camp, where the pursuit of team success often transcends individual accolades.
Speaking after the stage, Wellens was both modest and strategic in his reflections:
“Honestly, we knew there was a chance to go for that point today, and the team let me have a go. It wasn’t a big mountain day, but every point counts in this competition, and who knows how tight it could get later on. Tadej and I talked before the stage, and he was happy for me to try.”
Pogačar, never one to cling to jerseys that aren’t his main goal, smiled when asked about handing over the polka dots:
“It’s all good. Tim is a great teammate and totally deserves it. It’s early days, and there are bigger mountains ahead. For now, we keep the jersey in the team, which is what really matters.”
The move, while subtle, carried significance. It demonstrated how meticulously UAE approaches the Tour—not just targeting yellow but also staying sharp in the fight for other classifications. While Pogačar is a perennial contender for the overall win and likely to reclaim the KoM jersey in the high mountains to come, Wellens’ moment in the polka dots speaks to the team’s collective ambition and the depth of its roster.
For Wellens, the jersey represents more than just a point—it’s a symbol of personal achievement in the world’s biggest race and a reminder of the crucial role he plays in supporting one of cycling’s most dominant forces. As the peloton heads into more challenging terrain in the days ahead, the King of the Mountains competition will likely shift again, but for now, the Belgian champion rides with pride in the iconic red polka dots.
And for fans of the Tour, it was a small but captivating twist in what is already shaping up to be another unforgettable edition of cycling’s mos
t prestigious race.