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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Patrick Redford

Tour de France riders against a lovely mountain backdrop dappled with the shadows of fluffy clouds.

112th Tour de France 2025 – Stage 18

Cycling

Some More Stuff I Saw At The Tour de France

Tour de France riders pass as a blur of color through a narrow cobbled pass between throngs of fans on the Rue Lepic during the final stage of the 2025 Tour de France

112th Tour de France – Stage 21

The Tour de France’s New, Hardcore Paris Finale Was One For The Ages

Tadej Pogacar celebrates on the podium with the overall leader's yellow jersey after the 20th stage of the 112th edition of the Tour de France cycling race

CYCLING-TDF-2025-STAGE 20

Tadej Pogacar And The Boredom Of Perfection

A float for the Cochonou brand in the Tour de France caravan, with spectators reaching out to it as it passes.

tdf cochonou float

There Is No Tour de France Without The Tour de Brands

IMG_3452

My Tour de France Lunches, Reviewed

Valentin Paret-Peintre of France and Team Soudal Quick-Step and Ben Healy of Ireland and Team EF Education - EasyPost sprint at finish line to win during Stage 16 of the 112th Tour de France 2025.

112th Tour de France 2025 – Stage 16

France Finally Has Something To Smile About At The Tour

Spectators crowd the ascent of Hautacam during the 12th stage of the 112th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 180.6 km between Auch and Hautacam, in the Pyrenees mountains of southwestern France, on July 17, 2025.

tdf crowd flags

The Tour de France Is For The Polyglots, For Now

Accredited media motorcycles and race direction vehicles precede the pack of riders (peloton) as they cycle during the 14th stage of the 112th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 182.6 km between Pau and Luchon-Superbagneres, in the Pyrenees mountains of southwestern France, on July 19, 2025.

tdf stage 14 cars

Media Meltdowns

An Anatomy Of The Doping Story That Has The Tour de France Press Room Buzzing

Julian Alaphilippe of France and Team Tudor Pro Cycling (celebrating wrongly) and Wout Van Aert of Belgium and Team Visma.

112th Tour de France 2025 – Stage 15

Julian Alaphilippe Loses, Celebrates, And Learns To Smile About It

Markus Hoelgaard of Norway and Team Uno-X Mobility competes during the 112th Tour de France 2025, Stage 14 a 182.6km stage from Pau to Luchon-Superbagneres.

112th Tour de France 2025 – Stage 14

A Day Inside The Tour de France From The Neutral Service Car

Fans throng a rider on the way up the Hautacam during Stage 12 of the 2025 Tour de France.

Tour de France 2025 Stage 12

Feral Belgians, Superfan Gendarmes, And Tattered Cyclists At The Tour de France’s First Summit Finish

Stage winner Jonas Abrahamsen of Norway and Team Uno-X Mobility and Mauro Schmid of Switzerland and Team Jayco AlUla sprint at finish line during the 112th Tour de France 2025, Stage 11 a 156.8km stage from Toulouse to Toulouse

112th Tour de France 2025 – Stage 11

What It’s Like To Lose From The Winning Move

Ben Healy of Ireland and Team EF Education - EasyPost celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 112th Tour de France, Stage 6 a 201.5km stage from Bayeux to Vire Normandie

ben healy

Ben Healy Wins One For The Romantics

Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the fourth stage of the 2025 Tour de France cycling, Amien Metropole - Rouen (173 km), on Tuesday 08 July 2025 in France. The 112th edition of the Tour de France starts on Saturday 5 July in Lille, France, and will finish in Paris, France on the 27th of July. BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS (Photo by JASPER JACOBS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)

CYCLING TOUR DE FRANCE 2025 STAGE 4

Tadej Pogacar Strikes The First Blow With Some “Pure Racing”