Pogacar and Vingegaard will also be in the spotlight in 2025. © APA/afp / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

Tour de France: The duel of the giants

In just a few days, the biggest cycling event of the year begins: the Tour de France. Find out who the main characters will be at this year's edition here.

July 03, 2025

From: apa/tu

The Tour de France, which begins on Saturday in Lille, promises to be another two-horse race between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard in the battle for victory. The Slovenian, who was dominant last year, has already delivered several impressive performances this season. In the dress rehearsal at the Dauphiné, the world champion was not far ahead of the Dane Vingegaard and clearly the strongest rider.

For the rest of the field, including double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglic, who has already had several Tour-winning experiences, it's likely that the only hope is for the honorable finish. Felix Gall, an Austrian, is also eyeing a top spot. In 2023, the East Tyrolean finished eighth in his debut, winning the queen stage; last year, his 14th place wasn't as sensational. However, fourth place in the Tour de Suisse, which is admittedly not a top-class field, gives Gall hope for more.

Nervous initial phase in northern France

Depending on how the first week goes, with several hectic and dangerous sprint and classic sections in northern France, Gall announced that he might have to focus on individual stages or the mountain classification later on. The route will take him into the high mountains, which Gall favors, for the first time towards the end of the second week in the Pyrenees. However, tough climbs like those in the Massif Central await before then.

From the twelfth stage onwards, the mountain stages follow one another in rapid succession. Mont Ventoux (16th stage), the Col de la Loze (18th), where Gall excelled two years ago, and La Plagne (19th) promise to be particularly spectacular. The race against the clock uphill to Peyragudes (13th) is also tailor-made for climbing specialists, while Decathlon captain Gall will have little to report in the flat individual time trial in Caen (5th).

Top favorite ready for big fight

Pogacar, on the other hand, is a contender on all terrains and rarely reveals weaknesses. He recently had a somewhat weaker day in the time trial at the Dauphiné, but then bounced back particularly impressively with unprecedented climbing records. And the last few weeks of training are also making him confident.

The Slovenian is the defending champion. © APA/afp / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

"I'm happy that I had a near-perfect preparation—everything went smoothly, especially after the great altitude training camp with my teammates. It will be a tough battle all the way to Paris, but I'm ready to give it my all," said Pogacar. At the same time, he's wary, not least because of his 2023 slump in the final week, with Vingegaard as the beneficiary. "The Tour is unpredictable, and that's what makes it so special."

The Dane (right) wants to strike back. © APA/afp / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

Since then, he has almost consistently dominated the action outside of the Tour, with numerous one-day and stage race victories. Therefore, it's quite possible that the Slovenian will go for the yellow jersey in the first stage. Supported by his high-caliber UAE teammates, defending the lead after that should pose little problem. And in the decisive moments of man-to-man battles, he's been untouchable recently anyway.

Roglic and Lipowitz as Red Bull double lead

Pogacar's financially strong Emirates Racing Team can field another potential winner in Tour de Suisse winner João Almeida, who can be a valuable assistant to the Slovenian. Two-time Tour champion Vingegaard also has a strong Visma squad at his disposal, including Matteo Jorgenson. Roglic will be the nominal number 1 for Red Bull, but the crash-prone veteran is likely to form a two-man lead with German Florian Lipowitz, who has performed brilliantly several times this year. The Pyrenees will reveal who will take the lead.

Roglic has an outside chance. © APA/afp / ANDER GILLENEA

For the first time in 50 years, the Tour de France finale in Paris isn't a pure sprinter's affair. Although the race finishes on the Champs-Élysées, the stage will be set for a circuit of the cobbled Montmartre climb, just like at the 2024 Olympics. Marco Haller could be in contention for the front. The sixth-place finisher at the Olympics will be competing for the first time with the Swiss wildcard team Tudor in his tenth Tour de France. The third Austrian in the peloton is Gregor Mühlberger (Movistar).