With the 2025 Tour de France about to begin, all eyes are on the world’s best riders as they prepare for three weeks of grueling racing. This year’s lineup features a blend of established champions and rising stars, each bringing unique strengths and compelling storylines. Here’s a detailed look at the five top cyclists to watch:
#1 Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
- Age: 26
- Tour de France Wins: 2020, 2021, 2024
- Recent Form: Six wins in nine races, including two Monuments and an emphatic Critérium du Dauphiné victory.
Pogačar enters the Tour as the overwhelming favorite, having dominated the 2024 season with a rare Giro–Tour double and a world championship.
In 2025, he has continued this streak, winning nearly every race he’s entered and showing no signs of fatigue or complacency.
His performance at the Dauphiné was particularly telling: after a rare off-day in the time trial, he crushed his rivals in the mountains, putting over a minute into Jonas Vingegaard on the Combloux climb and sealing the overall win with apparent ease.
Pogačar’s ability to recover, his explosive climbing, and his tactical intelligence set him apart.
Backed by a powerhouse team featuring João Almeida and Adam Yates, he is poised to chase his fourth yellow jersey and join the ranks of cycling’s all-time greats.
#2 Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)
- Age: 28
- Tour de France Wins: 2022, 2023
- 2025 Narrative: Comeback from a major crash, determined to reclaim the yellow jersey
Vingegaard remains Pogačar’s most formidable rival. After suffering a serious crash earlier in the season, his return at the Dauphiné was closely watched.
He impressed in the time trial, beating Pogačar by 28 seconds, and showed he’s lost none of his resilience or tactical sharpness.
In the mountains, however, he struggled to match Pogačar’s accelerations, finishing nearly a minute behind on key climbs.
With a strong team including Simon Yates and Wout van Aert, Vingegaard will rely on his steady pacing and experience to challenge for a third Tour title. His ability to recover and peak over three weeks remains one of his greatest assets.
#3 Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep)
- Age: 25
- Tour de France Debut: 2025
- 2025 Buzz: Cycling’s most anticipated Grand Tour debut, explosive time trialist and climber
Evenepoel’s debut at the Tour is generating enormous excitement. Known for his aggressive racing style and time trial prowess, he made a statement at the Dauphiné by beating both Pogačar and Vingegaard in the time trial.
While he struggled to match their best in the high mountains, his ability to limit losses and his relentless attacking make him a wildcard for the podium.
Evenepoel’s all-rounder abilities and hunger for a breakthrough on cycling’s biggest stage make him a rider to watch closely, especially in transitional and time trial stages where he can gain valuable time.
#4 Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull–Bora–hansgrohe)
- Age: 24
- 2025 Highlights: Podium at Critérium du Dauphiné, runner-up at Paris–Nice, emerging mountain specialist
Lipowitz is the underdog with the most upward momentum. A former biathlete, he has rapidly developed into one of the peloton’s best young climbers.
At the Dauphiné, he launched bold attacks against the top favorites and was one of the few riders able to limit his losses to Pogačar and Vingegaard on the toughest climbs.
Officially a super-domestique for Primož Roglič, Lipowitz has the freedom to chase his own results if the opportunity arises.
His endurance and willingness to attack could see him emerge as the breakout GC star of this year’s Tour.
#5 Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
- Age: 24
- 2024 Grand Tour Result: 5th at Vuelta a España
- 2025 Form: Mixed, but recent win at MoraBanc Clàssica signals strong late-season form
Skjelmose steps into the Tour as Lidl-Trek’s GC leader after a late switch from the Giro. While his season has been disrupted by illness, he has shown flashes of brilliance, including a recent victory at the MoraBanc Clàssica.
Skjelmose is a talented climber with a strong finishing kick, but he will need to manage his efforts carefully given limited team support in the high mountains.
If he can stay healthy and ride consistently, he is a strong contender for a top-10 finish and could even challenge for the podium if the race opens up.
Honorable Mentions
- João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG): A key climbing domestique for Pogačar, recently won the Tour de Suisse and could be a GC threat if given freedom.
- Primož Roglič (Red Bull–Bora–hansgrohe): The veteran Slovenian remains a perennial podium threat, especially in the mountains.
This year’s Tour de France is set for another epic duel between Pogačar and Vingegaard, but with Evenepoel’s debut and a new generation of climbers like Lipowitz and Skjelmose, fans can expect plenty of drama and surprises on the road to Paris
