From Lille, through the "Brittany Wall", the mythical Mont Ventoux, many goals at the top of the Pyrenees and Alps, to the Arc de Triomphe where the new King of France will be crowned... The Tour de France turns its 112th page today, the next three weeks are something cycling enthusiasts live for.
From the north of the country, 184 "gladiators" from 23 teams are setting off on a 3.339-kilometer journey, and among them, one stands out, one that everyone else will "hunt" for - Tadej Pogacar, a phenomenon from Slovenia, who is defending his crown and chasing a fourth Tour de France triumph.
His biggest rival this time too will be Jonas Vingegord, so this year's Tour will bring another battle between two guys who have triumphantly passed through the Arc de Triomphe over the past five years.
However, the list of favorites doesn't end there, as the great Remko Evenepul, then and João Almeida, Florian Lipovic, but also the big ones Primoz Roglic wanting to show that he hasn't lost his "flair" for the biggest cycling race.
CHAMPION JASAN: IT'S NOT JONAS' ONLY RIVAL
Pogačar triumphed in 2020 and 2021, after which Vingegård was the best twice, and then the Slovenian brought the trophy back last year. In 2024, the Danish cyclist survived a horrific crash in the Basque Country and it is a real miracle that he competed in the Tour, but since then he has not been as strong as before.
This was also demonstrated in the recent "Criterion Dauphine", where Pogačar easily escaped Vingegord on all the important climbs.
- My rival is not only Jonas, but also Remko, Primož and others. But I have great results behind me and I can enter the race with optimism - emphasized Pogačar.
The winner of the duel between Tadej and Jonas could also be decided by the great teams of both drivers - the former will have Almeida by his side in the Emirates, Jonathan Narvaez, and the second in Giro champion Visma Simon Yates, Vuta van Aerta, Sepa Kusa...
- The last five years have been quite intense between Jonas and me. There's really a lot of competition and rivalry, and I think it's more or less the same now as it has been in the last few years. I'm looking forward to another race against Jonas. I think he's in great shape too - added Pogačar.
3
Tadej Pogačar has won the Tour de France for the fifth time. If he wins again this year, he will equal Chris Froome, and ahead of him on the eternal list will be only the legends with five victories - Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain
And Vingegord believes he is in top form.
- Last year I came back after a terrible fall... It took me almost a year to get back to the level I was at before that fall. When you have a rival like Tadej, it always brings out the best in you - said the Dane.
MON VENTU, COL DE LA LOZ 2.304, BRDO IZNAD PARISA...
What's interesting about this year's Tour is that the first battles in the mountains will begin in the tenth stage, which will run from Enza to Mont Dore on France Day, July 14. Before that, the first week will be marked by a time trial in Caen and the seventh stage, which ends in Mur de Bretagne.
The second week will be spectacular with three important stages in the Pyrenees, one of which will finish at the Hotakam ski resort, and there is also a mountain time trial in stage 13.
The finish line of many stages will be on climbs, with the 16th ending on the legendary Mont Ventoux, while the 18th will be a royal one with many climbs that will take cyclists to 2.304 meters above sea level - to the Col de la Loze.
New this year is that cyclists will have to cross Montmartre, the highest point in the French capital, during the final stage in Paris.
Bonus video:
