The 112th edition of the Tour de France marks the return after five years of a race held exclusively on French soil. Below, we highlight five essential points to follow the world’s most prestigious cycling event.

1. What the route like this year?

The 2025 Tour de France kicks off on July 5 with a flat 185-kilometer stage, starting in Lille, in northern France, as part of the Grand Départ. The final stage, number 21, will take place on July 27, ending on the iconic Champs-Élysées in Paris, completing a total distance of 3,339 kilometers.

A major novelty this year is the inclusion of Montmartre, the famous Parisian hill, which riders will climb three timesduring the final stage.
Throughout the race, cyclists will tackle 52,500 meters of total elevation gain, spread across six mountain stages, five of which will finish uphill.

A highlight is the grueling Stage 16, which includes the legendary ascent of Mont Ventoux (1,910 meters above sea level). However, the “roof of the Tour” will be the Col de la Loze in the Alps, reaching an altitude of 2,304 meters at the end of that same stage.

There will also be two individual time trials: one of 33 km in northern France during the first week, and another of 11 km in the Pyrenees in the second. Still, the overall winner is expected to be decided in the final week, during the Alpine stages.

2. Teams, prize money, and race format

The Tour will feature 23 teams, each composed of eight riders. The organizer, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), will distribute a total of $2.7 million in prize money, with $588,000 going to the overall winner.

3. Who are the title favorites?

The top favorite is defending champion Tadej Pogačar, who not only won the 2024 Tour but also the Giro d’Italia and the World Championship.
The 26-year-old Slovenian has dominated the season, claiming victories in spring classics like the Tour of Flanders and Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and finishing second in one-day races such as Milan–San Remo, Paris–Roubaix, and the Amstel Gold Race.

His main rival will be Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark, a two-time Tour winner (2022 and 2023) and runner-up in 2024. Vingegaard showed strong form at the Critérium du Dauphiné, finishing just one minute behind Pogačar.

Another name to watch is Remco Evenepoel of Belgium, who finished third in 2024. Evenepoel shined at the Paris Olympic Games, winning gold in both the individual time trial and the road race.

4. Other riders to keep an eye on

Biniam Girmay, the 25-year-old Eritrean, made history last year as the first Black African cyclist to win a Tour de France stage. He went on to win two more stages and claimed the green jersey as the best sprinter, holding onto it through the final day.

Mathieu van der Poel, the 30-year-old Dutchman, remains a key figure. In 2025, he’s already won Milan–San Remoand Paris–Roubaix. However, this time he’s expected to play a supporting role to his teammate Jasper Philipsen, the green jersey winner in 2023.

5. Safety concerns and the lingering specter of doping

Safety continues to be a major issue in the Tour. With blistering speeds on descents and sprints (often exceeding 100 km/h), a robust security system is essential.
This year’s race will be accompanied by 300 dedicated security officers, supported by 28,000 local police, gendarmes, and firefighters across the route.

Additionally, around 1,000 personnel have undergone specific safety training, and a media campaign is being carried out to raise awareness among spectators about appropriate behavior along the course.

As for doping, the Tour has only recorded three cases in the last decade. The most recent involved Colombian rider Nairo Quintana, who was disqualified from the 2022 Tour for using a banned painkiller, though he was not further sanctioned. Still, the overwhelming dominance of riders like Pogačar continues to raise suspicions among some observers.

Conclusion

The 2025 Tour de France promises a thrilling, demanding, and unforgettable edition.
An epic battle for glory set against the breathtaking backdrop of French mountains and countryside.
Who will conquer this legendary race?
The answer will unfold, pedal by pedal, throughout the month of July.