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Tour de France 2025 preview - route set to test Pogacar’s weaknesses and play into the hands of Van der Poel and Van Aert

Cycling
by Sjoerd Valkering
Thursday, 05 June 2025 at 09:09
wout van aert tadej pogacar
The biggest race of the year is almost upon us once again: the Tour de France. On Saturday, July 5, the peloton will roll out from Lille, with the race set to conclude three weeks later with the (not so) traditional finish in the French capital, Paris. IDLProCycling.com brings you a full overview of the stages, key contenders, and all the timings you’ll need to catch the action live.

Tour de France 2025 preview – route, stage win favourites and broadcast times

Note: the listed stage win favourites are intended to give an idea of the type of rider likely to contend for victory on each day.

Stage 1, Saturday, July 5: Lille - Lille (184.9 km)

The 2025 Tour de France gets underway in northern France, with Lille playing host to the Grand Départ. After what promises to be 185 nervous kilometers, the stage will also finish in the city, where a rare opportunity to don the yellow jersey may well await one of the top sprinters in the peloton.
Favourites
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Times (local time)
Start: 1:26 PM
Finish: 5:36 PM

Stage 2, Sunday, July 6: Lauwin-Planque - Boulougne-sur-Mer (209.1 km)

On day two of the Tour de France, the riders are already facing a stage with more than 2,500 metres of climbing, perfectly suited to the punchers. In the final ten kilometres, three sharp climbs will be on the menu, with the finishing stretch in Boulogne-sur-Mer also kicking up at over five percent.
Favourites
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek)
Times (local time)
Start: 12:15 PM
Finish: 5:20 PM

Stage 3, Monday, July 7: Valenciennes - Dunkirk (178.3 km)

Stage three of the Tour de France has been designed with one goal in mind: echelons. After cresting the Mont Cassel with 35 kilometres to go, the route is perfectly suited for a battle in the wind. The stage will conclude on the coast in Dunkirk.
Favourites
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla)
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Times (local time)
Start: 1:10 PM
Finish: 5:18 PM

Stage 4, Tuesday, July 8: Amiens - Rouen (174.2 km)

Up, down, up, down. A quick glance at the stage four profile tells the story: a day packed with short, steep climbs and punchy descents. In the final 30 kilometres, four categorised climbs await, including the steep ascent of Saint-Hilaire, before the peloton heads towards the finish in the heart of Rouen.
Favourites
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ)
Times (local time)
Start: 1:15 PM
Finish: 5:22 PM

Stage 5, Wednesday, July 9: Caen - Caen (33.0 km, time trial)

The first individual time trial of this year’s Tour de France arrives as early as stage five. At 33 kilometres in length, it is a substantial test, starting and finishing in Caen. The opening and closing sections are technical, but the majority of the course will be all about pure power.
Favourites
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers)
Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Times (local time)
Start: 1:10 PM
Finish: 5:42 PM

Stage 6, Thursday, July 10: Bayeux - Vire Normandie (201.5 km)

Flat on paper, but with a total elevation gain of more than 3,500 metres, this stage will be anything but easy in reality. Starting from Bayeux, the riders will head straight into the rolling hills of Normandy, where the climbing will continue all the way to the finish: a 700-metre ramp averaging a brutal 9.3 percent.
Favourites
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Times (local time)
Start: 12:35 PM
Finish: 5:14 PM

Stage 7, Friday, July 11: Saint-Malo - Mur de Bretagne (197.0 km)

After several punchy days to open the race, the riders now face a finish atop the iconic Mur de Bretagne. This two-kilometre climb, averaging 6.9 percent, brings back fond memories for Mathieu van der Poel, who claimed a famous stage win and the yellow jersey here in 2021. And this year, the climb will be tackled twice.
Favourites
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek)
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Times (local time)
Start: 12:10 PM
Finish: 4:39 PM

Stage 8, Saturday, July 12: Saint-Méen-le-Grand - Laval (171.4 km)

The second Saturday stage of the Tour de France looks set to be one for the fast men. However, timing will be crucial in Laval, with the final kilometre dragging slightly uphill. In fact, a recent stage of the Boucles de la Mayenne finished here, with Tudor’s German sprinter Marius Mayrhofer taking the win.
Favourites
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty)
Times (local time)
Start: 1:10 PM
Finish: 5:04 PM

Stage 9, Sunday, July 13: Chinon - Chateauroux (174.1 km)

On paper, the second weekend of the Tour is unlikely to deliver much fireworks. Stage nine is another flat affair, with the finish set on the aptly named "Avenue Cavendish" in Châteauroux. The British legend won here on the last three occasions, though he will not be part of the peloton in 2025.
Favourites
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla)
Times (local time)
Start: 1:10 PM
Finish: 5:07 PM

Stage 10, Monday, July 14: Ennezat - Le-Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy (165.3 km)

Racing on a Monday? Yes indeed. With Quatorze Juillet falling this week, the first rest day comes only after ten stages, and judging by this profile, the riders will certainly have earned it. Starting from Ennezat, the peloton will tackle no fewer than eight climbs, adding up to a gruelling 4,500 metres of elevation gain. And the final three kilometres of the stage rise at a punishing eight percent.
Favourites
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
Times (local time)
Start: 1:10 PM
Finish: 5:25 PM

Stage 11, Wednesday, July 16: Toulouse - Toulouse (156.8 km)

Following the rest day, stage eleven brings a tricky loop starting and finishing in Toulouse. This one falls firmly into the category of "deceptively difficult". The final 50 kilometres feature four categorised climbs, with one last sharp ascent coming just 12 kilometres from the line.
Favourites
Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek)
Alberto Bettiol (XDS-Astana)
Magnus Cort (Uno-X)
Times(local time)
Start: 1:15 PM
Finish: 5:05 PM

Stage 12, Thursday, July 17: Auch - Hautacam (180.6 km)

On stage twelve of the Tour de France, one of Tadej Pogačar’s true nemeses looms large: Hautacam. It was here in 2022 that the Slovenian was cracked by both Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert. Knowing Pogačar, he will be out for revenge as the race hits the high mountains for the first time this year.
Favourites
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
Times(local time)
Start: 1:10 PM
Finish: 5:32 PM

Stage 13, Friday, July 18: Loudenvielle - Peyragudes (10.9 km, individual time trial)

A true mountain time trial awaits. The riders will face a 10.9-kilometre test towards Peyragudes, with 650 metres of elevation to conquer. The sting is very much in the tail, though, with the final section averaging a brutal 13 percent.
Favourites
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Times (local time)
Start: 1:10 PM
Finish: 5:31 PM

Stage 14, Saturday, July 19: Pau - Lucon-Superbagneres (182.6 km)

Part three of the Pyrenean block sees the riders roll out from Pau, a familiar Tour de France town with a rich climbing history. After 182 kilometres, the stage will finish in Luchon-Superbagnères, but not before the peloton tackles four major ascents: the Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde, and the final summit finish. In total, the riders will face close to 5,000 metres of climbing.
Favourites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Times (local time)
Start: 12:00 PM
Finish: 5:07 PM

Stage 15, Sunday, July 20: Muret - Carcassonne (169.3 km)

After the gruelling mountain stages of recent days, the Tour de France peloton rolls into the fortified city of Carcassonne on the third Sunday. On paper, this looks like a perfect opportunity for the breakaway specialists to battle for the stage win.
Favourites
Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla)
Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious)
Joe Blackmore (Israel-Premier Tech)
Times (local time)
Start: 1:20 PM
Finish: 5:08 PM

Stage 16, Tuesday, July 22: Montpellier - Mont Ventoux (171.5 km)

After Hautacam, the Tour organisers have included yet another of Pogačar’s so-called bogey climbs: Mont Ventoux. It was here in 2021 that he was dropped for the first time by Jonas Vingegaard. This time, the infamous Giant of Provence will be approached after a flat 150-kilometre run-in. What a way to kick off the third week!
Favourites
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Times (local time)
Start: 12:10 PM
Finish: 4:44 PM

Stage 17, Wednesday, July 23: Bollene - Valence (160.4 km)

Flat stages in the third week of a Grand Tour: it's always a question of whether there will be a sprint finish or not. This time, the wind could also play a role, although it will be anyone's guess in the opening phase as to which early breakaway will form.
Favourites
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Times (local time)
Start: 12:10 PM
Finish: 4:44 PM

Stage 18, Thursday, July 24: Vif - Courchevel Col de la Loze (171.5 km)

The queen stage of this year’s Tour de France comes on stage 18. From Vif, the riders will face a brutal day featuring 5,500 metres of climbing. The route takes in the mighty Col du Glandon, Col de la Madeleine and the fearsome Col de la Loze. It was here in 2024 that Pogačar saw his hopes of Tour victory slip away.
Favourites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious)
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Times (local time)
Start: 12:10 PM
Finish: 5:12 PM

Stage 19, Friday, July 25: Albertville - La Plagne (129.9 km)

Cumulative fatigue will undoubtedly come into play in the final week of the Tour. Following the Col de la Loze stage, another very demanding day is on the menu for stage 19. The riders will roll out from Albertville and head for La Plagne, a climb that holds fond memories for Dutch fans thanks to Michael Boogerd. This time the peloton will face five cols packed into just 130 kilometres, with a total elevation gain of 4,550 metres.
Favourites
Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers)
Ben O'Connor (Jayco AlUla)
Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R)
Times (local time)
Start: 1:30 PM
Finish: 5:18 PM

Stage 20, Saturday, July 26: Nantua - Pontarler (184.2 km)

An untypical penultimate stage for a Grand Tour, but all the more interesting because of it. The first half of the route between Nantua and Pontarlier features a fair amount of climbing, which could turn this into a potential booby trap for tired legs.
Favourites
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Toms Skujiņš (Lidl-Trek)
Michał Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers)
Times (local time)
Start: 12:05 PM
Finish: 4:12 PM

Stage 21, Sunday, July 27: Mantes-la-Ville - Paris (132.3 km)

The traditional finale in Paris, but with a twist. Following the success of the Olympic Games in the French capital, the Tour organisers have decided to include Montmartre three times in this year’s route, giving the stage a completely different character. We are intrigued to see how it plays out.
Favourites
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers)
Times (local time)
Start: 4:10 PM
Finish: 7:26 PM

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