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The eagerly awaited 112th edition of the Tour de France pedals into action on July 5th and this year, the competition, which guarantees to thrill, will be routed entirely within French borders for the first time in half a decade.
The 2025 iteration of the Tour de France promises to be typically hardcore and will span 3,320 kilometres across 21 separate stages. Combatants can also look forward to 52,000 metres of elevation gain across four different mountain ranges – the Alps, Massif Central, Jura and the Pyrenees.
Ahead of the mayhem, we’ve taken a deep dive into the General Classification (GC) favourites, sprint stage dynamics and how the route might reshape the skirmish for yellow, green and polka-dot jerseys in our complete Tour de France 2025 preview.
GC Favourites: A Clash of Titans
This year’s race for the Tour de France’s yellow jersey, which is awarded to the rider with the lowest cumulative time, is poised to be a rabid battle between some of the sport’s biggest names.
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) – 4/11
Tadej Pogačar will start stage one as the Tour’s overwhelming, odds-on favourite to triumph. The dominant winner of last year’s Tour de France (2024) has enjoyed a stellar 2025 season to date, with highlights including a commanding victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné.
The versatile Slovenian excels in time trials, sprints and high mountain climbs, giving him the perfect package to tackle this year’s route, which includes as many as five summit finishes as well as two time trials.
Pogačar’s relentless style and aggressive approach could be taxed by the arduous mountain stages of the Tour’s final week, however, something that punters should consider when digging through online betting sites UK for prices.
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) – 12/5
2022 and 2023 Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard is expected to be Pogačar’s biggest rival for this year’s yellow jersey.
Vingeggard finished second behind Pogačar at this year’s Dauphiné, however, the Dane wield significant climbing strength – an attribute he will hope to extract the maximum value from in this year’s climber’s paradise.
The depth and support supplied by Visma-Lease a Bike could also make a difference with Sepp Kuss, Simon Yates and Matteo Jorgenson all willing and able assist if and when Vingegaard needs it. The 28-year-old also offers better value from a betting perspective in each way markets at a price of around 12/5.
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – 9/1
Current Olympic time trial and road race champion, Remco Evenepoel could also pose a threat as an alternative outsider.
The Belgian finished third at the 2024 Tour de France and has room for improvement, however, he will arguably be the top time triallist competing this year and if he can climb well, he could ruffle some feathers in the race for GC honours.
Tour de France 2025: Sprint Stage Strategies and Green Jersey Prospects
The 2025 Tour de France features seven flat stages, which provide sprinters with the perfect settings to strut their stuff.
Consistency is the key to earning the green jersey, though the first half of the Tour is particularly laden with opportunities to sprint, especially in northern France and Brittany.
The Tour’s second half has most of the mountainous stages, which will provide a thorough test of staying power for the green jersey contenders.
Stages that favour sprinters:
Stage 1 (Lille loop): A nicely flat opener that should be ideal for a bunch sprint.
Stage 3 and Stage 9: Traditional flat finishes that should spark battles between top sprinters for success.
Stage 7 (Mûr-de-Bretagne): A testing climb to the line that might suit sprinters with extra power.
Green Jersey Contenders
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Belgian sprint specialist Jasper Philipsen claimed the Tour’s green jersey in 2023 and with a potent lead-out train offering support his year, the 27-year-old, who can drag himself through hilly stages, should be in the mix again.
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Merlier has enjoyed nine wins in 2025 so far, including four World Tour stages, so he will head to France with confidence to burn. The 32-year-old Belgian has a quality lead-out man in Bert Van Lerberghe, which only adds to his appeal.
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
Giro d’Italia winner Jonathan Milan is a Tour de France debutant, though he has explosive power and a formidable lead-out train that features Edward Theuns and Simone Consonni, so he cannot be discounted.
Tour de France: King of the Mountains & Polka-Dot Jersey Outlook
The 2025 edition of the Tour is definitely one for the climbers, with six high mountain stages and five summit finishes to tackle. The battle to be crowned King of the Mountains promises to be tightly contested.
Major Mountain Stages:
Stage 12 (Hautacam): The Tour’s first major summit finish which should provide some early KOM pointers
Stage 13 (Peyragudes Mountain TT): A potentially thrilling inclusion, the mountain time trial will reward those who can sprint and climb solo.
Stage 14 (Superbagnères): A classic Pyrenean stage with a glut of Category 1 climbs to conquer.
Stage 16 (Mont Ventoux): The infamous and brutal “Giant of Provence” returns to the race after a nine-year absence.
Stage 18 (Col de la Loze): The queen stage that requires over 5,000m of climbing and a blistering finish at altitude.
Stage 19 (La Plagne): The last high-mountain salvo before the GC concludes.
Interesting Polka Dot Jersey Contenders:
Felix Gall (Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale) 18/1
A past polka-dot jersey winner in 2023 with a knack for mountain raids, Austrian Felix Gall could be worth tracking just outside the favourites in the King of the Mountains markets. The confidence climber has enough in his locker to challenge more fancied rivals in France.
Wout van Aert (Visma–Lease a Bike) – 40/1
The 30-year-old is more than capable of targeting KOM points from breakaways while also serving GC duties, making him a dangerous Polka Dot jersey contender, with prices Belgian currently sitting in the attractive 40/1 range. Most bookies will be paying out up to three places in each way markets, so Van Aert offers plenty of value.
Tour de France 2025: Route Impact by Classification
Yellow Jersey: Influencing Factors
- Balanced overall but definitely climber-friendly.
- Flat TT on Stage 5 has the potential to offer early time gaps.
- Summit finishes are likely to determine the ultimate winner.
- The Pyrenees and Alps in the final week should create significant time gaps, making recovery and team support crucial.
- GC contenders must avoid early slips on Stage 2 and windy Stage 9 to stay in the mix.
Green Jersey: Influencing Factors
- First 9 stages are jammed with good sprint opportunities.
- Riders who can survive the mountains will have a distinct edge.
- Revamped intermediate sprints on tougher terrain mean riders who can climb, could steal points.
- Route’s demanding third week, with its mountain stages, will test sprinters’ endurance.
- Only those who survive time cuts are likely to be in contention for the green jersey in Paris.
Polka Dot Jersey: Influencing Factors
- Stage 18’s Col de la Loze, the race’s highest point, should be a key battleground.
- Mountain-heavy final week should favour GC riders or late-stage attackers.
- Expect the queen stages to play a pivotal role in the tussle for the polka dot jersey.
- Points are doubled on summit finishes (e.g., Hautacam, Mont Ventoux, Col de la Loze).
- Stage 18’s Col de la Loze, the race’s highest point, should be a key battleground.
