Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)
- Slovenian; 25 years old, 1.76 m; 66 kg
Tour record: 4 starts: winner in 2020 and 2021, runner-up in 2022 and 2023
- Climbing: *****
- Time trial: *****
- Team: *****
26 years after Marco Pantani, Pogacar is going for the double of the Giro and Tour: Pogacar has the best chances of those who have tried since then, such as Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali. Unlike his predecessors, the Slovenian did not have to go all the way into the deep red at the Giro. With his extreme dominance in Italy, the 25-year-old has propelled himself into the role of top favourite for the Tour de France - despite starting twice. The two-time winner of the Tour of France can do it all: climbing, time trials, classics, gravel and even winning sprints on difficult arrivals. The team has become even stronger compared to last year with the signing of Nils Politt. The crucial question: How much Giro is still in the Slovenian's legs at the start of the Tour in Florence?
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
- Danish; 27 years old, 1.75 m; 58 kg
Tour record: 3 starts: second in 2021, winner in 2023 and 2023
- Climbing: ***
- Time trial: ***
- Team: ****
The dominant rider of the last two years will only start as an outsider (should he start at all). The reason for this is a terrible Crash at the beginning of April at the Tour of the Basque Countryin which the Dane broke his collarbone and several ribs and also suffered a bruised lung and pneumothorax. Vingegaard did not train on his racing bike again until the beginning of May. There is no time left to gain race practice. The mountain specialist is investing this time in training. If the 27-year-old even takes part in the Tour, it is extremely unlikely that he will be able to perform at 100 per cent of his potential. That's why he only gets three stars for climbing and time trialling instead of five. However, the defending champion should by no means be written off.
Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe)
- Slovenian; 34 years old; 1.77 m; 65 kg
Tour record: 5 starts: 38th in 2017, fourth in 2018, second in 2020, DNF in 2021, DNF in 2022
- Climbing: ****
- Time trial: *****
- Team: *****
Two years after Jai Hindley's Giro victory, Bora-Hansgrohe now wants to win the Tour de France. Primoz Roglic has been signed by Jumbo-Visma for this purpose. After three Vuelta victories and a Giro triumph, the 34-year-old is aiming to complete his Grand Tour collection. The Slovenian can do almost everything: climbs, time trials, sprints and even hilly terrain. However, Roglic crashes very often: in 2021 and 2022, this already put a spanner in the works for him at the Tour and this spring Roglic also had to go down at the Tour of the Basque Country. In terms of team strength, Bora doesn't have to hide behind any other team. The Raubling-based racing team is peppered with top riders both on the flat and in the mountains.
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal - Quick Step)
- Belgian; 24 years old; 1.71 m; 61 kg
Tour balance sheet: First start
- Climbing: *****
- Time trial: *****
- Team: ***
The debut of the Belgian prodigy at the Tour is eagerly awaited. Just like Vingegaard and Roglic, Evenepoel was also involved in the serious crash at the Tour of the Basque Country. He suffered a broken shoulder blade and collarbone. Around three weeks later, the Belgian was already back on his racing bike, which gives him enough time to build up his form for the Tour. As the reigning world champion in this specialised discipline, Evenepoel even has a slight advantage over Roglic and Pogacar in the time trial. The 24-year-old only has to make slight concessions in the absolute high mountains. In addition, the Belgian is riding in a team that has been focussed on the classics for years and is only slowly being rebuilt for the grand tours.
Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers)
- Spanish; 23 years old; 1.83 m; 67 kg
Tour record: 1 start: fifth in 2023
- Climbing: ****
- Time trial: ***
- Team: *****
The man from Almunecar on the Costa Tropical is expected to be the first Spaniard since Alberto Contador in 2015 to win a Grand Tour at the Giro. In contrast to Contador, Rodriguez doesn't ride spectacularly, but rather with an eye for detail and conserving resources. This style enabled the Ineos pro to finish fifth in the Tour final classification in 2023 in the slipstream of Vingegaard and Pogacar and to win the Tour de Romandie overall in 2024. The 23-year-old can climb well, has room for improvement in the time trial and can build on a team that is in no way inferior to those of Pogacar, Vingegaard and Roglic.
Egan Bernal (Ineos Greandiers)
- Colombian; 27 years old; 1.75 m; 60 kg
Tour record: 4 starts: 15th in 2018, winner in 2019, DNF in 2020, 36th in 2023
- Climbing: ****
- Time trial: ***
- Team: *****
Will Egan Bernal be back to his old self? TOUR author Daniel Brickwedde recently dealt with this question in great detail. The Colombian's performances this spring give every reason for hope. Seventh place at Paris-Nice and third place at the Tour of Catalonia show a clear upward trend. It is possible that the 27-year-old is already riding at the same level as in 2019, when he was the first Colombian to win the Tour de France. However, cycling has evolved and different wattages are now required to ride at the front in the mountains. If Bernal's development continues like this, he can be expected to do the same - possibly at the Tour de France alongside Rodriguez.
Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)
- Austrian; 26 years old; 1.78 m; 66 kg
Tour balance sheet: One start: Eighth 2023
- Climbing: ****
- Time trial: ***
- Team: ***
The Austrian feels right at home in the high mountains. It was not for nothing that Gall won the queen stage of the Tour de France over the Col de la Loze in 2023 and a difficult section of the Tour de Suisse a few weeks earlier. In the final standings, the 26-year-old finished eighth in last year's Tour. Gall's Achilles heel is the time trial. But here too, his French team, which has looked like a new team since Decathlon joined, can be trusted to take another step forward.
Simon Yates (Team Jayco-AlUla)
- British; 31 years old; 1.72 m; 58 kg
Tour record: Six participations; DNF 2014, 89th 2015, seventh 2017, 49th 2019, DNF 2021, fourth 2023
- Climbing: ****
- Time trial: ***
- Team: ***
Similar to Rodriguez, Yates finished fourth behind his twin brother Adam in the Tour de France last year, securing a top 5 place. Simon Yates is particularly strong in the mountains. In the time trial and also in terms of team strength, he cannot keep up with Pogacar, Vingegaard or Roglic. The 31-year-old, who won the Vuelta a Espana in 2018, also benefits from his experience from 15 Grand Tour participations.
Sepp Kuss (Visma | Lease a Bike)
- US-American; 1.82 m; 61 kg
Tour record: Four participations; 15th 2020, 32nd 2021, 17th 2022, 12th 2023
- Climbing: ****
- Time trial: ***
- Team: ****
Is Sepp Kuss Visma | Lease a Bike's plan B if Vingegaard doesn't get fit? Kuss proved that he can win a Grand Tour at the 2023 Vuelta, where he took the leader's jersey somewhat unexpectedly after a breakaway attempt and defended it confidently to the end ahead of his team-mates Vingegaard and Roglic. On a good day in the mountains, Kuss can hardly be left behind, but he has slight deficits in the time trial. The crucial question is: Can Kuss handle the pressure of the captain's role in the world's most important cycling race?
