Tour de France Rate the 2025 Tour de France

[Netserk]

What the hell are you talking about? Pogacar lost 30 seconds in that crash, he would lose 1 minute at most if they cooperated and would still be in front of Vingegaard.

Vingegaard distanced Pogi multiple times that day, and had the group kept the tempo high when Healy and Vingegaard made it across such that Pogi wouldn't have bridged (and Evenepoel waited until Pogi was spent), then he could have gained significant time that day.

 

[scribers]

compelling stage profiles.

The challenging stages designed to potentially break pog broke everyone including pog. This tour managed to dominate the vuelta too at the same time

 

[Peyroteo94]

Vingegaard distanced Pogi multiple times that day, and had the group kept the tempo high when Healy and Vingegaard made it across such that Pogi wouldn't have bridged (and Evenepoel waited until Pogi was spent), then he could have gained significant time that day.

And how would they keep the tempo high, when only a Visma rider was there with Vingegaard?
So your theory is: if the all peloton raced against Pogacar, we might have a thirlling TdF. Don't live in a bubble, teams have their own goals. But you can't see that since Vingegaard is dane and you are upset he lost the Tour quite easily.

 

[James M]

Vingegaard distanced Pogi multiple times that day, and had the group kept the tempo high when Healy and Vingegaard made it across such that Pogi wouldn't have bridged (and Evenepoel waited until Pogi was spent), then he could have gained significant time that day.

Vingegaard gapped him when he started to sprint 15 meters from the top on a little hill is that what were going by now? The burst lasted about 5–10 seconds and above all cause noone expected it and it was pointless cause it was downhill and flat to the line, what an attack.

Im even more curious. I wonder why he did that, maybe he was desperate and knew he stand no chance against Pogacar in the mountains anymore like the rest of us, what do you think?

 

[Netserk]

And how would they keep the tempo high, when only a Visma rider was there with Vingegaard?
So your theory is: if the all peloton raced against Pogacar, we might have a thirlling TdF. Don't live in a bubble, teams have their own goals. But you can't see that since Vingegaard is dane and you are upset he lost the Tour quite easily.

Why wouldn't Healy and Van der Poel pull in that group?
Why should Evenepoel be the first to pull in the peloton after Wellens, when he already knew then that he had a broken rib and a bad prep for the Tour? Why not wait for Pogi to be done pulling, and then possibly counter that?

 

[James M]

Some lukewarm takes:

• Philipsen's crash was the incidence that most negatively affected the race
• Ganna would have won the ITT if not for his crash
• Stage 11 was the best GC stage and it almost saved the race
• Lipowitz only ended on the podium thanks to Rogla
• Narváez was the best mountain domestique in the race
• La Plagne was good to watch
• Bambi was too thin too soon and overraced this year
• Merlier showed just how limited he is as a sprinter
• Visma had the right strategy in all mountain stages
• Wout van Aert's victory absolved him of all blame
• Van der Poel was too active
• Pogi was smarter and more mature, but he will regret not winning green

This is true, but only in the sense that Pogacar would have needed to be hurt from the crash, which did seem high-speed and pretty dramatic. Any time gaps because of it at that point in the stage was irrelevant for how GC woulda have been. Somehow he escaped without serious injuries. Had he been injured, though, it could’ve completely changed the race dynamic if you were hoping for more excitement. That’s why this stage arguably had one of the biggest impacts and could save the race if you wanted more excitment.

Actually, I agree with most of those takes. Except for Philipsen, in my opinion, the Almeida crash had more impact, imo from my perspective. But that's it. Good takes.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I don‘t know what Netserk is on about with Stage 11, they had a gap to Pogačar which he closed before they could get organised or to the front. I don‘t know what they‘re expected to do, ride so fast that Pogačar can‘t close a two second gap? Impossible

 

[Netserk]

I don‘t know what Netserk is on about with Stage 11, they had a gap to Pogačar which he closed before they could get organised or to the front. I don‘t know what they‘re expected to do, ride so fast that Pogačar can‘t close a two second gap? Impossible

Van Aert knew Healy and Vingegaard were coming across immediately, so it would have been possible for him to accelerate as soon as Vingegaard said so over the radio. And again, this is without the pull of Evenepoel after Wellens.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

No I find the Roglic lost his mind take lukewarm considering Lipowitz lost his mind much more and Roglic' motivation and Red Bull's policy of "let them do their own race" actually align. It just ends up looking stupid.

I follow your thoughts.
However, to me it was a nice sight to witness him displaying some courage and take the chance, seen in the light of previous editions' monster mountain stages, decided only in the dying meters by a Roglstomp
My take while watching live, was that RB could use the situation of playing 2 GC cards, thereby putting Visma and UAE under pressure, or at least a knuckle on the shoulders. At the early stages of his attack I had thoughts that maybe he was having one of those days, and that way it could have developed into a nice spice of a final

 

[Tonton]

My immediate thought are a 5.5/10

Underwhelming GC battle, the crucial mountain stages and the tiny chance of an exiting duel here were completely punctured by a superior Pogi and the rest by Visma-logics, besides two stages with an under-performing wing shot Vingo

No contest for green jersey with Philipsen crash.

Same with missing MvDP for the second part of the tour, that otherwise could've spiced things op, just as a fit and un-injured Remco most possible could've delivered.

However heroic efforts by riders in second row as Arensman, O'Connor, Healey and more.

BUT, just like I gave the Giro 25 edition an 8/10 still missing to watch apparently "horrible snooze party stages", and stated I would come up with a more in-depth as-per-stage analysis score weighted with the batte for the jerseys, I on the contrary miss to watch what apparently was good stages in this Tour

So maybe later this year I'll come up with more in-depth leveled scores with maybe Giro 25 = 7/10 and Tour 25 = 6/10, but really can't tell at time being.

Couldn't agree with you more: like the '25 Giro, it's an 8...

 

[dobrien]

As a good friend told me, being safe edgy is a rhetorical condom and it feels better au naturel.

Oh, this is pure genius. Keeping this in my pocket... I feel certain there is a dinner party in my future where I can, <ahem> whip this one out!

 

[Lorzenz08]

I give it a 6

Mainly because as a Pogi fan that Hautacam stage was really thrilling. Seeing him crush that mountain starting 12km from the finish line after an epic lead out that felt like I was watching Pogi take off on Cipressa.

Honestly if the TdF finished at the end of the 2nd week I would have given it a solid 7.

But that 3rd week was really annoying, that 3rd week is barely a 2 or a 3/10.

Overall 6.

 

[Andy262]

I’m a Pog fan but this was just a 4, over by the end of the first week, predictable stage winners, nearly all from the big teams. Little strength in depth in the peloton., just within a couple of teams.

Last couple of days dragged it up from a 3 but overall this wasn’t great at all.

 

[Vinther1991]

Positives:
-The Mont Ventoux stage had a fantastic breakaway battle, decent GC action. Pretty good stage.
-Paris stage delivered with a solid comeback from Wout!
-Healy was incredible to watch.
-MvdP delivered exciting racing until he abandoned.
-Overall decent set of stages until the mountain TT. Though none were great per say.
-Roglic didn't crash out.

Negatives:
-No interesting battle for GC win. Vingegaard wasn't strong enough to drop Pogacar in week 3.
-After stage 13, Pogacar didn't give a **** about this Tour, I have never seen a Tour winner so bored and unexcited to race or win. I used to be a big fan, but not so much after this Tour.
-Didn't like the course, too back-loaded, you keep GC artificially close by avoiding stages in the first half where you can make a big difference.
-No interesting battle for KOM, Pogacar won it without going for it. Prudhomme is a disgrace for having ruined this competition.
-No interesting battle for Green jersey. 2 of the top 3 contenders abandoned. Prudhomme almost ruined this competition too, as Pogacar could have almost won it as well.
-No amazing stages for the ages, such as Granon in 2022, stage 11 last year, cobble stones in 2014. Or even the quite fantastic, but maybe less remembered Galibier stage last year or Tourmalet 2023.
-Too many riders who could have made the race more exciting ended up abandoning.
-The alps were just all around awful, as was the Luchon-Superbagnères stage.

So yeah, overall a very weak Tour de France. At least the worst since 2014. Which was the last time where I barely felt any excitement in turning on the TV. At least that one had one really memorable stage. 2012 was another terrible edition, with only one decent mountain stage (La Planche des Belles Filles), and no real GC battle. The most memorable about the 2012 Tour, was the Wiggins-Froome conflict. Those are the 3 worst Tour de France editions since the Armstrong years at least, 2009 was maybe also not the best, but still had some redeeming stages.

So overall I give it a 4/10 (closer to a 3 than a 5), and probably the third worst in the modern (2010-now) era.

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

A joyless affair.

Pogačar seemed exhausted and miserable. Defensive riding may have been strategically sound and delivered his fourth TdF win; it still does not suit him. Stage 21 probably the one I liked best, and he lost.

Yay for Arensman, Onley and Lipowitz. Congrats to Philipsen, Healy and MVDP for yellow jersey. Good showing from Vauquelin, too.

 

[Carols]

5 but only for the exploits of Healy and MVDP and the final stage. I Loved the new route for the final stage and Pogi being too tired to win it, He showed he was human in the final week but Vingo was just as tired.

 

[red_flanders]

A joyless affair.

Pogačar seemed exhausted and miserable. Defensive riding may have been strategically sound and delivered his fourth TdF win; it still does not suit him. Stage 21 probably the one I liked best, and he lost.

Yay for Arensman, Onley and Lipowitz. Congrats to Philipsen, Healy and MVDP for yellow jersey. Good showing from Vauquelin, too.

Wow! Pogi won 4 stages, the Maillot Juane and the Maillot Pois. Animated the last stage with zero need. Thought he was pretty aggressive!

Heavy, heavy course. Folks get tired...