The Tour de France 2025 is Almost Here: Everything You Need to Know About Cycling’s Most Famous Race
The Tour de France isn’t just a bike race. It’s a rolling story that weaves through mountains, villages, and pushes the limits of human endurance. And now, with the 2025 edition just around the corner, it’s the perfect time for you to get caught up, or finally learn what all the fuss is about. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or someone who just learned that the yellow jersey means “winner,” this guide will tell you everything you need to know to enjoy the race and get in on all the action this year.
More Than a Race
Every July, millions around the world tune in to the Tour; not just for the cycling, but for the story of the whole event. The Tour is three weeks of early mornings, winding roads, and moments of pure chaos. Even if you don’t know the riders’ names, there’s something about the race that’s guaranteed to draw you in. The Tour isn’t really about who crosses the line first, it’s about the story of what it takes to get there. The exhaustion, the teamwork, the crashes, the comebacks. It’s part sport, part theatre, and it’s one of the rare modern sporting events that still feels rooted in tradition. It’s truly about the journey, not the destination.
How It Works, Simply Put
At its core, the Tour de France is a stage race. This year, there are 21 stages over 23 days, with a couple of rest days tucked in here and there. Each stage is like its own mini race, but the overall winner is the rider who finishes all the stages in the least amount of time. There are flat days, mountain days, and time trials. Some riders go for stage wins, while others are aiming for the overall title. And a lot of them are just there to support their teammates! It can be hard to tell who’s using what strategy at first, but once it clicks, it’s easy to follow.
Yes, There Are More Jerseys Than Just Yellow
So, what’s going on with all these different jerseys? The yellow jersey goes to the rider who’s leading the race overall, but there are other jerseys worth watching too. The green jersey is for the best sprinter, and the polka-dot jersey is for the best climber. There’s also a white jersey that’s given to the best young rider under 26. Each jersey tells a different story and gives different types of riders something to aim for. It’s part of what makes the race exciting; you don’t have to be the best at everything, but everyone wants to be the best at something.
The 2025 Route Looks Brutal and Beautiful
The 2025 Tour de France sticks entirely to French soil, starting in Lille on July 5 and finishing in Paris on July 27. The first ten stages wind through northern regions, including Normandy and Brittany, with two early time trials; one flat in Caen and one uphill in the Pyrenees. Then the race gets serious. The mountain stages include tough Pyrenean climbs like Hautacam and Peyragudes, followed by Alpine beasts like Mont Ventoux, Col de la Loze, and La Plagne. Finishing on the Champs-Élysées, the final stage includes three climbs up Montmartre, adding drama right to the end. This route favors climbers, rewards all-rounders, and keeps the yellow jersey in play until the final day.
Watching the Tour Isn’t Just for Superfans
You don’t need to know what a domestique is or understand race tactics to enjoy the Tour. If you like road trips, good scenery, or cheering on the underdogs, this race is for you. You can watch the start of a stage and check back in a few hours later, or just catch the last 10 minutes, which is when most of the action happens. Some people even keep the race on in the background while working or scrolling. It’s low-commitment, high-reward sports-watching. But if you did want a bit more technical information, check out the above YouTube video.
Teamwork Is Everything
People think of the Tour as a race between individuals, but no one wins it alone. Every rider belongs to a team, and each team has a strategy. On each team there are leaders, helpers, and sprinters, all working together. It’s kind of like chess on wheels. A rider might spend hours protecting their leader from wind, pacing them up a climb, or chasing down a breakaway. And when someone wins, it’s almost always because their team made it possible. The different strategies and the strengths of the different riders on the team is what makes all the difference.
Who to Watch This Year
The 2025 Tour is shaping up to be another showdown between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard. Pogačar is chasing his fourth yellow jersey after a dominant 2024 season, backed by a strong UAE Team Emirates lineup including Adam Yates, João Almeida, and Juan Ayuso. Vingegaard, recovered from injury, leads a powerful Visma-Lease a Bike squad featuring Wout van Aert, Sepp Kuss, and Giro winner Simon Yates (twin brother of Adam Yates).
Not to be counted out, double world champion Remco Evenepoel returns with his killer time-trial ability, aiming for a stronger mountain showing. Primož Roglič is back as well, hoping for redemption after not finishing the Tour in 2024 for the third year in a row. In 2020, he lost the Tour de France to Pogačar by 59 seconds. And Almeida, though riding for Pogačar, could surprise if given enough freedom. It’s a stacked field this year, filled with big names and rising stars, and the competition looks fierce from the very first stage.
Crashes, Curses, and Comebacks
The Tour isn’t all fun and games, it can be cruel too. Riders crash, bikes break, weather turns ugly, and sometimes, everything goes wrong in the blink of an eye. But that’s how you get these amazing comeback stories. Like a rider who was 10 minutes behind one day, suddenly winning a stage the next. Or someone pushing through injury just to cross the finish line. The Tour is full of little human dramas that don’t always make the headlines, but they’re there if you pay attention. And these incredible stories will stick with you longer than the final standings.
What It’s Like to See It in Person
If you ever get the chance to see the Tour in person, take it. You might be standing by the roadside for hours only to see the riders fly past in 10 seconds, but the atmosphere makes it worth it. Villages are decorated with bikes, people picnic along the roads, strangers become friends, and there’s always the caravan—a parade of sponsor vehicles that throw out snacks and swag before the race arrives. It’s weird and joyful, but what makes it fun is that everyone gets into the festive spirit. Even if you’re not a cyclist, it’s the kind of experience you’ll never forget.
Why People Keep Watching
There’s something about the Tour de France that pulls people in year after year, and it’s not just about the cycling. It’s the feeling of summer finally being here and of something exciting happening every day. It’s the mountains, the heartbreak, the surprise wins, the tradition. And yeah, it can be a bit slow, especially if you’re used to faster-paced sports. But that slowness lets you breathe a little. You get to sit and enjoy the race with the riders. In a world that moves too fast, the Tour moves at just the right speed.
So, whether you’re watching every stage or just dipping in for the highlights, there’s room for everyone at the Tour de France. You don’t have to know all the terms or care about all the stats. All you have to know is that it's about pushing limits, falling short, and trying again. Just show up with a little curiosity, and the race will take care of the rest. Don’t forget to check out what all the excitement is about and tune in for the 2025 Tour de France!