Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is primed and focused as he begins his campaign for a fourth Tour de France title in 2025. The Slovenian enters as the overwhelming favorite, with defending champion Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) once again expected to be his fiercest rival. The two have dominated the race over the past five years, and their rivalry is set to continue through 21 grueling stages filled with climbing duels, psychological battles, and mutual respect.
Pogačar, speaking at a pre-race press conference in the grand Opéra de Lille, seemed relaxed despite the high expectations. He acknowledged the tough competition ahead and praised Vingegaard as “the best climber in the world right now” a possible mind game or simply a show of sportsmanship.
“The last five years have been intense between Jonas and me,” he said. “It’ll be exciting to see how it unfolds this time. You never know who might surprise.”
Pogačar’s dominant win at the Critérium du Dauphiné cemented his status as the man to beat. But he warned that the opening 10 days could make or break his Tour.
“The first week is always nervous—you can lose the Tour early,” he noted. “I need to stay sharp, avoid mistakes, and conserve energy for the decisive final stages.”
The rivalry between UAE and Visma also adds fuel to the fire. Tensions have simmered in recent editions, highlighted in Netflix’s Tour de France: Unchained, where Pogačar was seen swearing at Vingegaard during a tense gravel stage.
“Emotions run high,” Pogačar admitted. “We might clash during the race, but there’s always respect afterward. That’s what makes this sport special.”
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