Pogacar, who had an extraordinary 2024 season, is a key favorite to defend his title in 2025.

The highly anticipated 2025 Tour de France route has been unveiled, promising an exciting edition with numerous explosive stages and a traditional format that includes long summit finishes in every mountain stage.

Cycling expert Bob Roll emphasizes the continued prominence of Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic, and Remco Evenepoel as the main favorites for the upcoming race.

Vingegaard, aiming to reclaim the Maillot Jaune, faces a tough rivalry with Pogacar, which has intensified over the past four years.

Primoz Roglic's participation remains uncertain, as he may choose to focus on races where Pogacar does not compete, a strategic move for his career.

Johan Bruyneel notes that the race's outcome will depend on the strength of the riders and their teams, dismissing claims that the route favors specific riders.

The first week of the Tour will feature four hilltop finishes and several challenging stages, which could lead to GC contenders losing valuable time before the mountain stages.

Bruyneel also points out that stage 10 is a mountain stage, but significant climbing will only begin from stage 12, which could lead to critical outcomes early in the race.

Pogacar has outlined his 2025 schedule, planning to compete in early classics such as Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders, followed by the Dauphiné as preparation for the Tour.

Experts highlight Vingegaard's remarkable mental endurance, especially considering the challenges he faced during the previous Tour.

Experts predict that the top three riders in the race will likely remain the same: Pogacar, Vingegaard, and Evenepoel, based on their previous performances.

Vande Velde warns that teams attempting to directly emulate Pogacar's methods may struggle to keep pace with the best riders.