Tour de France | 01/07/2025 | 10:10
Lille will host the largest racing Grand Departs in the world On July 5, when the group will face a flat stage at the end of which sprinters should be in the spotlight. It will be only the beginning of what could be a first part of the crazy and extremely nervous race, whose short but steep climbs, narrow roads and difficult arrivals will put the runners to the test.
The second half of the Tour de France will bring the great climbs of this edition -Hautamam, Mont Ventoux, with the de la Loze and La Plagne-an in individual chronometer in the mountains up to Peyragudes and the traditional arrival on the famous Viale dei Champs-Élysées in Paris, which this year arrives after several laps of a circuit inspired by the road race of the Olympic Games.
Third absolute and winner of the white shirt at last year’s tour, Remco Evenepel will return to the start of the race – his sixth appearance in a large lap – And, the first Belgian in more than four decades to have concluded the Tour de France on the podium, is enthusiastic about this new challenge.
“It’s my second Tour de France and I can’t wait for the Grand Depart to arrive, which will not be far from Belgium. I think it is obvious what point to a good general classification, but The most important thing will not be to waste time in the first half of the race, which should be very nervouswith many insidious traps and roads. Just like last year, I want to win a stop and make a good general classification, facing one day at a time, “said the Olympic Bi-Campione.
Per the European champion Tim Merlier It will be the first presence from 2021 to the Grande Boucle, which the Belgian sprinter will begin with a total of ten victories. Soudal Quick-Step’s team will also include Mattia Cattaneo, Pascal Eenkhoornthe German time trial champion Maximilian Schachmann, Ilan van Wilder e The debutants at the Tour de France Valentin Pare-peintre and Bert Van Lerberghe.
“The race can be divided into two parts. A first half frenetic, without a real mountain stagebut with a flat individual time trial where you can make detachments, And many opportunities for sprinters and attackers. Tim and Remco will have a couple of possibilities, but The important thing will be that everyone surface these ten stages safely. The numerous mountain stages and the uphill chronometer that occur in the second part they will make the race incredibly hard, but also the last stop in Paris should play a role in the general classification. We have a strong and expert team, capable of doing beautiful things this summer, and therefore we start with great confidence, “said sports director Tom Steels.
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