Why the race remains exciting to follow despite the ultra domination of Tadej Pogacar

Even if Tadej Pogacar crushes the general classification, the Tour de France 2025 is far from over, at all levels.

Admittedly, after 15 stages, Tadej Pogacar crushes the 112nd edition of the Tour de France for the moment. After taking advantage of a second day of rest, Monday July 21, in Montpellier, the world champion counts 4 minutes and 13 seconds ahead of his runner -up Jonas Vingegaard, on the morning of the 16th stage which will lead the peloton to the top of Mont Ventoux. A colossal abyss, synonymous for many of an already folded loop. From there to think that there is no more interest in following the last week? It would be badly knowing this fascinating competition, which will not really end until Sunday, not before …

Because, no, Tadej Pogacar is not sure to win

More than ever, Tadej Pogacar is in the competition after 15 stages on the 112nd Tour de France. Already victorious of four stages, the Slovenian is astounding, and leaves the competition Pantoise. “For the moment, it's the strongest. We will try again and again, we will see what is happening. If it's second place, we will take it”blowed Grischa Niermann, sports director of La Visma-lease-A-Bike, after the Slovenian victory in Hautacam. Before Tadej Pogacar responds, the same evening: “The tour is not over! We have to stay calm, continue with this rhythm. We have a comfortable lead, but it's never finished before the line in Paris.”

Because from here at the Champs-Elysées on Sunday, July 27, the vagaries of the race (fall, illness …) can still strike the Slovenian, as his fall in the 11th stage in Toulouse recalled. Above all, Tadej Pogacar has already had days without, in the past, which have sometimes even made him lose the tour. This was in particular the case in 2022, recalls Lilian Calmejane, consultant for franceinfo: Sport: “We have already seen Vingegaard cracking Pogacar, putting him three minutes in the Granon and seven in the Col de la Loze. One day without arrived on the Tour”. And the Col de la Loze will be on Thursday July 24.

Because the end of the course is monumental

Starting from Hauts-de-France, the Grande Boucle has already crossed Normandy, Brittany, part of Auvergne and the Pyrenees, but the best is to come on the last six stages. From Tuesday to Sunday, the peloton will indeed climb some historic monuments, before innovating for the final arrival in Paris. As of Tuesday, Mont Ventoux will return to the Route du Tour, for the first time since 2021 and a victory by Wout Van Aert after a double ascent of the Géant de Provence.

Thursday, July 24, after having crossed the passes of the Glandon and the Madeleine, both out of category, the peloton will challenge the Col de la Loze for the third time in five years, by the unpublished side of Courchevel. The next day, a new Alpine stage with more than 5,000 meters of elevation will lead the Grande Boucle to La Plagne, for a first arrival in this station since 2002. Without forgetting the final stage with the triple ascent of Montmartre, in Paris.

Because the Blues have not yet struck

Lenny Martinez with the polka dot jersey, Kévin Vauquelin well installed in the top 10, at the door of Jordan Jegat: the French do not miss their Tour de France 2025, but, with the exception of Julian Alpahilippe's false joy, no tricolor runner raised his arms in 15 stages. Which can start to worry, when there are only six opportunities left to do it by the end of this edition for the Blues, in order to avoid a historic pointed zero. And even a first in the 21st century.

Out of 111 editions, only two Tour de France ended without the slightest French victory. The first time was in 1926, with eighth place to General de Georges Cuevelier as the only rejoicing. Then rebelote in 1999, with an edition saved by the polka dot jacket gleaned by Richard Virenque. Two white editions out of 111: the probabilities are formal, a Frenchman will win by Sunday … or not.

Because it's not just yellow in life

It is not for nothing that there are four distinctive jerseys on the Tour de France. If the race for yellow is not a priori the most undecided in history, it is much tighter for the other three knits. On the side of sprinters, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) leads the dance, in green. But will the Italian colossus pass the Alps? If his dolphin is called Tadej Pogacar, it is especially Dutch Mathieu Van der Poel, the Eritrean Biniam Girmay and the Belgian Tim Merlier that the Italian is wary.

On the white jersey side, the German Florian Lipowitz for the moment dominates the debates. But the British Oscar Onley and the French Kévin Vauquelin stay in the race. Finally, the polka dot jersey remains for the moment on the shoulders of Lenny Martinez. Despite the pressure of the pursuers, including Tadej Pogacar, the Frenchman hopes to extend the best climber's tunic in Paris, like his grandfather Mariano Martinez in 1978.