Pogacar’s Reign: How Cycling’s “Big Four” Are Reshaping the 2025 Tour de France
As the peloton gathers in Lille for the Grand Départ, this year’s Tour de France carries an air of inevitability. Tadej Pogačar, the Slovenian phenom who has dominated cycling like no rider since Eddy Merckx, arrives with what he describes as “perfect preparation” – a terrifying prospect for his rivals. Alongside Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and Primož Roglič, Pogačar forms part of cycling’s “Big Four,” a group so far ahead of the competition that they’ve fundamentally altered how teams approach the race.
The Hierarchy of the Big Four
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) – The undisputed favorite. Fresh off a historic Giro-Tour-Worlds treble in 2024, he has only gotten stronger. His Dauphiné demolition of Vingegaard and Evenepoel sent a clear message: barring disaster, yellow is his to lose.
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) – The defending champion has bulked up, adding muscle to improve his power output. But his Dauphiné defeat raises questions: can he close the gap to Pogačar when it matters?
3. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) – Still recovering from a career-threatening training crash, the Belgian time trial specialist hopes to challenge in the race against the clock. A podium repeat would be a triumph.
4. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – Brutally honest about his ambitions: “I just want to reach Paris.” After a grueling Giro and a crash-marred 2024 Tour, he’s racing for pride, not victory.
The Domino Effect on the Peloton
With the general classification seemingly locked down, the rest of the field has shifted focus:
– Mathieu van der Poel & Wout van Aert – Hunting stage wins in the hills and breakaways.
– Geraint Thomas & Simon Yates – Now in supporting roles, targeting individual stages rather than GC.
– Sprinters (Philipsen, Girmay, Groves) – Their teams will fight tooth and nail for the few flat stages not controlled by Pogačar’s UAE squad.
Even Ineos Grenadiers, once the kings of Tour domination, have recalibrated. Filippo Ganna is all-in on the Stage 5 time trial, while Thomas openly admits: “A stage win would be amazing.”
Why This Tour Feels Different
The 2025 route, staying entirely within France for the first time in five years, includes a nostalgic tribute to Bernard Hinault’s final victory 40 years ago. But the real story is the sport’s new reality: a Pogačar-centric era where the battle for yellow is less a duel and more a coronation.
Vingegaard remains the only credible challenger, but after Pogačar dropped him with ease at the Dauphiné, even the Dane admits: “We’ll see if it’s enough.”
The Inevitable Conclusion?
Unless Pogačar crashes or falls ill, the Slovenian looks set to join the ranks of Tour legends with a third title. The rest of the peloton? They’ll be left fighting for scraps—stage wins, polka dots, or the occasional moment in the breakaway.
As the race rolls toward Paris and its celebratory triple loop of Montmartre, one question lingers:
Is Pogačar’s dominance good for cycling, or does the sport need a new rivalry to spark life into the GC battle?
For now, the answer seems clear: This is Pogačar’s Tour. Everyone else is just riding in it.
Who do you think can challenge Pogačar? Or is the 2025 Tour already decided? Share your thoughts below!
