SCHWARZSEE, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 16: Ewen Costiou of France and Team Arkea - B&B Hotels leads the peloton during the 88th Tour de Suisse, Stage 2 a 177km stage from Aarau to Schwarzsee / #UCIWT / on June 16, 2025 in Schwarzsee, Switzerland. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
With less than a week until the Grand Départ of the 2025 Tour de France in Lille, cycling teams are finalizing preparations and confirming their eight-man rosters for the most prestigious race of the year. This year’s peloton will consist of 184 riders across 23 teams, each with unique ambitions. While some aim for the coveted maillot jaune in Paris, others are content with a single stage win or are focused on WorldTour survival and securing new sponsors.
All 18 WorldTour teams are set to compete, with Lotto and Israel-Premier Tech joining as the top-ranked UCI ProTeams. Additionally, Uno-X Mobility, TotalEnergies, and Tudor Pro Cycling have received wildcard entries from race organizer ASO. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the teams, their leaders, key riders to watch, and their objectives for this year’s Tour de France.
Alpecin-Deceuninck: Sprinting for Glory
Belgian squad Alpecin-Deceuninck, led by superstar sprinter Jasper Philipsen and his dynamic partner Mathieu van der Poel, is aiming for stage wins and the green jersey. Philipsen, who won the green jersey in 2023, is in good form following a stage win at the Baloise Belgium Tour. His sprint battles with countryman Tim Merlier promise to be a highlight of the race.
Van der Poel, recovering from a wrist fracture, is expected to attack on hilly, Classics-style stages, particularly eyeing stage 7 and the Mûr-de-Bretagne. Australian sprinter Kaden Groves, a nine-time Grand Tour stage winner, will also be a key player, ready to step up if Philipsen falters.
Arkéa-B&B Hotels: Fighting for Survival
French team Arkéa-B&B Hotels, led by rising star Kévin Vauquelin, faces a dual challenge: securing UCI WorldTour status and attracting new sponsors after Arkéa and B&B Hotels announced their departure post-2025. Vauquelin, a standout in French cycling, is their best hope for a stage win, with punchy and hilly stages suiting his style.
Veteran sprinter Arnaud Démare, aiming to break a winning drought, and Cristián Rodríguez, targeting mountainous breakaways, are also key figures in the team’s strategy.
Bahrain Victorious: Climbing Ambitions
Colombian climber Santiago Buitrago leads Bahrain Victorious, aiming for a top-five GC finish after a top-10 debut last year. With Jack Haig as road captain and young talent Lenny Martinez in the mix, the team is well-equipped for the mountains.
German sprinter Phil Bauhaus, supported by versatile Fred Wright, will target sprint stages, while Matej Mohorič, a three-time Tour stage winner, looks to capitalize on hilly days despite a lack of pre-race form.
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale: Building on Success
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, led by Felix Gall, aims for a top-10 GC finish and stage wins. Gall, an emerging GC contender, enters the race in good form, having finished fourth at the Tour de Suisse. The team’s focus on stage hunting is supported by riders like Bruno Armirail and Bastien Tronchon, both in strong form this season.
Bruno Armirail, known for his climbing prowess, and Bastien Tronchon, a recent stage winner, are expected to make significant contributions to the team’s success.
EF Education-EasyPost: Adapting to Change
Following Richard Carapaz’s withdrawal due to illness, EF Education-EasyPost shifts focus to stage hunting, led by Neilson Powless and Ben Healy. Powless, seeking his first Grand Tour stage win, and Healy, a past Giro stage winner, are both in strong form.
Harry Sweeny, noted for his performance at the Tour de Suisse, is another rider to watch, especially in mountain stages.
Groupama-FDJ: French Hopes and Ambitions
Groupama-FDJ brings a predominantly French lineup, with Romain Grégoire and Guillaume Martin leading the charge. Grégoire, known for his aggressive style, targets hilly stages, while Martin aims for a top-15 GC finish.
Sprinters Lewis Askey and Paul Penhoët add depth to the team’s sprinting capabilities, with Askey looking to capitalize on flat stages.
Ineos Grenadiers: A New Era
Carlos Rodríguez leads Ineos Grenadiers with ambitions for a top-five GC finish. The team, known for its aggressive racing style, also targets stage wins with Filippo Ganna, a strong contender for the stage 5 time trial.
Geraint Thomas, in his final Tour, adds experience to the team, while young talents like Rodríguez continue to build their credentials.
Intermarché-Wanty: Building on Success
After a historic 2024, Intermarché-Wanty, led by Biniam Girmay, focuses on stage wins rather than defending the green jersey. Girmay, supported by a strong lead-out team, aims to break his winless streak this season.
Georg Zimmermann and Louis Barré provide options in the mountains, with both riders capable of achieving top stage results.
Israel-Premier Tech: Versatile Stage Hunters
Without a clear GC contender, Israel-Premier Tech focuses on stage wins, led by Michael Woods and Jake Stewart. Stewart, fresh from a Dauphiné stage win, shares sprint duties with Pascal Ackermann.
Joseph Blackmore, making his Grand Tour debut, is a rider to watch, especially in challenging stages.
Lidl-Trek: Sprinting and Climbing
Lidl-Trek targets sprint wins with Jonathan Milan, supported by a strong lead-out team. Milan, with seven wins this season, aims to add Tour victories to his record.
Mattias Skjelmose, recovering from illness, leads the GC ambitions, though support is limited. Thibau Nys, a young talent, is poised to make an impact.
Lotto: Searching for Form
Arnaud De Lie leads Lotto’s sprint efforts, despite a challenging season. The team, lacking standout names, relies on young talents like Lennert Van Eetvelt for success in mountainous stages.
Experienced riders like Jasper De Buyst provide stability, while out-of-contract riders may use the Tour to secure future opportunities.
Movistar: Consistency and Opportunity
Enric Mas, aiming for a top-five GC finish, leads Movistar with a strong support team. The addition of Pablo Castrillo and Einer Rubio strengthens the team’s climbing capabilities.
Iván Romeo, the Spanish national champion, is expected to make a significant impact, especially in time trials.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe: Redemption and Ambition
Primož Roglič, seeking redemption after a Giro crash, leads Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe with support from Florian Lipowitz, a rising GC contender. The team also targets sprint wins with Jordi Meeus.
Versatile riders like Laurence Pithie and Mick van Dijke add depth to the team’s strategy, especially in Classics-style stages.
Soudal-QuickStep: All Eyes on Remco
Remco Evenepoel, aiming to improve on last year’s podium finish, leads Soudal-QuickStep. Despite a challenging preparation, the team is built around Evenepoel’s GC ambitions.
Tim Merlier, a strong sprint contender, complements the team’s focus on stage wins, with support from riders like Valentin Paret-Peintre.
Jayco-AlUla: Australian Ambitions
Ben O’Connor, targeting a top-five finish, leads Jayco-AlUla with support from climbers like Eddie Dunbar and Luke Plapp. The team also seeks sprint success with Dylan Groenewegen.
With a mix of experienced and debutant riders, Jayco-AlUla aims to balance GC and stage hunting objectives.
Picnic-PostNL: A New Chapter
Oscar Onley, stepping up after Romain Bardet’s retirement, leads Picnic-PostNL with GC and stage win ambitions. Tobias Lund Andresen, a capable sprinter, adds depth to the team’s strategy.
Warren Barguil, a past Tour stage winner, provides experience and potential for breakaway success.
TotalEnergies: Chasing Stage Wins
French ProTeam TotalEnergies, led by Anthony Turgis, focuses on stage wins with a strong lineup of breakaway specialists. Turgis, a past stage winner, is supported by riders like Steff Cras and Mathieu Burgaudeau.
Emilien Jeanniere, a consistent performer in sprints, is another key figure in the team’s strategy.
Visma-Lease a Bike: Vingegaard’s Quest
Jonas Vingegaard, aiming for a third Tour victory, leads Visma-Lease a Bike with strong support from climbers like Simon Yates and Sepp Kuss. The team’s focus is on overall victory and stage wins.
Wout van Aert, a versatile rider, adds depth to the team’s strategy, capable of impacting various stages.
Tudor Pro Cycling: A Meteoric Rise
Julian Alaphilippe leads Tudor Pro Cycling, aiming for stage wins in the team’s Tour debut. Supported by Matteo Trentin and Marc Hirschi, Alaphilippe targets punchy stages.
Alberto Dainese, the team’s sprinter, seeks success in flat finishes, while Michael Storer provides climbing strength.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG: Pogacar’s Pursuit
Tadej Pogacar, seeking a fourth Tour victory, leads UAE Team Emirates-XRG with a strong support squad. The team, unchanged from last year, focuses on overall victory.
João Almeida, a key mountain supporter, may also have protected status following recent successes in week-long races.
Uno-X Mobility: Breakaway Specialists
Uno-X Mobility, led by Magnus Cort, targets stage wins with a focus on breakaways. Cort, an experienced stage winner, is supported by riders like Søren Wærenskjold and Andreas Leknessund.
Despite the absence of Alexandre Kristoff, the team remains focused on achieving success through aggressive racing.
XDS-Astana: A New Approach
XDS-Astana, without a clear leader, focuses on stage wins with a diverse lineup of riders. Mike Teunissen and Sergio Higuita are key figures in the team’s strategy.
With a strong record of victories this season, XDS-Astana aims to continue their success at the Tour.
The 2025 Tour de France promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with teams bringing diverse strategies and ambitions to the race. As the Grand Départ approaches, all eyes will be on Lille as the world’s best cyclists compete for glory in the sport’s most prestigious event.
