The Big Dogs

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG): Entering as the definitive race favorite, the 27-year-old Slovenian is chasing history to join cycling legends like Eddy Merckx by winning his fifth Tour de France title. He arrives in stunning form after dominant wins at the Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse. Backing him is a powerhouse squad featuring his (so far!) loyal super-domestique, Isaac del Toro. 

Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike): As a two-time Tour winner, the Dane is Pogačar’s most likely challenger. After a resounding overall victory at the Giro d’Italia in May, he has proven his form is back to 100%. Vingegaard thrives on the high-altitude, multi-mountain stages, and his team is renowned for superior tactical depth, but, will be with our the powerhouse that is Wout Van Aert, due to injury. I like Jonas, for some reason – partly because he’s just unlucky to be riding in what truly is ‘Pogi Time’. Also, he looks like a real-life young Mr. Burns… eeeexcellent!

But, Pogacar is another level up I’m afraid, and I can’t see higher than 2nd for the Dane. He’s gonna need all his Burnsian deviousness to go higher.

Isaac Del Toro: If he was on another team he would be a real headache for Pogacar. He almost won the Giro – and would have had he not ridden so foolishly – and I think he’s really got ‘it’. He surely has to leave UAE if he wants to find out what he is truly capable of. Now, if Pogi gets injured (tho he seems bulletproof), I think he’d be capable of winning it. We will know how good he can be if he can manage to help Pogacar and get on the podium – wouldn’t surprise me.

The Ankle Biters

Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): Is he, or isn’t he? Meaning, is he really a Grand Tour rider? The Belgian all-rounder brings elite individual time-trial capabilities and shares a strong, two-pronged leadership strategy alongside dark horse Florian Lipowitz. Evenepoel will look to gain time on Stage 16’s time trial and has said he is lighter and stronger than ever – but he often has a bad day in Grand Tours and slips out of contention – can he turn this around this time? I doubt it, though I’d like to be wrong. He’s an arsey git, and pro cycling needs more of these!

Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team): The 19-year-old French prodigy is the ultimate wild card. He is set to become the youngest rider to start the Tour since 1937. Following a sensational spring campaign where he swept the Itzulia Basque Country classification, the local media is hyping him up immensely—though a recent hard crash at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes means his three-week endurance remains a mystery. He look real good, a proper rider, and a podium, to be honest, would be a ridiculous result – here’s hoping.

& The Rest

Juan Ayuso, Matteo Jorgenson, and Richard Carapaz headline the third wave of major contenders and dark horses capable of shaking up the GC standings, but yeah… no.

Who’s your bet for Yellow in Paris? I know it’s highly unlikely, but I’ll go ‘wild’ and say Seixas, for a major upset!