The Tour de France is back, and the 2025 edition has started with a burst of energy. Stage 1 took riders on a flat 185 km loop around Lille, setting up the sprinters for early glory and delivering a chaotic but thrilling opening to the race.
This year’s Tour, entirely within French borders for the first time in five years, features a diverse route: seven flat stages, six hilly stages, six mountain stages, and two individual time trials totaling 44 kilometers. The total race distance? A grueling 3,320 km over 21 stages.
Stage 1 didn’t disappoint. Riders battled for early positioning with several minor climbs and one intermediate sprint point. The finish came down to a high-speed sprint, with top contenders like Jasper Philipsen, Sam Bennett, and Biniam Girmay battling it out on the streets of Lille.
The general classification contenders—Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel—played it safe, staying tucked into the peloton and avoiding trouble. Their time will come when the race heads to the mountains, including brutal summit finishes on Mont Ventoux and Col de la Loze later this month.
With 23 teams and nearly 200 riders, the Tour is shaping up to be as unpredictable and dramatic as ever. The fight for the yellow jersey has only just begun—and it’s already fast and furious.