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Most of the chatter is about the GC battle but with the world’s top sprinters converging on the Tour de France, another huge fray is brewing in the weeks to come.
Much of the first half of the race is suitable for either the sprinters or the puncheurs, with some of the former versatile enough to challenge the latter.
It ensures the fastmen should have a far bigger prominence early on than in recent years.
That’s music to the ears of the green jersey contenders, who will hope to maximize their opportunities before the GC battle really gets underway.
So who are the riders with the talent to thrive?
Last year’s green jersey Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) is likely to be center stage, with the Eritrean set to renew his rivalry with 2023 points winner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck).
Girmay is one of the best in the world on the tougher sprint days, while Philipsen is also very versatile.
The Belgian was runner-up to Girmay last year and, two years after he took green to Paris, is determined to reassert himself as the top sprinter in the sport.
Both riders will be seeking success early on, with that psychological boost important after each being a little off the boil this year.
Girmay is still chasing his first victory of the season while Philipsen has raised his arms just once, back in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in early March.
It’s a meagre haul but that should only sharpen their appetite.
Van Aert and Merlier fully focused on a big July
Girmay was on fire last year. (Photo: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
The 2023 maillot vert Wout van Aert is in a similar position. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider is, on his best form, even more adept than the other two.
However, he has had a tough road back from his big crash in last year’s Vuelta a España, taking a long time to rediscover anything close to his usual condition.
Fortunately, Van Aert showed serious signs of improving form in the Giro d’Italia. He beat Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) on the gravel-littered stage 9 in Tuscany, and then rode impressively for teammate Simon Yates for the remainder of the race.
Yates ended up as the surprise winner of the Giro. Van Aert played a very important part in that triumph.
The Belgian has recuperated since then, making sure he rebounds well from the Italian grand tour. His planned participation in the national championships Sunday was canceled due to illness but, providing he bounces back quickly, he could and should be one of the top names in the Tour.
Another to watch is compatriot Tim Merlier. The big focus of his Soudal Quick-Step team is on Remco Evenepoel’s GC ambitions, but it has nevertheless given Merlier the nod for what is only the second Tour de France of his career.
He’s had a superb season thus far, taking no less than ten victories. That marks him out as the best WorldTour sprinter of 2025.
Van der Poel with an imbalance to address
Van der Poel wore green in the recent Critérium du Dauphiné (Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Each of the riders mentioned will likely be wary of the big Italian Jonathan Milan. The 24-year-old won two points classifications plus four stage wins in the Giro d’Italia to date, but is yet to ride the Tour. It is a mark of Lidl-Trek’s confidence in him that it selected him over Mads Pedersen.
He’ll be determined to vindicate that choice; watch out for his distinctive nodding dog style inside the final 200 meters of the flatter stages.
Others to watch include Champs Elysées winners Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla) and Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe), as well as Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) and Arnaud de Lie (Lotto) could shine if they hit form.
And watch out too for a refresh of the rivalry between Van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. The latter won Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo this season and showed promising form in the recent Critérium du Dauphiné.
Van der Poel will likely ride for Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Philipsen in the sprint stages but watch out for him in the punchier finales, as well as in the long-distance breakaways.
He’s clocked up 54 road race wins thus far in his career but, remarkably, only one Tour stage win.
That pales in comparison with Van Aert’s green jersey and nine stage victories; look for Van der Poel to try to address that mismatch this year.
Multiple opportunities for speedsters and explosive riders
Girmay vs Philipsen was last year’s big sprinting rivalry (Photo: Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images)
The opening days of the past two Tours have suited the GC stars but things are a little more straightforward for the other riders this year.
Stages one and two to Lille and Boulogne-sur-Mer have some punchy climbs but not enough to rule out many of those mentioned above.
Day three to Dunkirk is much flatter, while the finale of stage four looks perfect for the puncheurs.
The following day’s time trial gives the fastmen a chance to reassess before the selective sixth and seventh stages. The following two days to Laval and Châteauroux are amongst the flattest in the race, while stage 11 to Toulouse could favor an in-form Van Aert or Van der Poel.
The GC battle will be increasingly decisive as the Tour continues, pushing the sprinters off center stage. And while the concluding stage is much tougher this year with three ascents of the Olympic climb of Montmartre in the finale, stage 17 will coax those riders onwards towards Paris.