The 2025 Tour de France looms large, and few voices command as much respect when it comes to Grand Tour wisdom as Jens Voigt—a man who rode the Tour an astounding 17 times. In a recent conversation with The Cycling Dane, the German veteran offered candid thoughts on the current peloton dynamics and the towering presence of Tadej Pogacar.
The Arms Race: UAE Team Emirates vs. Team Visma | Lease a Bike
“Both teams have a big budget—UAE probably the biggest of them all,” Voigt remarks, identifying the financial firepower that fuels excellence. With names like Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates riding in support roles, Voigt doesn’t mince words: “That’s some serious, serious quality.”
On the other side, Team Visma | Lease a Bike holds its own. With defending champion Jonas Vingegaard at the helm, Voigt believes the battle lines are fairly even. “Jonas has a good team as well,” he notes, highlighting Wout van Aert as a decisive asset. “If Wout is in top shape, he’s crucial for flat and medium mountain stages—positioning Jonas and protecting him from stress.”
The Van Aert Variable
Van Aert, with his unique blend of power and ambition, could be Visma’s ace. “He could be the key factor in Jonas winning the Tour,” Voigt explains. “He’s climbed Mont Ventoux before—don’t forget that. He can climb really well.”
But Voigt also recognizes the team’s internal challenge: “Wout’s not Joe Average. He wants to help, but he also wants his own day. He’s one of the five superstars of our sport.” Balancing personal ambition and team objectives remains a delicate dance.
The Pogacar Problem
Yet all this planning might still be in vain when faced with the indomitable Tadej Pogacar. “That’s the million-dollar question,” Voigt laughs when asked how to stop the Slovenian. “He really doesn’t have a weakness—he rarely crashes, makes few tactical mistakes, and dominates the mountains.”
Voigt still finds a glimmer of hope in precedent. “Remember when Jonas took a minute or two out of Tadej? If he hits those numbers again, especially in the TT, it could shift the balance.”
Strength or Luck—Nothing in Between
Voigt is unequivocal in his final assessment: “It comes down to brutal strength. You’ve got to be stronger—or incredibly lucky. Hope he has a bad day, or maybe you catch him off guard in crosswinds.”
And the verdict? “Smart tactics won’t cut it. To beat Pogacar, you need either rare power or rare fortune.”
With the Tour de France on the horizon, one thing is clear: stopping Pogacar won’t just take strategy—it will take a touch of the extraordinary.