Tour de France 2025

The 98th edition of the Tour de France begins on Saturday. Although riders from the host country have not won an edition of the Tour since 1985, France continues to hold the record for the number of wins by a two-to-one margin.

Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) lines up Saturday as an outsider for overall victory in a Tour de France that most expect to see as a battle between Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador.

Cervelo will debut its new S5 aero road bikes at the first stage of this year’s Tour de France, on Saturday.

Andy Schleck returns to the Tour de France this week with the weight of being the twice-consecutive runner-up.

Former Silence-Lotto rider Wim Vansevenant has acknowledged that a package seized by customs officials two weeks ago contained doping products destined for him.

PARIS, (AFP) ─ Tour de France chief Christian Prudhomme said he will shake the hand of reigning champion Alberto Contador despite a controversy which has left the race in an unprecedented quandary.

Tom DanielsonJulian DeanTyler FarrarRyder Hesjedal Thor Hushovd David Millar  Ramunas NavardauskasChristian Vande VeldeDavid Zabriskie

Last year’s Tour de France was headlined by a mountaintop finish on the Col du the Tourmalet (won by Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck over Spain’s Alberto Contador) to mark the centennial of the Tour’s first crossing of the Pyrénées. This year’s race, starting on Saturday, celebrates 100 years of racing through the High Alps, culminating with a stage to the top of the Col du Galibier — which, at 8,678 feet (2,645 meters) elevation, will be the highest stage finish in Tour history.

Tom Danielson Julian Dean Tyler Farrar Ryder Hesjedal Thor Hushovd David Millar Johan Vansummeren Christian Vande Velde David Zabriskie

Pavel Brutt Denis Galimzyanov,Vladimir Gusev Mikhail IgnatyevVladimir IsaychevVladimir KarpetsAlexander KolobnevEgor SilinYuriy Trofimov

Brent Bookwalter is headed this week to his second Tour de France on the Vendée coast in western France. He talked with VeloNews about the pressure of entering the season with the Tour on his schedule, BMC Racing teammate George Hincapie’s record-tying 16th Grande Boucle and his recovery from a broken collarbone suffered in April.

Pause for a moment and ask yourself, how do you feel about Alberto Contador?

“I won two races, one on the road and another in the hotel,” Contador said.

Brian Nygaard, team manager at Leopard-Trek, promises that the Schleck brothers will be attacking in the Tour de France and especially aggressive in the high mountains.

Team Europcar for Tour de France Anthony Charteau (F) Cyril Gautier (F) Yohann Gene (F) Vincent Jerome (F) Christophe Kern (F) Perrig Quemeneur (F) Pierre Rolland (F) Sebastien Turgot (F) Thomas Voeckler (F)

Pierrick Fédrigo, a three-time Tour de France stage-winner, told his bosses at FDJ he's not up to racing this year's grande boucle.

2011 Tour de France preliminary startlist

HTC-Highroad for the Tour de France Bernhard Eisel (A) Mark Cavendish (GB) Matt Goss (Aus) Mark Renshaw (Aus) Tony Martin (G) Peter Velits (Slv) Lars Bak (Dk) Danny Pate (USA) Tejay Van Garderen (USA)

This year’s Tour field boasts a deep wealth of Yankee talent, including a top sprinter, a quartet of potential top-5 finishers, one of the sport’s most promising young riders, and a star-crossed veteran who will be starting his record-tying 16th Grand Boucle.

Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) says returning to the winner's circle will be his top priority when he lines up for his first Tour de France following a few tumultuous seasons marked by injury and controversy.

The UCI issued a warning Thursday advising teams and riders that several blood samples are undergoing expert scrutiny in advance of the Tour de France to determine whether blood doping or other forms of manipulation have taken place.

Alberto Contador will take aim at the Spanish national title this weekend in both the road race and time trial events.

Vacansoleil team for the Tour de France Romain Feillu (F) Borut Bozic (SLO) Marco Marcato (I) Thomas De Gendt (B) Bjorn Leukemans (B) Johnny Hoogerland (Nl) Wout Poels (Nl) Lieuwe Westra (Nl) Rob Ruijgh (Nl)

Omega-Pharma for the Tour de FranceGilbert Philippe (B)Andre Greipel (G)Sebastian Lang (G)Jurgen Roelandts (B)Marcel Sieberg (G)Jurgen van den Broeck (B)Jurgen van de Walle (B)Jelle Vanendert (B)Frederik Willems (B)

Ryder Hesjedal will start his fourth career Tour de France under very different circumstances than the previous three editions following his break-out seventh place in 2010.

Team Sky for Tour de France Bradley Wiggins (GB) Geraint Thomas (GB) Ben Swift (GB) Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp) Rigoberto Urán (Col) Xabier Zandio (Sp) Simon Gerrans (Aus) Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Christian Knees (G)

Please no wagering ...

Saxo Bank-Sungard for Tour de France Alberto Contador (Sp) Jesus Hernandez (Sp) Dani Navarro (Sp) Benjamin Noval (Sp) Richie Porte (Aus) Chris Anker Sørensen (Dk) Nicki Sørensen (Dk) Matteo Tosatto (I) Brian Vandborg (Dk)

Levi Leipheimer insists there will be no leadership battles within RadioShack during the upcoming Tour de France despite the team having as many as four riders capable of riding for GC.

RadioShack for the Tour de France:Jani Brajkovic (Slo)Chris Horner (USA)Markel Irizar (Sp)Andreas Klöden (G)Levi Leipheimer (USA)Dmitriy Muravyev (Kz)Sérgio Paulinho (P)Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr)Haimar Zubeldia (Sp)

The German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF are refusing to broadcast the race live on German TV for the second year in a row in protest of what they say is too much doping in the sport. German fans will be able to watch the race via the cable channel Eurosport, however, which will broadcast the 21-stage race live across all of Europe.

The first week of this year's Tour features something for everyone

Danielson primed for Tour

Rabobank for Tour de France: Robert Gesink (Nl)Luis León Sánchez (Sp)Carlos Barredo (Sp)Juan Manuel Garate (Sp)Bauke Mollema (Nl)Laurens ten Dam (Nl)Lars Boom (Nl)Maarten Tjallingii (Nl)Grischa Niermann (G)

Quick Step for the Tour de France:Tom Boonen (B)Sylvain Chavanel (F)Gerald Ciolek (G)Kevin De Weert (B)Dries Devenyns (B) Addy Engels (Nl)Jerome Pineau (F)Gert Steegmans (B)Niki Terpstra (Nl)

Euskaltel-Euskadi for Tour de France:Samuel Sánchez (Sp)Egoi Martínez (Sp)Gorka Verdugo (Sp)Amets Txurruka (Sp)Rubén Pérez (Sp)Iván Velasco (Sp)Alan Pérez (Sp)Pablo Urtasun (Sp)Gorka Izagirre (Sp)

RadioShack has four of its Tour nine already confirmed, but team boss Johan Bruyneel is asking fans' help in rounding out the squad.

BMC Racing Team for the Tour de FranceBrent Bookwalter (USA)Marcus Burghardt (G)Cadel Evans (Aus)George Hincapie (USA)Amaël Moinard (F)Steve Morabito (Swi)Ivan Santaromita (I)Manuel Quinziato (I)Michael Schär (Swi)

The UCI's press releases urges the media and fans to show Contador respect.

The young American Tejay Van Garderen will get his first taste of the Tour de France next month. The HTC-Highroad rider will be at the Grand Départ on the Vendée July 2, sources tell VeloNews.

TOBEL-TAGERSCHEN, Switzerland (AFP) - Yellow jersey contender Andy Schleck of Luxembourg believes he will have more than Spain's Alberto Contador to worry about in this year's Tour de France.

HUTTWIL, Switzerland (AFP) - Norwegian Thor Hushovd admitted his focus will now be firmly on the Tour de France after ending his long wait to claim a first victory in the world champion's rainbow jersey.

Ivan Basso continues to prepare for what could be his final real run at the yellow jersey at the Tour de France.

Recent Amgen Tour of California winner Chris Horner will not be starting the Tour de Suisse this weekend as a warm-up for the Tour de France, his RadioShack team announced Thursday.

Dialing in their form for the Tour de France has been on the minds of all the potential contenders riding this week’s Critérium du Dauphiné.

July 22 Stage 19: Modane to L’Alpe d’Huez, 109.5km (68 miles)

July 21 Stage 18: Pinerolo to Col du Galibier, 200.5km (125 miles)

July 20 Stage 17: Gap to Pinerolo (Italy), 178km (110.6 miles)

July 19 Stage 16: St. Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Gap, 162.5km (101 miles)

July 17 Stage 15: Limoux to Montpellier, 193km (120 miles)

July 15 Stage 13: Pau to Lourdes, 152.5km (94.8 miles)

July 14 Stage 12: Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden, 211km (131 miles)

July 13 Stage 11: Blaye-les-Mines to Lavaur, 167.5km (104 miles)

July 12 Stage 10: Aurillac to Carmaux, 158km (98 miles)

July 10 Stage 9: Issoire to St. Flour, 208km (129 miles)

July 9 Stage 8: Aigurande to Super-Besse, 189km (117.5 miles)

July 8 Stage 7: Le Mans to Châteauroux, 218km (135.5 miles)

July 7 Stage 6: Dinan to Lisieux, 226.5km (140.7 miles)

July 6 Stage 5: Carhaix to Cap de Fréhel, 164.5km (102 miles)

That questionable Tour de France podium - Updated list and an important postscript

Despite having a clear road to the Tour de France, Alberto Contador remains uncommitted regarding his participation in the 2011 edition.

Recent Amgen Tour of California winner Chris Horner attributed his impressive climbing at the race, in part, to his ability to shed weight prior to the race, and told VeloNews his biggest concern heading into the Tour de France will be how to stay lean while in Europe.

Alberto Contador received a hero's welcome Monday in Spain following his Giro d'Italia victory, but remained cautioned on a possible start in next month's Tour de France.

PARIS (AFP) — The International Cycling Union (UCI) on Thursday criticized the French sports daily L'Equipe for planning to publish results from anti-doping tests taken on the eve of the 2010 Tour de France.

PARIS (AFP) ─ The Italian city of Florence officially launched its bid to host the start of the 2014 Tour de France, according to race organizers Wednesday, as part of its celebrations to honor Italian cycling great Gino Bartali.

The positive clenbuterol test of Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has consumed the cycling world since its announcement in September. While he's never tested positive before, Contador's career has been affected almost from its start by doping allegations — often against others.

Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) will eventually get to the Tour de France, but the question now for the second-year pro is when.

PARIS (AFP) — Britain's Mark Cavendish has been given a potential boost by organisers of the Tour de France after they announced changes Friday to the rules concerning the race's points competition.

Officials in Barcelona are hoping to convince ASO that the Catalan city would be an ideal place to start the 2014 Tour de France.

Maurice Garin was the first Tour de France champion to be stripped of his title for cheating.

George Hincapie already holds the record for the most Tour appearances by an American. He'd like to best Joop Zoetemelk's mark of 16 completed Tours.

The Leopard-Trek rider adds, "If Contador is there he also undoubtedly would be a favorite.”