Does the Tour de France still hold interest?

While Tadej Pogacar has effectively secured the general classification title in the Tour de France since the sixth stage, the race continues to offer compelling narratives and intense competition in other categories. Pogacar himself still has opportunities to enhance his stage win record, aiming to surpass his 2024 tally of six victories and inch closer to the all-time record held by Mark Cavendish.

The fight for the green jersey, awarded to the points classification leader, has been dramatically revitalized by Belgian rider Jasper Philipsen. After a series of second-place finishes, Philipsen finally secured a stage win, bringing him within seven points of current leader Mads Pedersen. This close contest is expected to remain explosive until the final stage on the Champs-Élysées.

The podium battle also remains a point of interest. Behind the dominant Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel has solidified his second-place position following Jonas Vingegaard's withdrawal. Evenepoel holds a significant lead over Isaac Del Toro and Paul Seixas. His team, UAE Team Emirates, will likely strive to challenge Evenepoel and secure a one-two finish.

Competition for the white jersey, designated for the best young rider, is also heating up between Isaac Del Toro, Paul Seixas, and Juan Ayuso. Meanwhile, the polka dot jersey for the best climber, currently led by Pogacar, is expected to see fierce competition in the upcoming mountain stages, with Valentin Paret Peintre and Richard Carapaz close behind.

Adding to the narrative, French riders are facing the prospect of a winless Tour, a rare occurrence mirroring the editions of 1926 and 1999. Currently, their best performance is Paul Seixas's fourth place in the general classification and two podium finishes on individual stages. The remaining stages offer a final chance for French cyclists to avoid this historical low.