The 2025 cycling season is officially underway, and once again, all eyes are on two of the sport’s most dominant figures: Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. Their rivalry, which has been simmering for years, continues to captivate cycling fans worldwide. The 2025 season began with both riders showcasing their immense talents in different events, each offering clues as to how the rest of the year will unfold. As we compare their season openers, we also take a look at how this fierce competition is shaping up and what we can expect when these two go head-to-head again on the grandest stages of cycling.
The Rivalry: A Brief Recap
Since the 2020 season, the rivalry between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard has slowly evolved into one of the most compelling narratives in the history of modern cycling. While both riders have enjoyed immense success, their battles on the mountain climbs of the Tour de France have been nothing short of legendary.
Pogacar, the Slovenian prodigy from UAE Team Emirates, first made waves when he won the Tour de France in 2020 at just 21 years old. That victory shattered expectations and instantly cemented him as one of the brightest stars in the sport. He followed it up with another dominating performance in the 2021 Tour de France, securing his second consecutive title with ease. His seemingly limitless talent, aggressive racing style, and ability to perform across various terrains made him the undisputed king of the grand tours.
But 2022 marked the first major challenge to Pogacar’s reign. Jonas Vingegaard, the Danish powerhouse from Jumbo-Visma, came into his own and delivered a sensational performance in the 2022 Tour de France. His relentless consistency and strategic intelligence helped him defeat Pogacar and claim the yellow jersey for the first time. The win was a massive statement and sparked a renewed sense of competition between the two.
The 2023 Tour de France further intensified their rivalry, with Vingegaard holding off Pogacar in a dramatic showdown in the mountains. Vingegaard would ultimately defend his title, becoming the first rider in nearly a decade to win back-to-back Tours, while Pogacar, despite battling valiantly, had to settle for second place.
With each passing season, the stakes seem to get higher, and the anticipation for their next encounter becomes almost unbearable. The opening salvo of the 2025 season, however, raised more questions than answers.
Pogacar’s Season Opener: Dominance in the Desert
Tadej Pogacar started his 2025 season with a bang, taking part in the UAE Tour, a race that has become a key early-season target for him in recent years. His performance was nothing short of impressive, as he stormed to victory in the overall classification, showing why he remains one of the sport’s most versatile and dangerous riders. In particular, Pogacar’s ability to handle both the flat stages and the more mountainous tests is what sets him apart from many of his competitors.
The UAE Tour, held in the deserts of the Middle East, offers a unique challenge due to its combination of sprint finishes, time trials, and desert climbs. In the 2025 edition, Pogacar showcased his all-around prowess by winning multiple stages and displaying impressive form across the varied terrain. Most notably, his performance on the final climb of Jebel Hafeet, one of the toughest ascents in the race, was a masterclass in tactical racing. Pogacar attacked at just the right moment, dropping his rivals and solidifying his position as the overall leader.
While the UAE Tour is not as high-profile as the Tour de France, it serves as a crucial test for riders at the beginning of the season. Pogacar’s dominance in the UAE Tour is a clear statement that he’s ready to reclaim his spot at the top of the cycling world. His victory was a perfect example of his combination of explosiveness, climbing ability, and time-trial prowess, all of which will be crucial if he is to dethrone Vingegaard in the upcoming grand tours.
However, the real question remains: how will Pogacar fare when he faces his biggest rival, Vingegaard, on the biggest stages? Will his season opener serve as a preview of the upcoming battles, or is it just a warm-up for more intense challenges ahead?
Vingegaard’s Season Opener: The Calm Before the Storm
In contrast to Pogacar’s fiery start, Jonas Vingegaard chose a more measured approach to his 2025 season opener. The Danish rider, who has proven himself to be one of the most calculating and patient cyclists in the peloton, made his first appearance of the season at the Tour of Oman, a race that is traditionally used by many riders to get into shape before the European classics and grand tours.
While Vingegaard didn’t take top honors in Oman, his performance was nonetheless impressive, showing that he’s in excellent form. The Tour of Oman is a difficult race that features a mixture of tough climbs and fast sprints, and Vingegaard’s focus was on getting his legs under him for the longer challenges of the season. He finished in the top ten of the general classification, but more importantly, he demonstrated the same level of composure and strategic thinking that has defined his recent success.
Vingegaard’s measured approach to the season opener may appear subdued compared to Pogacar’s all-out attack, but this could be part of his long-term strategy. By easing into the season and avoiding the risks of early-season crashes and burnouts, Vingegaard is likely aiming for peak performance when it truly matters—the Tour de France. Given his focus on the Grand Tours, his relatively low-key start is unlikely to be a cause for concern.
Vingegaard’s ability to stay calm under pressure and consistently execute his race strategy has been one of his greatest strengths, and his slower start to the season may simply be an indication of a larger, more patient plan. That said, with Pogacar’s eye-catching performance in the UAE Tour, Vingegaard may need to be more aggressive and assertive than ever before when the two finally face off later this year.
How Long Until We See Them Face Off Again?
As both Pogacar and Vingegaard continue to ramp up their preparations for the 2025 season, the question on every cycling fan’s mind is: when will these two giants meet again?
The most likely venue for their next showdown will be the 2025 Tour de France, which is set to kick off in early July. With both riders focused on the prestigious race, it’s here where the rivalry will truly reach its boiling point. The mountainous stages, the time trials, and the iconic climbs of the Tour will test both riders to their limits, and fans are eagerly anticipating the drama that will unfold.
However, before the Tour, there are other potential opportunities for the two to clash. The spring classics, such as the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, offer an exciting prospect for Pogacar, who has shown he’s more than capable on the cobbles, while Vingegaard may make an appearance at the Dauphiné or other stage races in preparation for the Tour.
Ultimately, though, it will be the Tour de France that takes center stage, and the 2025 edition promises to be another epic battle between these two titans of the sport. The rivalry between Pogacar and Vingegaard is far from over, and with both riders in top form, the stage is set for another thrilling chapter in what could go down as one of the greatest rivalries in cycling history.
Conclusion
As the 2025 season begins, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are poised to once again battle it out for supremacy. Pogacar’s dominant performance at the UAE Tour has raised the stakes, while Vingegaard’s calm approach at the Tour of Oman suggests that he’s playing the long game. The two are on a collision course for the Tour de France, where their rivalry will once again be put to the ultimate test.
The stage is set, the rivalry is heating up, and cycling fans are in for a thrilling ride as these two riders continue to push the limits of what’s possible in the sport. The wait for their next showdown may be agonizing, but one thing is certain—when they do face off again, it will be a spectacle like no other.