As the 2025 Tour de France enters its final and most decisive week, the Alps stand ominously on the horizon — a battleground where yellow jerseys are won and lost. With the peloton preparing to tackle three brutal Alpine stages, the duel between two modern titans of cycling — Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard — is about to reach its boiling point.
But while the anticipation builds and rivals stir, UAE Team Emirates-XRG remain composed. Their message is clear: they welcome the fight. And they believe their man in yellow, Tadej Pogačar, is exactly where he needs to be.
“If Jonas wants to make Tadej suffer, he has to take a step,” said UAE Team Emirates-XRG sports manager Jeroen van der Hoorn from the team’s bus on the second rest day. “He needs to take initiative. We’re not afraid. If Visma-Lease a Bike want to attack, that’s OK with us. But it’s going to be hard for everyone.”
The Calm Before the Alpine Storm
After 15 stages of intense racing, the 2025 Tour has followed a familiar narrative: Pogačar, the two-time Tour champion, currently holds the yellow jersey after a string of commanding performances in the Pyrenees and on the gravel stage through the Massif Central. Vingegaard, the defending champion and Pogačar’s fiercest rival, trails by just over a minute, within striking distance but yet to show his full hand.
With three queen stages in the Alps approaching—including summit finishes at Col de la Loze, Alpe d’Huez, and Isola 2000 — the time for waiting is over. The general classification contenders must now act.
Yet, if UAE Team Emirates-XRG feel pressure, they’re doing a remarkable job of hiding it.
“We have a strong team, Tadej is in great condition, and we know these stages well,” Van der Hoorn continued. “Jonas is a top rider, one of the best climbers in the world, but we’re ready. If he wants to attack, we’re happy to respond.”
A Rivalry Rekindled
The Pogačar-Vingegaard rivalry has defined the Tour de France over the past four editions. In 2021, Pogačar dominated. In 2022 and 2023, Vingegaard responded with ruthless strength in the mountains, particularly on high-altitude summit finishes. But in 2024, Pogačar roared back to reclaim the yellow jersey in a thrilling duel that went down to the final time trial.
This year, the tension between the two has been simmering rather than exploding. Vingegaard, still returning to full form after a spring crash at Itzulia, has looked solid but not spectacular. He has followed wheels, limited losses, and waited.
“Waiting won’t be enough,” Van der Hoorn said bluntly. “If you want to win the Tour, you have to take it. You have to create moments. Tadej has done that already. Now it’s Jonas’ turn — if he can.”
That challenge — the pressure to be the aggressor — now sits squarely with Visma-Lease a Bike, Vingegaard’s Dutch powerhouse team that has dominated Grand Tours in recent years. But UAE Team Emirates-XRG are confident that being in control of the race allows them to dictate the rhythm and respond only when necessary.
Tactical Advantage: The Yellow Jersey
By wearing yellow, Pogačar forces Vingegaard’s hand. Every kilometer that passes with no attack is another step closer to Paris in yellow. It’s a dynamic UAE, understands well.
“Tactically, we are in the driver’s seat,” said UAE’s head of performance, David Gilmore. “We don’t need to panic or overreact. The burden of proof lies with Jonas and Visma. If they want to overturn the GC, they need to make a move. But it won’t be easy. We’re prepared for every scenario.”
That preparation has been evident. The UAE has built perhaps the strongest Grand Tour squad in modern history, with João Almeida, Juan Ayuso, and Adam Yates all riding in support of Pogačar. The team’s depth allows them to control the peloton, chase down breaks, and protect their leader on even the hardest mountain stages.
Confidence Built on Form and Familiarity
For Pogačar, confidence is also rooted in his current form and the terrain ahead. The Slovenian star has looked calm and composed throughout the Tour, riding with the kind of maturity that only comes from years of experience at the very top.
“This is where I want to be,” Pogačar told reporters at Monday’s press conference. “In yellow, going into the Alps — I feel good. I know Jonas will try something, but I’m not afraid. I love these climbs. This is where the Tour is won.”
Pogačar’s words echo the team’s sentiment — a blend of quiet confidence and competitive fire. The UAE believes that their leader is not only physically ready but also mentally prepared for whatever comes next.
Visma’s Dilemma
For Vingegaard, the path forward is simple in theory but complicated in execution. He must gain time — and quickly. The question is: when and where will he strike?
The Col de la Loze on Stage 17 presents the first major opportunity. At over 2,300 meters above sea level, the climb is brutal, long, and exposed — ideal for an altitude specialist like Vingegaard. But can he break Pogačar there?
Then comes Stage 18’s iconic Alpe d’Huez — 21 hairpins steeped in Tour de France lore. And finally, Stage 20 to Isola 2000 — a monstrous high-mountain stage that could shatter the GC.
Yet even if Vingegaard finds his legs and attacks, there’s no guarantee that Pogačar will yield.
“Jonas has to try, of course,” Van der Hoorn repeated. “But Tadej knows how to suffer. He’s proven that. If Visma push, we’ll be there. We’re not concerned.”
A Tour Hanging in the Balance
With the Alps looming, the 2025 Tour de France feels like it’s on the verge of something special—a grand showdown between two of the sport’s greatest climbers. For now, the advantage lies with Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG, both tactically and psychologically.
Still, anything can happen in the mountains. One bad day, one inspired attack, one decisive descent—and the Tour can change completely.
But for the UAE, the message is clear: the pressure is on Visma-Lease a Bike and Jonas Vingegaard.
“Jonas has to take a step,” Van der Hoorn concluded. “We’re not chasing. We’re leading. If they want to take the jersey, they have to take it from us. We won’t give it away.”
As the Tour de France enters its defining phase, the stage is set for fireworks. And UAE Team Emirates-XRG—calm, focused, and clad in yellow — are ready for the fight.
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