2025 Tour de France: Things to know and where to watch in NZ
The Tour de France, a wild ride for cycling enthusiasts and confused spectators, will soon be back in action from July 1st.
The 2025 Tour de France promises to be a showdown for the ages, featuring cycling’s elite, a mountain-heavy route, and nail-biting time trials. Spanning 3,338.8 km over 21 stages, the 112th edition of the world’s most prestigious cycling race kicks off on July 5 in Lille and ends dramatically on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on July 27.
📍 Route Highlights
This year’s Tour is built for drama. The first week is flatter, offering opportunities for sprinters and rouleurs. But by Stage 10, the race transitions into the mountains with some brutal summit finishes and the return of iconic climbs.
Iconic Climbs in 2025:
– Mont Ventoux (Stage 14): The “Giant of Provence” returns after a short hiatus. Expect chaos and crowds.
– Col de la Loze (Stage 18): A relatively new Tour classic, with sections topping 20% gradient.
– La Plagne & Peyragudes: The high-altitude air will thin the field, perfect for a decisive breakaway.
🔥 Stage Highlights & GC Showdowns
Flat stages 1–4, +8–9, 21: Ideal for sprinters—Dylan Groenewegen, Jasper Philipsen, Wout van Aert will clash for early wins, especially in Lille
Time Trials (Stages 5 & 13): Pivotal for GC gaps; expect fireworks in Caen and Peyragudes.
Mountain Blocks:
– Alps include Mont Ventoux, Col de la Loze, La Plagne—brutal climbs designed to test Pogačar’s dominion
– Pyrenees deliver summit finishes and the uphill TT—a GC battleground
🧠 Tactical Elements
Why This Tour Will Test the Peloton’s Smarts.
Early Crosswinds? Northern France is notorious for wind splits. Look for Ineos Grenadiers and Visma–Lease a Bike to test the peloton early.
Double Time Trials: TT specialists like Remco Evenepoel have a real shot at gaining precious minutes.
Mountain-TT Combo: The last 10 stages are like a mini Giro—steep, strategic, and suffering-heavy.
📺 How to stream the Tour de France in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, every stage of the 2025 Tour de France is available to stream live on Sky Sport Now.
Sky Sport Now offers a day pass at $29.99, a month pass for $54.99, or an annual pass for $549.99.
⏰ What time are races on?
For New Zealand audiences, coverage will generally start between 10:00 pm and 11:30 pm NZT each evening, although the exact start time varies by stage.
