"It’s a route that I would have liked" - Alberto Contador expects GC fireworks on intriguing 2025 Tour de France parcours

The 2025 Tour de France unveiled its route and profiles earlier this week and it's fair to say that it has got people talking. One man who knows all about taking the Maillot Jaune is Alberto Contador and the experienced Spaniard has been giving his assessment of next year's Tour de France parcours.

"It’s a route that I would have liked as a rider," Contador says in comments to Eurosport after the release of what is in store next summer. "A flat time trial, which isn’t too long, 33km. And then a mountain time trial. I miss seeing these uphill time trials - I think they are great for the viewers. They allow you to take on really hard climbs, but not one after another. They are also great to watch in person along the route."

One point of note that many experts have drawn attention too, is the vast number of opportunities for the sprinters in 2025, something that Contador too feels adds an extra wrinkle to the plans of the team's hunting the Maillot Jaune. "Another thing teams that are going for the GC battle will have to take into account is whether they take a sprinter," he explains. "There are a lot of opportunities for sprinters and so refusing to take a quick rider to focus on the GC might not be a great choice unless you are going with a big favourite."

"The Courchevel La Plagne day (Stage 19) is brutal. 5500 metres of elevation gain on the last week of the Tour. This stage could really do some damage," concludes Contador's preview, picking the days in which he feels the race could be decided. "Not to forget the epic Mont Ventoux - a classic French climb on a Tour that has all France parcours. It’s a route that I would have liked if I was still riding."