“It’s no longer just Pogacar against Vingegaard" - Analyst breaks down 2027 Tour de France route and names a new rival for Tadej Pogacar
Cycling
Javier Ares analysed the 2027 Tour de France route on his YouTube channel. The race will start in Great Britain and feature 21 stages, six mountain days and two time trials covering a total of 71 kilometres.
The journalist described the course as traditional, while pointing to several factors that could shape the battle for the general classification. “It is a fairly traditional route, though you can identify certain shortcomings or details that might favour one rider over another,” he explained.
The British start will carry special significance for a race that begins in Edinburgh and crosses Scotland, England and Wales during its first three stages. Ares used the route presentation to reflect on the rise of British cycling, from its limited representation in the sport’s early decades to Team Sky’s dominance between 2012 and 2018. Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas all won the Tour during that period. “What was almost a whim 20 years ago has now become almost a necessity,” he said of the start on British soil.
The route will offer opportunities for sprinters and time-trial specialists, but above all for climbers targeting the general classification. The Alps and Pyrenees will provide much of the difficulty, with demanding stages and iconic climbs that could prove decisive in the third week.
However, Ares stressed that the route profile is not everything and that the riders’ approach will be crucial. “A lot will depend on the riders’ conduct and attitude in the race. They can make a stage harder or easier, and more or less significant,” he said.
A lot will depend on the riders’ conduct
The contenders also featured in his analysis. Tadej Pogacar will start as the leading favourite as he targets a sixth Tour victory, but the journalist believes the list of candidates could include Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and young Frenchman Paul Seixas.
Ares also discussed Isaac del Toro’s role, with any potential participation depending on the team’s plans alongside the Slovenian. “It’s no longer just Pogacar against Vingegaard. Now it’s Pogacar against Vingegaard and Seixas, and we’ll see whether Remco keeps improving,” he said.
Beyond the mountain stages, Ares focused on two areas he believes could still be improved: bonus seconds and the distance of the time trials. The journalist argues that cycling needs fresh incentives to maintain interest during long days of racing and prevent broadcasts from being reduced to the final kilometres. “I still think cycling needs new incentives to make all those kilometres and hours in each stage more engaging,” he said.
Can Paul Seixas challenge Pogacar and Vingegaard?
Bonus seconds and time trials: two major concerns
The planned 71 kilometres of time trials should be enough to create gaps, in his view, though he believes the route could strike a better balance between specialists and climbers. Ares recalled that the long time trials of previous eras excessively penalised certain riders. He advocated a format combining a longer conventional time trial with a mountain time trial. “I’d add a little more incentive. I’d include a mountain time trial, for example. That would help restore the balance,” he suggested.
In Ares’s view, the battle for the yellow jersey is less predictable than in previous seasons. Pogacar remains the clear favourite, but Vingegaard no longer appears to be the only rival capable of challenging him for victory.
The journalist highlighted Paul Seixas’s emergence, particularly after his win in Lombardy, while warning that racing without pressure is not the same as taking on three weeks with the responsibility of trying to beat the Slovenian. “I have very few doubts that the Frenchman is capable of challenging Pogacar at the Tour. I’m not saying he can beat him; that’s a much bigger claim,” he said.
Ares also discussed Isaac del Toro and qualified his assessment of the Mexican’s chances if he lines up alongside Pogacar. The journalist believes the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider can target major victories, but expects his goals at the French race could take a back seat to those of the Slovenian leader.
“When Del Toro races without Pogacar, he’ll be as much of a favourite as Seixas, if not more,” he said. On the Tour de France Femmes, he praised the race’s growth and highlighted an edition that will also start in Great Britain, with an 18-kilometre team time trial in London and a finish on the Puy de Dôme after nine stages.
Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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- If you go watch some races from last season other riders that have never caught Jonas...are now catching him. Some are just riding away from him and he can't hold the wheelmd197514-11-2026
- He just doesn't have the desire anymore. I read an article earlier today that said he almost retired last year. His reasoning was he is away from home to much. Visma was able to keep him riding by allowing him to skip certain camps. So, while currently Visma is doing altitude work...Jonas is at home. Which means 2 things. 1- He maybe fresher than other riders. But, not the condition. 2-Is a somewhat slap in the face to others on the team that are supposed to help him win. Yet feel like he hasn't done what they have so perhaps they don't provide as good of protection or they ride more for theme (which the team may not notice).md197514-11-2026
- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
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