“Lipowitz is better in the mountains than Onley" - Jan Ullrich backs compatriot to bounce back and secure Tour de France podium on stage 19

For the first time at the 2025 Tour de France, Florian Lipowitz was dealt a significant blow on stage 18. The Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe talent lost considerable time to Oscar Onley on the Col de la Loze, with the Scottish rider closing to within just 22 seconds of the podium, and the White Jersey as a result.

A lot was made of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe's tactics on the stage, as Primoz Roglic got himself into the breakaway, leaving Lipowitz all alone, and then when things regrouped slightly at the front, the German set off a long-range solo in the valley between climbs, one that ultimately burned Lipowitz out before the Col de la Loze.

According to Lipowitz's compatriot and former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich however, the young German can still take plenty of positives from his performance on the Queen Stage. “He rode incredibly well,” Ullrich told Eurosport afterwards. “He deserves to be in third place. You could clearly see he was the stronger rider.”

And despite losing more than a minute and a half to Onley on the climb to the line on stage 18, Ullrich insists that Lipowitz is the stronger climber of the pair, something the German will likely need to show on stage 19 as the race heads for a final showdown in the Alps.

“He’s brutally strong. The gap’s narrowed a bit, but there’s still one tough stage to come. I hope he recovers and has another good set of legs,” said the 1997 Tour winner. “Lipowitz is better in the mountains than Onley – he’s proven that.”

“He hasn’t reached his ceiling yet – he can still get better,” adds the 51-year-old German in conclusion. “People need to give him time and let him develop without pressure. He’s incredibly strong.”