Luke Rowe warns of ‘huge responsibility’ and early danger zones as Decathlon AG2R prepare for Tour de France 2025

As the Tour de France 2025 draws closer, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team sports director Luke Rowe has spoken about the unique pressure and dangers that come with the world’s biggest bike race. Rowe, now in his first season as a directeur sportif after retiring from racing with INEOS Grenadiers at the end of 2024, will guide his new team through a tense and unpredictable opening week when the race begins on July 5 in Lille.

Speaking to IDLProCycling, the 35-year-old was clear that the weight of the Tour is ever-present. “I don't think you can put extra pressure on yourself in the Tour de France because that pressure is always there. The whole sport revolves around this race. So it doesn't bring any extra pressure, but make no mistake: of course, we want to make our sponsors proud. When you get close to the team's heart, it's a badge of honor. We want to perform and are motivated, but that goes for every team.”

Rowe knows better than most how crucial the early stages can be, not because of opportunities gained, but because of what can be lost. The opening week features narrow roads through northern France and the coastal regions of Normandy and Brittany, notorious for nervous racing and potential crosswinds. “It's going to be very nervous anyway,” he said.

“As soon as you have a classification stage early on, the race is already decided in a way. Everyone is full of confidence at the start of a Tour de France, but in such a first test, you often get an order in the peloton.”

That early order, Rowe believes, imposes a structure that calms the race, but only after the chaos has passed. “That provides more control. Now there's a first week and a half with more stress for everyone. The roads are fine in those parts of France, but they are often open roads. It's usually less windy in the summer than in the earlier months of the year, but if there is a windy day, everyone knows what the consequences can be.”

His message is clear: the first week of the Tour is not about winning. It’s about surviving. “No one in the GC likes it because you can only lose in the first part of the Tour: crashing, losing teammates, and things like that. Gaining a little time is nice, but it never outweighs the risks.”

That assessment rings especially true given the Grand Départ in Lille, a city that previously hosted opening stages in 1960, 1994, and 2001, will be followed by treacherous terrain across the country’s northwest. With crosswinds, stress, and fresh legs in the bunch, the opening block could prove decisive before a single mountain is tackled.

“However, we still have to get through it to reach the mountains and compete for a top ten or whatever,” Rowe said. Having spent over a decade helping GC leaders like Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas during his time at Team Sky and INEOS, he knows the stakes intimately. “It doesn't matter if you're Vingegaard, Gall, or Pogacar; there's just not much to it. They prepare for months, and it can end in a second.”

Since joining Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at the start of the year, Rowe’s arrival has been seen as part of the team’s effort to build a more structured, experienced leadership group around GC hope Felix Gall and a new generation of riders. Though his transition from the peloton to the team car surprised some, the Welshman brings Tour-tested insight into what it takes to navigate the early minefields.

"It's a huge responsibility, but I always tried to forget that it was the Tour," he added. "I approached every race with the same mentality. Of course, there are a few more spectators, but you also have to remember that it's just a bike race. Bigger things are going on in the world."