"There's nothing better than a duel" - Christian Prudhomme hopes Jonas Vingegaard will challenge Tadej Pogacar

Tadej Pogacar is the overwhelming favourite at the start of the 2025 Tour de France. But with a different course design compared to past years, the Tour organizer Christian Prudhomme hopes that the likes of Jonas Vingegaard will rise to the challenge and put up a great fight against the Slovenian.

"We're doing everything we can to make sure it's decided at the last moment," Prudhomme said in an interview with AFP about the dominancy of Pogacar. And the world champion made it clear he doesn't plan to slow down at the Critérium du Dauphiné where he made a rather quick work of his opponents.

"It's certain that the last Dauphiné showed Pogacar to be superior in the mountains," Prudhomme agrees that he's the man to beat. "If he's at the same level as he's been in recent months, it will be very difficult for his rivals. That's also why the first week will perhaps be the most important in years. That's when they have to try to take time off him."

Pogacar's main challenger is none other than winner from 2022 and 2023 - Jonas Vingegaard. Prudhomme hopes the Dane is up for the ask: "There's nothing better than a duel. It's the spice of all sporting competitions. Over the last five years, we have a 3-2 in favor of Pogacar against Jonas Vingegaard."

But the Frenchman is not opposed to discovering a new star at this year's edition either: "And we want the match to continue, perhaps with a (Remco) Evenepoel or another third man, perhaps (Florian) Lipowitz."

The comparison of Pogacar to 'The Cannibal' Eddy Merckx offers itself with how much the Slovenian wins... "He's the guy who wins a lot. That's why we'd be absolutely delighted if there was some suspense. We're all hoping for a fight, and so are we, the organizers."

There was quite a criticism the organizers faced for the introduction of the Montmartre city circuit into the itinerary of traditional Champs-Élysées stage 21. "I understand that perfectly, in the same way that some riders weren't thrilled when we brought back cobblestones or white paths. Well, that's one of those things. But I have no doubt it will be fantastic," Prudhomme concludes.