"We sleep above 2,300 metres, descend on the bike to take in oxygen, then climb back up": Lipowitz presents what it takes to fight for Tour podium

Florian Lipowitz approaches his build-up to the upcoming 2026 Tour de France as one of the marquee names in the peloton. At Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe they know the rivalry will be fierce, with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard as the main favourites, alongside a rapidly rising Paul Seixas. The German rider, third in last year’s Grande Boucle, will be one of those looking to take on the two kings this summer

At 25, Lipowitz heads to the Tour after cementing his place among the best stage racers. His spring performances, especially podiums at Itzulia and the Tour de Romandie, have strengthened his case to fight again for the top spots in the general classification.

He is currently based in Sierra Nevada, putting the finishing touches to his preparation for the French race. There he is training at altitude with his team in conditions as demanding as they are standard in modern cycling.

"Overall, very good," Lipowitz describes his summer residence in an interview for Eurosport. "The weather is fantastic. An altitude camp is always demanding, of course. You have to be mentally ready to spend three weeks here. There’s not much more than eating, sleeping, and training. But the atmosphere is great and the preparation is going well."

He also detailed how these training blocks unfold and the importance of acclimatisation to reach the Tour de France in peak condition: "We sleep just over 2,300 metres. For the first three or four days, we stay at a relatively high altitude. There’s even a road that goes up to 3,000 metres. We try to acclimatise as quickly as possible. When interval work starts, we ride down to get a bit more oxygen. Then we climb back up."

Beyond the purely sporting aspect, Lipowitz also spoke about the crucial support he receives from his partner, mountain biker Antonia Weeger. For the German, sharing the same profession greatly eases day-to-day life and understanding of the demands of pro cycling.

"It’s definitely great when your partner understands everything you have to endure as an athlete. She understands me very well and is very considerate. She helps me a lot and makes life a bit easier. That’s why it’s always tough when I go to an altitude camp for three weeks, but of course, you also know we’ll see each other again afterwards. Still, those three weeks are quite a challenge."

Lipowitz acknowledged that not everything was straightforward after his surprise podium at the 2025 Tour de France. The German admitted he went through a tricky period both physically and mentally after that major result.

"The whole spring season gave me confidence. I had some difficulties after last year’s Tour de France. I was a long way off for Catalunya, so I was very worried beforehand. Fortunately, things kept getting better with each race."

The German believes his recent performances have fully restored his confidence ahead of the season’s main target. "Finishing the first big racing block with the Tour de Romandie was a great experience and gave me a lot of confidence for the Tour build-up."

During the Tour de Romandie, Lipowitz even dared to attack Pogacar on a summit finish, a move that underlined the German’s competitive growth against the sport’s leading lights. However, he was cautious when assessing that initiative.

"Pogacar mainly raced one-day events before the Ardennes Classics, so I expect to see a different Pogacar at the Tour.”

With more experience, greater confidence, and after overcoming last season’s emotional fatigue, Florian Lipowitz now approaches the Tour de France feeling he has taken a definitive step forward in his career. "I’ve grown as a person," the German acknowledged, determined to prove that last year’s podium was no fluke.