Primož Roglič will line up at the 2025 Tour de France with a clear goal: to return to the podium for the first time since 2020. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have built a carefully balanced team around him, blending experienced mountain support with riders capable of chasing stage wins across three weeks of varied racing.
The Slovenian hasn’t raced since his crash on stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia, but according to the team’s performance staff, he arrives fresh, focused and ready after an extended block at altitude in Tignes. Roglič is part of a closely matched top five alongside Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and João Almeida, and the 34-year-old is expected to be a key figure once the race hits the high mountains.
Rolf Aldag, Red Bull’s Chief of Sports, was bullish about their preparation.
“We’re heading into this Tour extremely well prepared. Every stage has been reconned, analysed, and simulated,” he said. “Our team strength will be especially critical in the first half of the race – five riders are dedicated to guiding our three climbers safely toward the Pyrenees. In the high mountains, individual class will make the difference.”
Roglič will be backed in the climbs by Aleksandr Vlasov and Florian Lipowitz. Vlasov has the Grand Tour engine to ride deep into the third week, while Lipowitz confirmed his upward trajectory with third overall at the Dauphiné earlier this month. He also supported Roglič at the 2023 Vuelta, where they took overall victory, so the pair already share a tested dynamic.
Photo Credit: GettyHaving admitted they misjudged last year’s build-up – Roglič arrived “mentally cooked” in 2024 – the German squad have taken a more personalised approach this time. Some riders raced, others rested. The focus has been on balance, not just performance.
“With Primož, we have the luxury of having one of the most successful Grand Tour riders in our team. He’s focused, motivated, and in top form,” Aldag added. “When he lines up for a Grand Tour, the podium is always the goal.” Roglič hasn’t stood on a Tour podium since that dramatic loss to Pogačar in 2020, but he has added a Giro d’Italia and two more Vueltas since. The final week of this year’s Tour, with its stacked Alpine stages and time trial finish in Nice, plays to his profile.
Alongside their GC ambition, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe are also targeting sprint success. Jordi Meeus, a former winner on the Champs-Élysées, comes in with strong recent form, having won stages at the Tour de Suisse and Copenhagen Sprint. He’ll face the usual suspects in Jasper Philipsen, Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan, but the team believe he’s up to the task.
Meeus will be supported by Laurence Pithie and Mick van Dijke – both Tour debutants – with Danny van Poppel and Gianni Moscon rounding out a classic lead-out structure. There’s no standalone GC train here, but rather a versatile unit that can shift focus depending on the stage.
This Tour is about more than redemption for Roglič. It’s a test of whether Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe can deliver a coherent challenge across all fronts. They’ve built a roster with flexibility, experience and a clear goal: to return to Paris with results.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe Tour de France line-up:
- Primož Roglič
- Florian Lipowitz
- Jordi Meeus
- Gianni Moscon
- Laurence Pithie
- Mick van Dijke
- Danny van Poppel
- Aleksandr Vlasov
