Preview Tour of the Alps 2025 | Several riders challenge themselves in preparation for the Giro d'Italia
CyclingSaturday, 19 April 2025 at 10:23
Organizers always look for the best possible lineup every year in a super busy cycling calendar full of stage and one-day races. Who are the big names that will be competing? And what form are they in? The Tour of the Alps is traditionally a race without the top riders but always with a large field of riders competing in the Giro d'Italia in May. IDLProCycling.com will follow the event throughout the week in northern Italy and Austria and provide a detailed preview of every stage.
The Tour of the Alps is now in its 48th edition, and, as mentioned, it is not a race that attracts riders such as Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard with its 2. Pro status and place on the calendar (mid-April), it competes with the Ardennes classics on the one hand and comes just after a month full of WorldTour races such as Tirreno, Paris-Nice, Catalonia, and the Basque Country. Many top riders prefer to rest after a busy period or go for altitude training in preparation for the Giro d'Italia.
Luckily, there are always a lot of riders who use the Tour of the Alps as a final test before the Tour of Italy. And why not? The Tour of the Alps is often very hilly, just like the Giro. The weather in April is often changeable, similar to the Giro, and GC contenders can test each other, often after a period of training. Who is in good shape so far?
The standouts of the last editions of the Tour of the Alps are usually riders who also did well in the Giro. Think of Ben O'Connor and Antonio Tiberi, who finished second and third in the Alps last year and then fourth and fifth in May. In 2023, Tao Geoghegan Hart won, who might have won the Giro if he hadn't crashed. And in 2022, Romain Bardet was victorious, showing winning legs in the Giro but having to abandon the race due to illness. In 2021, Simon Yates won; you guessed it, he finished third in that year's Giro.
Latest winners Tour of the Alps
2024 Juan Pédro López
2023 Tao Geoghegan Hart
2022 Romain Bardet
2023 Tao Geoghegan Hart
2022 Romain Bardet
2021 Simon Yates
2020 Canceled
2019 Pavel Sivakov
2018 Thibaut Pinot
2017 Geraint Thomas
2016 Mikel Landa
2015 Richie Porte
Course, favorites stage wins and times Tour of the Alps 2025
Stage 1, Monday, April 21, 2025: San Lorenzo Dorsino - San Lorenzo Dorsino (148.5 km)
The Tour of the Alps tests the climbers' legs on day 1, with a tough 14.5-kilometer climb at an average gradient of 6.3 percent that must be conquered. The summit of this Campo Carlo Magno is 61 kilometers from the finish line, but chances are that nothing will be decided here. That could happen in the difficult finale, with first the Passo del Durone (6.3 kilometers at 8.0 percent) and then the uphill finish in the same place we start: San Lorenzo Dorsino. We can expect some explosive climbers with the last 2 kilometers at an average of 7 percent.
Favorites
Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)
Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious)
Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)
Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious)
Times
Start: 11:30 AM local time (05:30 AM EDT)
Finish: around 3:15 PM local time (09:15 AM EDT)
Start: 11:30 AM local time (05:30 AM EDT)
Finish: around 3:15 PM local time (09:15 AM EDT)
Stage 2, Tuesday, April 22, 2025: San Mezzolombardo - Sterzing (178 km)
It was a fantastic stage because it could go any way. Right after the start, it is time to climb (19.1 kilometers at 6.1 percent!), and after a series of ups and downs in the first 90 kilometers, we climb steadily to the last categorized climb of the day. It is pretty challenging at 4.2 kilometers at 7 percent, and we do it twice in a row on a local circuit. The finish is down in Sterzing. Which fast man will still be there? Or are we going for a solo?
Favorites
Michael Storer (Tudor)
Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL)
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)
Michael Storer (Tudor)
Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL)
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 10:25 AM local (05:25 AM EDT)
Finish: around 3:15 PM local time (09:15 AM EDT)
Start: 10:25 AM local (05:25 AM EDT)
Finish: around 3:15 PM local time (09:15 AM EDT)
Stage 3, Wednesday, April 23, 2025: Sterzing - Innichen (145.5 km)
After two very interesting stages, with opportunities for breakaway riders and GC contenders, day three is another one that could go either way. The profile shows three climbs, and they are all impressively tough. After an irregular opener (with sections of over 10 percent in the first 4 kilometers) and a full-fledged 7.7-kilometer climb at 7.3 percent, we blast over the Monte Versciaco in the final. At 5.9 at 7.1 percent, it's another tough one, and the finish is downhill after a difficult descent.
Favorites
Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost)
Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla)
Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL)
Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost)
Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla)
Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL)
Times
Start: 10:30 AM local time (05:30 AM EDT)
Finish: around 2:15 PM local time (08:15 AM EDT)
Start: 10:30 AM local time (05:30 AM EDT)
Finish: around 2:15 PM local time (08:15 AM EDT)
Stage 4, Thursday, April 24, 2025: Sillian - Obertilliach (162.7 km)
Of the five stages during that week, day four is the only one rated four stars by the organizers. With 3,370 meters of elevation gain in 162.7 kilometers, that's not surprising, but the difficulty of the climbs is also a factor. After a short warm-up, the second uncategorized climb of the day, at 7.6 kilometers at 8.3 percent, already presents a huge challenge. After a short stretch, we sprint to the finish with climbs of 4.6 kilometers at 8.4 percent and 7.6 kilometers at 5.9 percent. The finish is once again after a hill climb.
Favorites
Koen Bouwman (Jayco-AlUla)
Max Poole (Picnic-PostNL)
Lennard Kämna (Lidl-Trek)
Koen Bouwman (Jayco-AlUla)
Max Poole (Picnic-PostNL)
Lennard Kämna (Lidl-Trek)
Times
Start: 10:50 AM local time (04:50 AM EDT)
Finish: around 3:15 PM local time (09:15 AM EDT)
Start: 10:50 AM local time (04:50 AM EDT)
Finish: around 3:15 PM local time (09:15 AM EDT)
Stage 5, Friday, April 25, 2025: Sillian - Obertilliach (112.2 km)
On the final day, we will only ride 112.2 kilometers, which usually makes for an incredibly explosive and interesting ride. With the start and finish in Lienz, we will take on the Bannberg (4.8 kilometers at 9.1 percent) twice, and the climb up the Stronach (3.1 kilometers at an average of 12.6 percent) will be the steepest final section. From here, it is usually a fight to the finish.
Favorites
Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech)
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)
Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech)
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)
Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Times
Start: 12:05 PM local time (06:05 AM EDT)
Finish: around 3:15 PM local time (09:15 AM EDT)
Start: 12:05 PM local time (06:05 AM EDT)
Finish: around 3:15 PM local time (09:15 AM EDT)
Favorites GC Tour of the Alps 2025
Choosing three favorites for the various stages was already quite a challenge and pure speculation, and that certainly also applies to the battle for the overall classification. There are so many good climbers at the start that it is virtually impossible to determine in advance who has the legs for the GC and who might go for stage wins after a less-than-perfect moment or due to tactical decisions. So, let's take a look at the teams with the most interesting names.
Jai Hindley is one of the top favorites based on name and status. The Australian won the Giro in 2022 and wore yellow in the 2023 Tour. At Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, he is the big leader in the Tour of the Alps, and after a good Tirreno-Adriatico, he will undoubtedly have stepped up his game at altitude. Will we see the best Hindley back after his Tour injury in 2023 and all kinds of setbacks in 2024? If so, the rest can start worrying.
Jai Hindley
The defending champion in northern Italy and Austria is Juan Pédro López, but the Spaniard has not necessarily impressed in Catalonia. We rate his teammate Giulio Ciccone higher after a second place in the UAE Tour behind Tadej Pogacar, especially now that the Italian from Lidl-Trek (who trained at altitude with López, among others) has recovered from Tirenno. Tao Geoghegan Hart is an outsider, but the British rider had had nothing but bad luck since his Giro crash in 2023 when he fractured his hip. In Catalonia, he was forced to withdraw due to illness...
Bahrain Victorious seems fully committed to winning with Antonio Tiberi. The 23-year-old Italian finished third in the Tirreno and is riding well on the climbs... After a long period of training and rehabilitation, Picnic-PostNL is aiming for the golden duo of Romain Bardet and Max Poole. In February, Bardet suffered a shoulder injury in the Faun Drome Classic, while Poole broke his collarbone in Strade Bianche. After altitude training, they now both want to shine in the Giro.
Max Poole
An important outsider to all these GC contenders is Thymen Arensman. The Dutch rider has been showing his talent for several years, especially in the Grand Tours, but in his own words, he trained wrong and too hard to be a real contender. After he had placed fourth in Valencia and third in Paris-Nice, the Netherlands could hope for the best Arensman ever in the Giro... The Tour of the Alps is an important test on that front.
The same goes for Derek Gee, who, like Arensman (but riding for Israel-Premier Tech), is aiming for a top classification in the Giro. After winning O Gran Camiño and finishing fourth in Tirreno, how good is he? Matthew Riccitello is also in the mix, although the American has yet to prove himself as a pure classification rider. But the same goes for Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost), who, with nothing but climbing in the Tour of the Alps, might just be in contention for a good GC.
That almost brings us to the end, but not before mentioning the pairings of Eddie Dunbar and Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla) and Felix Gall and Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), along with the dangerously fast Michael Storer of Tudor and Italian top talent Davide Piganzoli of Team Polti VisitMalta. After five days of grueling racing, which gentlemen will we write down as interesting names for the Tour of Italy?
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
Who are the favorites for the final classification of the Tour of the Alps 2025, according to IDLProCycling.com?
Top favorites: Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)
Outsiders: Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech), Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers) and Michael Storer (Tudor)
Long shots: Romain Bardet and Max Poole (Picnic-PostNL), Juan Pédro López (Lidl-Trek), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Davide Piganzoli (Team Polti VisitMalta), Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost), Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) and Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla)
Outsiders: Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech), Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers) and Michael Storer (Tudor)
Long shots: Romain Bardet and Max Poole (Picnic-PostNL), Juan Pédro López (Lidl-Trek), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Davide Piganzoli (Team Polti VisitMalta), Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost), Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) and Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla)
TV broadcast Tour of the Alps 2025
The Tour of the Alps can be seen live on television and online for two hours every day. Eurosport has television rights and will broadcast on the Eurosport 2 channel throughout the week. Paying customers can also watch on HBO Max. Stages 1, 2, 4, and 5 will begin at 1:30 PM local time (07:30 AM EDT) and end around 3:30 PM local time (09:30 AM EDT). Stage 3 on Wednesday will be broadcast from 12:30 PM local time (06:30 AM EDT) to 2:30 PM local time (08:30 AM EDT)
Read also
IDL-productions
After a somewhat forced exit from Alpecin-Deceuninck, Laurance brings van der Poel-like mindset to his new INEOS squad
Preview Amstel Gold Race 2025 - women | Vollering, Vos, Van der Breggen, Kopecky, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot—The top riders are all lining up
Preview Amstel Gold Race 2025 | Pogacar vs. van Aert, with Pidcock, Nys, Evenepoel & others in the mix
Benoot on Visma | Lease a Bike's race tactics: "That other group had riders we did not want to encounter in the sprint"
"Others get more respite"; is this the best van Aert? Question leads to candid answers at Visma | Lease a Bike
Latest Cycling News
Marianne Vos follows van Aert in signing 'contract for life' with Visma | Lease a Bike
"Honestly, for a second I thought Evenepoel was returning the favor to van Aert for the Olympic road race. But no!"
After another top spot, Tibor Del Grosso believes his achievements are being 'hyped'; he skips the Ardennes spring classics
Ex-rider sums up 4 key points about van Aert's performance this spring: "Time for more facts, folks"
"Choices must be made"; is VLamax-goal the reason for Wout van Aert's disappointing sprints?
Popular Cycling News
Flashbacks to Amstel Gold Race? Questions raised over mysterious bottle given to Pogacar in Roubaix: "Not everyone gets permission"
Bruyneel impressed by more than just van der Poel and Pogacar: "That rider will be a future star"
Preview Amstel Gold Race 2025 | Pogacar vs. van Aert, with Pidcock, Nys, Evenepoel & others in the mix
Preview Brabantse Pijl 2025 | Evenepoel’s comeback, but also van Aert, Pidcock, a strong UAE team, and many more!
After a somewhat forced exit from Alpecin-Deceuninck, Laurance brings van der Poel-like mindset to his new INEOS squad
Latest Comments
- Such negative comments that are truly inappropriate and actually ridiculous. He sounds like an old man, bitter that he can't race anymore. Why can't he just be gracious? Or just shut up. Instead of howling for attention, in such a rude manner. Must be Dementia creeping in. We are all living in the Now. Records are there, and some are being broken, some are unapproachable. If he doesn't like it, and it makes him sick, maybe he ought start watching some other sport. Don't want the old mans health to be upset.
reemmo031-03-2025 - Roger De Vlaeminck inspires me to create a new beer: "Bitter Old Twat Belgian".JackInhof31-03-2025
- Shoot, I'll ride it for 1/10 of what his pay for that day is😅Veganpotter30-03-2025
- What is this? The Lance Armstrong daily cheaters channel? I could care less about Johan and Lance the seven times cheater. Greg Lemond was right all along, Why don't you write about that instead of these two knuckleheads.velodrone28-03-2025
- Are we all doomed to hear from Lance Armstrong and Johan bruneel until the end of time? It's not enough the stain they left on cycling? Do we have to see that shadow forever?bigyakman26-03-2025
- I am not sure if it is the hardest to win. In Flanders and Roubaix well before the finish the Peleton will be decimated and the race will normally be won by the best rider of the day or maybe 2nd or 3rd in case of a mechanical or unlucky break especially in case of Roubaix. In San Remo just before the finish there will still be several riders in contention and they are hard to ditch. For the best riders it is a race hard to win since it is not so selective. But if you are not a top 5 rider but still a top 10 rider this race is your best change to win. You will see more Milan San remo Winners with only 1 monument win than any other monumentsJoostmehrtens19-03-2025
- "fap fap fap oh Lance oh oh OHHHHHHH" again. Does he pay you to dredge up people with nice things to say about him? He was an giant a$$hole to people. It is a fact. Whatever his contrition about the doping, he is unapologetic about being a giant a$$hole to people. (Why yes, I do only login to complain. *I* am however only a giant a$$hole to people who laud giant a$$holes.)ericjensenridesbikes25-02-2025
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025 - If she thinks talent alone will put her there she will not see many podium finishes much less a GC finish.....work as a team utilizing tactics to consistently be at the top.Germanrazor10-01-2025