Tour de France 2025

Weather: Mild again with a chance of rain in the afternoon.

Stage Type: Mountain.

Climbs: Five classified climbs including two hors-catégorie – Col du Pré (12.6km at 7.7%) and La Plagne (19.1km at 7.2%).

Start: Lidl-Trek will keep things together for the intermediate sprint after just 8km and then the peloton will tackle the second-category Côte d’Héry-sur-Ugine (11.3km at 5.1%) on which the break full of climbers and satellite riders should get away.

Finish: The summit finish up to La Plagne is a long but regular climb which rarely gets up over 8%. However, at the end of such a long race, plenty damage can still be done.

Stage suits: General classification favourites and climbers outside of GC contention but, like stage 18, riders inside the GC top 10 may also infiltrate the break.

Breakaway chances: Decent, though with a route just 130km long there’s less time to build up a winning advantage. However, as we saw on stage 18, some strange race dynamics can come into play when attacks fly early.

What will happen: This is the final mountain stage and the most difficult climb of the day is the hors-catégorie Col du Pré with a final 7km averaging over 9%, so Jonas Vingegaard will have to try to isolate and then attack Tadej Pogačar there, however futile it may seem. Alternatively, understanding that the race for yellow looks over, Visma Lease a Bike may target the stage win and hold back on attacks until later.

Stage 19 Contenders

Tadej Pogačar (10/11; 1.91) didn’t look as sick or tired on stage 18, did he? One more day in the mountains to survive and then, barring accidents, he’ll pick up his fourth Tour de France title in Paris on Sunday.

Jonas Vingegaard (7/1; 8.0) tried his best on stage 18 but never put Pogačar in trouble. He’ll try again here but a similar outcome looks likely.

Florian Lipowitz (40/1; 41.0) was brave in trying to follow the two above but ended up being isolated and lost a heap of time. He needs to regroup to hold on to third place and the white jersey.

Oscar Onley (66/1; 67.0) got lucky to an extent on stage 18 when UAE rode to keep Roglič and Gall within reach, when Lipowitz cooked himself between groups and finally when the race stalled in the valley. A place on the podium in Paris is within reach so this is a big day for the young Scot.

For the breakaway:

Sepp Kuss (18/1; 19.0) looked some way back to his best and can be a good card up the road for Vingegaard to bridge to, or as a player for the stage win.

Felix Gall (20/1; 21.0) made the break on stage 18 and is carrying some great form into the final week. He could give it another nudge up the road which could cause a domino effect above him on GC.

Michael Storer (20/1; 21.0) suffered a mechanical having made the breakaway on stage 18 which was unlucky. But he still managed to stay with the yellow jersey group a long way up the final climb showing his form is very much there.

Santiago Buitrago (20/1; 21.0) burnt matches making a nascent breakaway but then fell away after it was reeled in. He fought back well however with a top 20 finish showing his form is coming round.  

Adam Yates (25/1; 26.0) could get licence to get up the road but it would be a big risk by Pogačar to allow his best climber to leave his side this late on in the game.

Einer Rubio (33/1; 34.0) was no match for O’Connor in the end who was on a special day but plugged on well for an excellent fifth place. He’s clearly going well and this is another chance.

Primož Roglič (40/1; 41.0) can again be an attacking card for Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe to put Oscar Onley under pressure and possibly have a play for the stage win, though working to keep Lipowitz on the podium is the more obvious role.

Ben Healy (40/1; 41.0) chose to stay with the GC group – perhaps wary of protecting his top 10 on GC – rather than try to make the break which was unusually defensive from him. Or maybe he’s just feeling it which would be understandable.

Sergio Higuita (40/1; 41.0) stayed with the favourites group for a long way up the Col de la Loze and is seeing a resurgence in form.

Tobias Halland Johannessen (70/1; 71.0) collapsed at the top of Mont Ventoux and was rushed to hospital but showed no ill effects on stage 18 with an excellent ride. A win here would be some turnaround three days after the obligatory hospital thumbs-up pic.

Stage 19 Bets

If it comes back together, Pogačar wins, but the price is no fun. So, let’s have a hit out at a few of those selected above at better prices and hope the break takes the day.

Felix Gall 2pts win and 3 places @20/1 - 6th

Michael Storer 2pts win and 3 places @20/1

Tobias Halland Johannessen 1pt win and 3 places @70/1 - 7th

(Evening update - the route for stage 19 has been altered and shortened to 95km due to the outbreak of a disease affecting local cattle herds on the Col des Saises)

Posted 2141 BST Thu 24th July 2025

Prices quoted are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change

Stage 19 Result