How to follow the Tour de France 2025 with smarter betting strategies
If you’re a fan of cycling, we’re sure you’ll be eagerly anticipating the roar of the crowd as the 2025 Tour de France gets under way. From the brutal slopes of Mont Ventoux to the expansive flats through the French countryside, this is more than just a race.
The 112th edition of the Tour de France will span from the 5th to the 27th of July and will cover an enormous 3,350 kilometers across all 21 stages. However, unlike previous years, the entirety of this year’s Tour de France will be contained within France. This year’s tournament will be the first to not venture beyond the country’s borders since 2020.
So, if you plan to follow the Tour de France, it can be handy to understand the different betting strategies used by seasoned gamblers to inform their bets and come out on top. In this article, we’ll help you understand the race itself, explore the different betting markets, and then look at how these learnings can be applied alongside expert strategies.
Understanding the Tour de France 2025
Covering over 3,000 km and with a total climb of just over 50,000 meters, this is the ultimate test of endurance, and, unlike in recent years, the entire race will take place in France.
The race itself consists of several different types of stages, totaling 21 overall. These stages include seven flat stages (perfect for sprinters), six hilly stages (perfect for all-round riders), six mountainous stages with five summit finishes (perfect for climbers) and two time trial stages – there will be a flat time trial in Normandy and a mountainous time trial in the Pyrenees.
However, despite there being many stages across the entirety of France, there are a handful that will be key to getting a glimpse of the overall winner:
Stage 1: It might seem obvious, but the first stage of the Tour de France can give viewers a good idea of who’s looking fit and who might be carrying a knock from previous races.
Stage 5: One of only two-time trials, this Normandy stage will be key for time specialists wanting to get an early lead and gain momentum before things start to really intensify.
Stage 13: The next time trial comes in the Pyrenees, which should be another pivotal moment as the Tour de France enters its second half of stages.
Stage 16: While in the Tour de France’s mountainous stages, the summit finish at Mont Ventoux should be among the most challenging, giving climb specialists a chance to build a lead or regain lost ground.
Final stages: As the race draws to a close, the Alpine finishes at Courchevel and La Plagne will be key for those still challenging for the yellow jersey.
For bettors, understanding the battleground stages will be key, as this will inform who to back and at which points of the overall race. This is something worth considering when browsing through reputable Tour de France Betting Sites, many of which cater to fans of niche sports like cycling by offering tailored markets and competitive odds. These platforms, typically operated by leading names in the iGaming and sportsbook industry, help bettors explore a wide range of wagering options – from outright winners to jersey classifications and stage-by-stage bets.
What sets the best sites apart is not just the variety of bets on offer, but also their integration of live stats, race-day updates and responsive, in-play betting tools that keep users engaged throughout each twist and turn of the Tour. With more betting operators expanding into global sports markets, finding a licensed, trusted platform has become easier for fans looking to enhance their Tour de France experience with smarter, well-informed betting strategies.
How to follow the Tour de France 2025
The Tour de France is one of the most popular sports events of the year, with key broadcasters from across the world bidding for the coverage rights. The 2024 tournament attracted almost 150 million viewers in Europe, with 40 million coming from France alone. In the US, NBS Sports will be showing the race, while in the UK and Europe, ITV and Eurosport, respectively, will be broadcasting live from France.
Aside from watching the race and catching up on the highlights after each stage, viewers can also visit the Tour de France website to read official stage reports, track their favorite riders in real time and stay up to date with the latest developments, such as crashes or injuries. The Tour de France app is another handy resource that allows users to view an interactive map that tracks each rider in real time, as well as providing live updates.
If the official sources aren’t enough to satisfy your need for Tour de France news, following @LeTour on X/Twitter is a handy option, as you can engage with other viewers in the comments. Websites like Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly and PezCyclingNews are also worth checking out as they can offer different perspectives on the latest developments, especially if you plan on betting on Tour de France finishing positions and stage results.
Introduction to betting on the Tour de France
Many viewers choose to bet on the Tour de France because of its unpredictable nature and the many different markets available to choose from. From daily winners to overall finishing positions, viewers can have massively different experiences depending on which area they decide to focus on.
While the main betting market relates to the yellow jersey, awarded to the rider who finishes with the lowest overall time, bettors can also place wagers on markets such as who will be awarded the white jersey, which is given to the best young rider, or who will be the winner in any one of the 21 different stages. It’s easy to get involved in the action, with many different online gambling sites offering exciting promotions and exclusive bonuses to new and existing players.
Smarter betting strategies for the Tour de France 2025
Now that we’ve better explained the race itself and how you can get involved in the world of Tour de France betting, we can finally take a look at the betting strategies that have the potential to give you an edge over the everyday bettor.
Research riders and teams
Be sure to follow the form of specific riders and check news websites for updates on any injuries they might have picked up in recent months. It’s also worth looking at teams as a whole, as they may perform better in certain stage types or weather conditions.
Analyze stage profiles
Different riders will perform better in different stages, and while freaks of nature like Pogačar are excellent in several areas, it’s worth knowing who to back at different phases of the race. Roglič, for example, is a safe bet in time trials as he’s a strong sprinter, while someone like Evenepoel is worth backing in hilly stages as he’s a great all-rounder.
Explore live betting
If you’re following a race in real time, it’s possible to react to live events and capitalize on the bookmakers not adjusting their odds fast enough. Events such as breakaways, crashes or even a puncture could shift the odds for multiple riders at once, which is why it’s worth paying attention and knowing when to act.
Asses the weather impact
The weather can completely throw off any predictions made before the race. This unpredictability is why it’s so important to understand the riding style of the many cyclists taking part. A more aggressive rider may be more likely to slip in wet conditions, while dry heat is likely to favor those with better endurance.
Final thoughts
The Tour de France is a sporting spectacle that engages millions of cycling enthusiasts and general sports fans every year. While betting is by no means essential for viewers to enjoy the various stages of action, it can be a way to take the experience to another level by giving us a vested interest in a particular outcome or result.
