Cycling is a sport that has captured the imagination of the world for centuries. Ever since German inventor Karl von Drais made his “swiftwalker” a reality in the early 19th century, people have wondered who could make these two-wheeled speedsters go faster, rider A or rider B. Fast forward to 2025 and the machinery has changed plenty, but the premise of beating one’s opponent is more alive than ever before.
Last summer, the French announced their return as a major player on the cycling circuit. Les Bleus won nine medals in total at the Paris 2024 Olympic games, with their haul of three golds making them the most successful nation at the greatest show on earth for the first time in some 24 years. Benjamin Thomas and Joris Daudet were the stars of the show and led the home nation’s charge, succeeding in bringing cycling back to the forefront of not just the country of love, but the planet as a whole.
While many recognize the sport’s rich pedigree, cycling may not always get the attention it is due – so which showpiece meetings are the ones we should look at?
Tour de France
The Tour de France is without question one of the best-recognized cycling events on the planet. The overall winner of the yellow jersey unquestionably earns some major prestige, as do those who join him on the podium. Classification leaders such as the King of the Mountains and/or Best Young Rider as well as individual stage also offer recognition in other areas.
Indeed, Le Tour’s prestige is unmatched. The three-week event covers approximately 3,500 kilometers of France’s most picturesque and grueling terrain. From the punishing Alps to the iconic Champs-Elysées finish, this race is the ultimate proving ground.
Throughout the 2000s, America’s Lance Armstrong took both the riveting race and the sport as a whole to new heights. He reeled off a scarcely believable seven wins on the bounce between 1999 and 2005. As many suspected at the time, however, his exploits were too good to be true.
Now, in more modern times, a new rivalry is aiming to restore the Tour’s reputation, namely Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. The Slovenian and the Dane have gone to war against each other in each of the last five installments of the race. The former won the first two in 2020 and 2021 before Vingegaard came roaring back with victories in 2022 and 2023.
Last year, online sports gambling sites favored him to make it a famous threepeat, but he was upset by his rival and former champion, with Pogacar defying the odds to claim a third yellow jacket of his own. Next year, those same bookies expect the two to do battle once more. The latest odds from the impressive sports gambling selection at Bovada currently make the 26-year-old reigning three-time champion a -200 favorite to defend his crown, with his older rival a +200 underdog to tie things up at three titles apiece. Make sure to stay up to date later this year to see which of them comes out on top.
Giro d’Italia
Known as “the Toughest Race in the World’s Most Beautiful Place,” the Giro d’Italia combines rugged routes and breathtaking scenery. It’s second only to its French counterpart in terms of reputation, and wow, the scenery makes it a clear competitor for riders who enjoy a view in truly beautiful countryside.
Held in early summer, the race showcases Italy’s culture, from the Dolomites’ towering peaks to the cobblestone streets of medieval villages. Unlike the Tour, the Giro is characterized by its unpredictability, often featuring daring attacks and weather challenges that add to its mystique.
Over the years, it has been the hosts who have shone on home turf. 69 of the 107 races have been won by Italians, with originals such as Alfredo Binda and Fausto Coppi flying the tri-color with pride. They have five titles each to their name, the joint most alongside Belgium’s Eddy Merckx. In recent times, Vincenzo Nibali has been the Azzurri’s main man, winning twice in three years in 2013 and 2016.
However, the second of those triumphs remains his country’s most recent. In the years since, Britain has managed to rise to prominence thanks to Chris Froome and Tao Geoghegan Hart, but last year, a familiar face claimed the top spot for the first time. That, of course, was the incomparable Pogacar, who managed to finish almost ten minutes clear of second-place man Daniel Martinez. The victory marked Slovenia’s second straight after Primoz Roglic’s win in 2023, and they will be aiming to become just the third country in history to complete a three-peat of wins later this year.
All eyes are on the two-wheeled sport, with interest heating up as we wait to see who proves the fastest and most skilled in the next competition.