Tour de France 2025 – Stage 5 Preview

Stage 5 – Caen → Caen | 33 km Individual Time Trial

Date: Wednesday, 9 July 2025
Distance: 33 km
Terrain: Technical urban TT course — fast straights, sweeping curves, and low-speed corners over a loop in Caen

Context & Form

Remco Evenepoel enters as the reigning World and Olympic Time Trial Champion—dominating under 40 km races in the past year, including a powerful win at the Critérium du Dauphiné TT against rivals like Pogacar and Vingegaard.

Pogačar has looked imperious across climbs and flats—his near-flawless TT performance in Romandie and Dauphiné proves his versatility, but Evenepoel’s pure TT pedigree remains a major threat.

Directeur Sportif Insights

“This is where engines speak loudest. Evenepoel is a clear benchmark, but Pogacar’s form shapes this as a direct duel. Key will be pacing through corners and adapting to the urban twistiness of Caen.”

Tactical Focus:
• Evenepoel must sustain powers efficiently without making errors on technical turns.
• Pogačar needs to match him, riding close to his best TT watts while managing those same corners.

Other Contenders:
• Jonas Vingegaard showed pace in Dauphiné but remains a second-tier threat.
• Primož Roglič fluctuates between explosive and cautious — expect consistency.
• Don’t rule out pushes from Lennert Lipowitz or João Almeida for top-10 surprises.

What’s at Stake?

• A stage win means early Yellow—ideal launchpad for GC ambitions.
• Top 10 gains could define the Tour’s pecking order long-term.
• Between Evenepoel and Pogacar, expect a shuttle duel with tiny margins.

Quick Stats

Rider | 2025 TT Timeline
Remco Evenepoel | Olympic + World TT Champion; Dauphiné TT win (+21″ on Vingegaard)
Tadej Pogačar | Strong TT form; second in Romandie TT
Jonas Vingegaard | Close seconds behind Evenepoel in Dauphiné

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