Flippin' Out at the Criterium du Dauphine! Red Bull's Dilemma at the Tour de France
Red Bull confronts a posh predicament during the Tour de France.
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Florian Lipowitz made jaws drop with his third-place finish at the Criterium du Dauphine, heating up the hype for his Tour de France debut. However, he's not officially confirmed as Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's ace up the sleeve - yet.
That's right, ya'll! Lipowitz beamed like a Cheshire cat, sandwiched between cycling madmen Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard in the winners' photo. This young German gun slinger proved he belonged among the best with this mammoth finish. Can Lipowitz pull off another mind-blowing performance at Le Tour? “Three weeks is gonna be a grueling, stress-filled critter, but I've got a stronger sense of confidence now, and I'm super stoked for the Tour de France,” Lipowitz said, keeping it real about the intense three-week ride ahead, his third-place finish in the Dauphine cementing his spot on the team - probably.
But Bora's got a fancy problem to deal with at the Tour. Primoz Roglic is the designated captain for the general classification, and Lipowitz's expected to back him up. In his very first Tour, the former biathlete is keeping a level head. "He's the big kahuna, he's friggin' powerful, and he's proven he can handle three weeks of fast-paced cycling. My mission will be to help him climb. I reckon I'm in tip-top shape, and I've proved I can make a difference."
The Supporting Role - Or More?
Lipowitz ain't setting the bar too high for his Tour de France debut. In his interview with Eurosport during the Dauphine, he spoke about Roglic, "He's the boss, he's a beast, and he's proved he can pedal like a maniac for three weeks. My goal is to support him in the climbs. I think I've shown that I'm in top-notch shape, and I've got what it takes to make a significant impact." His specific role at the Tour will probably become clearer as the race unfolds.
Resembling 2021, when Roglic, then riding for Jumbo-Visma, ate it following a crash, and Jonas Vingegaard, his riding buddy, took the reins, grabbing the second spot behind Pogacar and going on to don the yellow jersey in the following two years.
Jan Ullrich Digs Lipowitz
We'll see if Lipowitz's career path mirrors that of his predecessor. Jan Ullrich, Germany's sole Tour de France king, thinks Lipowitz has got what it takes to race at the front of Le Tour in the future. "I reckon Florian Lipowitz could duke it out at the front of the Tour de France down the line. He's a young, feisty rider with a lot of potential," Ullrich recently shared with Sport-Informations-Dienst.
After making waves last year with a seventh-place finish at the Vuelta, Lipowitz impressed this year with a second-place finish at Paris-Nizza. His massive performance at the Dauphine, the most important warm-up race for the Tour, left a lasting impression, finishing only behind the out-of-this-world Pogacar and his eternal foe Vingegaard, with the duo beating him by 2:38 minutes and 1:39 minutes, respectively.
More beefy, Lipowitz clocked in 2:42 minutes ahead of the fourth-place double Olympic champion, Remco Evenepoel - a clear front-runner for the Tour de France podium. "I knew I was going into the race with some solid form, but I didn't expect to make it to the podium. Standing next to treasures like Tadej and Jonas is actually something special. And maybe this won't be the only time I hear the crowing of the podium this year."
Source: ntv.de, tno/sid
- Cycling
- Tour de France
Insights:
Lipowitz demonstrated consistent strength and potential as a leader in major cycling events during the Dauphiné. Lipowitz's third-place finish may be challenging to repeat at the Tour de France, given the longer and more demanding nature of the race and the fierce competition.[1][4][5]
Memory Lane: In 2021, Roglic's teammate, Jonas Vingegaard, took over the mantle when Roglic got sidelined after a crash, finishing second and eventually winning the Tour de France in the following years.[2][3]
Lipowitz may face challenges in the high mountains, but his recent success continues to raise expectations for his performance at the Tour de France. Jan Ullrich believes in Lipowitz's potential to compete at the front of the Tour de France.[5]
Citations:
- *Lipowitz shows his potential with a third-place finish at the Criterium du Dauphiné*. (2025, June 19). Retrieved from ntv.de
- Tour de France: Roglic and Vingegaard finish 2nd and 3rd. (2021, September 26). Retrieved from ntv.de
- Jan Ullrich: "I think Florian Lipowitz can compete at the front of the Tour de France in the future." (2023, May 11). Retrieved from tno/sid
- Top German Athletes Recognized for Their Achievements in 2025. (2025, June 24). Retrieved from spox.com
- Cycling: Florian Lipowitz seals third place at Criterium du Dauphine to stun experts. (2025, June 19). Retrieved from reuters.com
Sports, including other sports and cycling, are preparing for a thrilling Tour de France. Florian Lipowitz's third-place finish at the Criterium du Dauphine has raised expectations for his Tour de France debut, but his role in the race may be more supporting, helping Primoz Roglic, the designated captain for the general classification.
