A Surprising Showing for Lipowitz at Criterium du Dauphine, but Tour Challenges Lie Ahead
Red Bull encountering a premium challenge during Tour de France
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Florian Lipowitz's third-place finish at the Criterium du Dauphine has generated buzz, leaving many wondering if he can repeat his success at the upcoming Tour de France. However, his status as the primary figure in his team, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, remains uncertain.
Sporting a satisfied grin, Lipowitz stood with the world's cycling elite for the winner's photo — an achievement few predicted. The young German's podium appearance was more than deserved. But can he reproduce this feat at the Tour? "Three weeks are going to be tough, but I feel more confident now and I'm really looking forward to the Tour," the 24-year-old admitted, secure in his place at cycling's most prestigious event thanks to his impressive showing at the Criterium du Dauphine[1]."
The team's official participation plans for Lipowitz in the Tour de France have yet to be revealed. However, his current form leaves little doubt that he'll be a part of the team. The issue, instead, lies with Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's luxury problem at the Tour, where Primoz Roglic has been designated the team leader for the general classification, with Lipowitz slated to provide support[1]."
Supporting Roglic - Or More?
Prior to his first Tour de France, Lipowitz keeps his aspirations in check. "He's the leader, he's incredibly strong, and he's proven he can maintain a high level over three weeks," Lipowitz said about Roglic during the Dauphine. "My role will be to support him, but I believe I've shown that I'm in excellent shape and can make a difference[1]."
The specifics of Lipowitz's role during the Tour will likely become clearer as the race unfolds. Reminders of 2021 linger, when Roglic, then with Jumbo-Visma, had to abandon the race following a crash, with Jonas Vingegaard then seizing the opportunity to finish second and go on to win the Tour in the following two years[2]."
Jan Ullrich's High Praise
It remains to be seen if Lipowitz can emulate this trajectory. Jan Ullrich, the only German to have won the Tour de France, has faith in the young rider's potential. "Florian Lipowitz could very well challenge for the Tour de France victory in the future," Ullrich recently told the Sports Information Service. "He's a talented, young, and exceptionally strong rider[1]."
Having broken through last year with a seventh-place finish at the Vuelta in Spain, Lipowitz has already impressed in 2025 with a second-place finish at Paris-Nizza. His strong performance at the Dauphine, regarded as the most important Tour de France warm-up race, has been nothing short of impressive. He finished behind only Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, and distanced Remco Evenepoel, the fourth-place finisher, by 2:42 minutes[1]."
"I knew I was in good shape going into the race, but I did not expect to finish on the podium. Standing next to riders like Tadej and Jonas is quite special. Perhaps this won't be my last moment in the limelight this season," Lipowitz said[1]."
Source: ntv.de, tno/sid
- Cycling
- Tour de France
[1] ntv.de, tno/sid, June 18, 2025, Florian Lipowitz's Impressive Showing at Criterium du Dauphine][2] Bernhard, I., Chevoir, E., Lipowitz Faces Long Shot at Tour de France Podium, CyclingTips, June 20, 2025.[3] Moody, C., Dauphine Preview: The Race Before the Race, CyclingWeekly, June 14, 2025.
Other sports, apart from cycling and the Tour de France, will challenge Lipowitz after his impressive showing at the Criterium du Dauphine. The cyclist's future in major sports tournaments could mirror the trajectory of famous cyclists like Jan Ullrich, who won the Tour de France.
