Riders Lipowitz and Roglic showcase their prowess in the mountainous region of the Pyrenees
As the Tour de France enters its first challenging mountain stages in the Pyrenees, the Red-Bull-Team finds itself in a strong position with two riders, Primoz Roglic and Florian Lipowitz, in the top ten of the general classification.
Currently leading the team, Roglic is only seven seconds behind Lipowitz, despite being ninth in the overall standings. This close gap underscores the fierce competition between the two teammates as they prepare to tackle the steep ascents of the Pyrenees.
Roglic, a recognised mountain climber and general classification contender, has shown his form in recent stages. In Stage 13, a mountainous individual time trial up Peyragudes, he finished third, only 1 minute and 20 seconds behind the stage winner, Tadej Pogačar. In contrast, Lipowitz's performance in the mountains has not been as prominent, with no significant results indicating his standing among the top favourites in the mountain stages so far in 2025.
Team boss Ralph Denk has expressed his satisfaction with the performances of both riders, acknowledging concerns about Roglic's susceptibility to crashes following his crash out of the Giro d'Italia at the end of May. However, Denk is eagerly awaiting the performances of both Lipowitz and Roglic in the mountain stages, confident that their preferred terrain will aid them.
The mountain range between France and Spain is known for its steep ascents, making the 180.6 kilometers and 3,850 meters of altitude to the finish in Hautacam a challenging test for the riders. The team's more defensive strategy in the first eleven stages has paid off, with Roglic reaching southern France without a crash, which was the team's goal.
Denk considers both Lipowitz and Roglic to be strong contenders for the race, but has stated that Roglic is the team's primary focus, with a willingness to adjust if Roglic's performance is not up to par. Lipowitz's sixth place in the time trial in Caen has impressed Denk, who describes the development of Lipowitz into a top rider as his "heart project."
With the mountain stages ahead, the outcome for the Red-Bull-Team may be a tough fight between Lipowitz and Roglic, but Roglič's solid performance in the mountains relative to top favourites positions him as the favoured rider for the Red-Bull-Team in the coming stages.
In the upcoming mountain stages of the Tour de France, the intense rivalry between teammates Primoz Roglic and Florian Lipowitz becomes more apparent, with Roglic's impressive mountain climbing skills and recent performances reinforcing his position as the favored rider for the Red-Bull-Team. Meanwhile, Lipowitz, despite showing potential, has yet to demonstrate significant results in the mountain stages of the 2025 Tour de France.
