The Tour de France is more than just a race — it’s one of the most iconic sporting events in the world. Each summer we witness a combination of grit, glory over three thrilling weeks. Since 1903, the Tour has captured the hearts of cycling fans, drawing millions of roadside spectators and TV viewers eager to see the world’s top cyclists battle it out across mountains, plains, and cobbled streets.
At Trek Travel, we’ve been part of this magic for years. As an Official Tour Operator of the Tour de France, we have built a reputation for creating unforgettable Tour de France experiences. Whether you dream of pedaling legendary climbs or soaking up the electrifying atmosphere as a spectator, our pro-race tours and spectator viewing events take you to the heart of the action. Our close connection to the LIDL-Trek pro team also means that we can deliver exclusive moments that no other tour operator can match.
What do the different jerseys mean?
When you watch the Tour, you’ll notice riders wearing distinctive colored jerseys. Each of these carries special meaning:
The Yellow Jersey (Maillot Jaune): Worn by the overall race leader — the rider with the fastest cumulative time across all stages. This is the ultimate symbol of Tour de France dominance.
The Green Jersey (Maillot Vert): Awarded to the leader of the points classification, generally favoring sprinters who excel on flatter stages and intermediate sprints.
The Polka Dot Jersey (Maillot à Pois Rouges): Given to the best climber, the “King of the Mountains,” who racks up points on the course’s toughest ascents.
The White Jersey (Maillot Blanc): For the best young rider under the age of twenty-five, showcasing cycling’s rising young stars.
How Do the Teams Work?
Each Tour de France team is made up of eight riders, carefully selected for specific roles — from the team leader aiming for overall victory, to domestiques who protect, support, and pace their leader across the grueling course. There are sprinters, climbers, all-rounders, and time trial specialists, all working together in a complex dance of tactics and teamwork.
There are 23 teams racing in the men’s Tour de France this year and 22 teams in the women’s Tour de France Femmes.
Trek Travel’s close partnership with the LIDL-Trek pro team offers you insider access you won’t find elsewhere. On our VIP Access tours you’ll get the chance to meet riders, snap photos with the team, or even hear firsthand about their strategies before a key stage. We bring you closer to the inner workings of pro cycling — connecting the dots between what you see on TV and the behind-the-scenes action that makes it all happen.
Who to Watch?
The 2025 Tour de France is poised to deliver another thrilling chapter in the ongoing rivalry between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard. Pogačar, aiming for his fourth yellow jersey, dominated the 2024 season, and so far in 2025 he’s been victorious at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour of Flanders, Strade Bianche, and Fleche Wallonne.
Vingegaard, a two-time Tour winner who made a miraculous recovery from injury to finish second in 2024, has been training hard and has his sights set on reclaiming the top spot on the podium at this year’s Tour.
Remco Evenepoel has yet to race this 2025 season coming off the back of a crash, but the reigning world champion is targeting a comeback at the Tour and is definitely a name to watch. Despite abandoning his race in the Giro this year, Primož Roglič remains a formidable presence in the mountain stages with his Grand Tour experience. Emerging talents like Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso from UAE Team Emirates are also ones to watch.
Who to Watch in the Tour de France Femmes
The 2025 Tour de France Femmes promises a fierce battle for the yellow jersey, with some of the most exciting riders in women’s cycling set to return to the spotlight. Defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma will be back to fight for her title, having clinched victory in 2024 by a razor-thin margin of just four seconds. Hot on her heels will be FDJ-Suez’s Demi Vollering, determined to overturn last year’s narrow defeat. LIDL-Trek enters the fray with the powerful Gaia Realini and UAE’s ever-consistent Elisa Longo Borghini is more than capable of mounting a serious GC challenge. Meanwhile, several contenders from the Women’s Spring Classics this year, include rising star Puck Pieterse and the Paris-Roubaix champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Olympic gold medalist Ferrand-Prévot came out of retirement to join Visma | Lease a Bike on a three-year deal and the French favorite is shaping up to be a serious wildcard threat.
As the race unfolds, these athletes, men and women, will undoubtedly shape the narrative of the 2025 Tour, offering fans a spectacle of endurance, strategy, and sheer willpower.
Why Trek Travel Offers the Best Tour Experience
There’s no better way to experience the Tour de France than with Trek Travel. We handle every detail — from hand-picked accommodations and expert local guides, to VIP race access and top-of-the-range bikes — so you can fully immerse yourself in the action.
Whether you’re riding legendary climbs, cheering at a thrilling sprint finish, or enjoying champagne in a private viewing area, our Tour de France cycling tours provide the ultimate fan experience.
2025 Stages with Trek Travel
Want to ride the Tour de France course yourself? Our fully supported rides let you take on legendary climbs just like the pros. Our hand-crafted itineraries put you on the front lines of some of the race’s most exciting stages. Highlights include:
Stage 16: From our VIP viewing area, you’ll watch the pros tackle the iconic Mont Ventoux. See them ascend from Bedoin through the forest’s brutal gradients to the iconic, bare moonscape at the summit. Then tackle it yourself, fully supported, to truly understand the painful ecstasy that comes with conquering the mighty “Giant of Provence”.
Stage 9: (Women’s Tour de France): Get an early start to climb Col du Corbier, the iconic Alpine pass, just hours before the women’s peloton flies up and over it. While they’re climbing it, you’ll be right at the finish line in Chatel ready to cheer them home in the thrilling finale of the women’s Tour.
Stage 18: Begin the day climbing Col de la Loze—the highest point of this year’s Tour. You’ll feel the glory of the Tour as you crest the summit, cross the finish line, and step onto the Official Tour podium with your fellow Trek Travelers for an unforgettable photo opportunity. Afterward descend back towards Courchevel to celebrate, enjoy lunch and await the peloton.
Stage 19: Start the day with exclusive VIP access to the official departure village and team paddock to capture photos of the pros fine-tuning their bikes for today’s final alpine stage. Then position yourself to see the teams head toward the Col des Saisies and the mountaintop finish at La Plagne. Once the racers depart, you’ll tackle the epic Col de la Madeleine.
Whether you’re climbing Col de la Loze or tackling Ventoux, you’ll experience the Tour de France route just like your heroes.
The Paris Finale
For decades, the Tour de France has reached its historic finale on the famed Champs-Élysées in Paris — an iconic moment where the world’s best sprinters battle it out under the golden glow of the Arc de Triomphe, cheered on by thousands of fans lining the cobblestone boulevard. Trek Travel elevates this unforgettable experience with an exclusive VIP viewing event, offering guests premier access to a private terrace at the Automobile Club de France. With champagne and gourmet French delicacies on hand, you’ll watch the peloton thunder past, soaking in the electric atmosphere of cycling’s most prestigious finish.
Ready to experience the Tour with Trek Travel?
Our pro race bike tours are designed to follow the race at its most dramatic moments — from epic mountain summits to flat-out sprint finishes.
We take the stress out of Tour de France vacation planning by handling every detail — from routes and hotels to race-day access. Whether you dream of riding alongside the pros or simply want the best spectator experience, Trek Travel’s pro-race trips bring you closer to the Tour de France than you ever imagined. Explore our full line-up of trips and start planning your cycling adventure of a lifetime.
