Tadej, how do you feel your victory in the last Tour de France differed from your two previous successes in the race, in 2020 and 2021? I was a bit older. I think it’ s logical that you won’ t enjoy successes of this magnitude in the same way when you’ re 25 as when you’ re 21. My first Tour victory was a complete surprise for me. The second, a year later, was like a dream. Last summer, I was more in control. That’ s not to say that I didn’ t have moments when I reached my limits, but, generally speaking, the 2024 Tour went perfectly for me. Rather like my entire season( laughing)...

How do you feel about the route of this 2025 edition? Have you spotted any climbs or highlights that you’ re particularly looking forward to? I’ ve got the feeling that a lot

of the stages will be open and fairly unpredictable. It seems to me that there are many possible scenarios. As for the second part of your question, I’ d rather give you an answer at the finish on the Champs-Élysées. The race will have provided me

with a more solid answer to that question.

Do you remember the first real mountain pass you climbed in France? In 2018, you raced through part of the Alps during the Tour de l’ Avenir,

which you won without winning a stage. It’ s fair to say that your style has changed a lot since then... I wouldn’ t be able to tell you the first legendary climb I did in France. However, my memory is much stronger when it comes to the Tour de l’ Avenir. I took the yellow jersey as race leader at Méribel and I remember very well that it was on the Col du Glandon that I was able to celebrate my final victory. I still have beautiful images in my mind of those difficult tests. It’ s true that I raced more defensively at that time. More than anything, I tried to follow the others because I didn’ t think I was capable of winning the overall. It happened a bit like that... Now, I prefer to go on the offensive. It’ s more risky, but it’ s also more fun!

You’ ve won seven stages in the Pyrenees. Do you have a special feeling for this mountain range? And did you know that the bears reintroduced there to save the species come from Slovenia? No, I didn’ t know that. The Pyrenees is a region in which I love to race. I won my very first Tour stage at Laruns [ stage 9 of the 2020 edition ] and since then it’ s been a place I really love. I’ ve always felt strong there.

PHOTOGRAPHS: CHARLY LOPEZ / ASO, BILLY CEUSTERS / ASO

18 | TOUR DE FRANCE 2025