Overview

• Defending champion Tadej Pogacar arrives off an unbeaten spring season and a Critérium du Dauphiné win as the clear favorite for his fourth Tour title.
• Jonas Vingegaard returns from a March Paris-Nice crash and aims to match Pogacar after recalibrating his form at the Dauphiné.
• Debutant Florian Lipowitz makes his first Tour start after finishing third at the Dauphiné, with team manager Ralph Denk highlighting his stage-win potential.
• Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe has finalized its squad around Primož Roglič, Lipowitz and sprint contenders Danny van Poppel and Jordi Meeus, prioritizing podiums and targeted stage victories.
• Riders face five summit finishes and nervy flat opening stages under a new UCI yellow-card rule designed to curb dangerous riding ahead of live coverage by ARD and Eurosport.