American And Canadian Cyclists Gear Up For The 2025 Tour De France

Lille, France – The 2025 Tour De France is set to feature a strong contingent of American and Canadian cyclists, all eager to leave their mark on the prestigious race. With stage-hunting prowess and determination, these athletes are ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

Five American and two Canadian riders will be at the starting line in lille this Saturday,each with distinct goals,yet united in their ambition to reach Paris triumphant after three weeks of intense competition. The Tour De France provides a huge stage for these cyclists.

The North American Contingent: Key Riders

Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss will represent Visma-Lease a Bike,while Quinn Simmons will ride for Lidl-Trek. Will Barta is set to compete for movistar, and Neilson Powless will represent EF Education-EasyPost. Michael Woods and Guillaume Boivin round out the Canadian presence, both racing for Israel Premier Tech.

these riders bring a mix of experience and ambition to the race. Some will support their team leaders, while others will seek opportunities for stage victories.

Did You Know?

Sepp Kuss ended a decade-long drought for American stage wins in 2021 with his victory in Andorra.

Riders With A Taste Of Victory

Michael Woods and Sepp Kuss have both experienced the thrill of Tour De France stage wins. Kuss triumphed in Andorra in 2021, while Woods conquered the Puy de Dôme in 2023. Neilson Powless, with multiple top-5 stage finishes since 2020, is eager to add his name to the winners’ list.

jorgenson, recently secured a long-term contract with visma-Lease a Bike through 2029, resumes his crucial support role for two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard.

Support roles And Breakaway Opportunities

Barta, Boivin, and Simmons will primarily work for their team leaders but may be granted freedom to pursue stage wins through tactical breaks or as satellite riders.

Even though none of the North Americans begin as overall contenders, the likelihood remains high that at least one will secure a stage victory.

American Participation: Past Context

The five American starters this year are consistent with recent trends in U.S. participation.This number reflects an increase of two riders from the previous year and closely aligns with the average over the past 15 years.

The record for American representation in the Tour De France is ten,achieved twice: in 1986,when 7-Eleven made its European debut and Greg LeMond solidified his stardom,and again in 2011,with Garmin,RadioShack,HTC Highroad,and BMC Racing filling their rosters with American talent.

American cyclists have been present in every Tour De France since 1981, when Jonathan Boyer paved the way as the sole American for three consecutive years. Greg Lemond’s entry in 1984 doubled that number, and the arrival of the 7-Eleven team guaranteed a consistent American presence.

Since the late 1990s, at least three American riders have participated in each Tour, demonstrating the ability of American cycling to consistently produce high-caliber athletes.

The emergence of talents like Kuss, Jorgenson, and Powless signifies a promising era for American cycling, with U.S. riders now distributed across eight WorldTour teams and four additional ProTeams in 2025.

Canada is represented by one fewer rider compared to the previous two Tours.

Figures such as Steve Bauer, Ryder Hesjedal, and Svein Tuft have provided Canadian fans with memorable moments over the years. With at least one Canadian rider participating every year since 2019,Canada remains a steady presence in the Tour peloton.

Notable Absences

Each Tour inevitably sees notable names missing from the lineup.

Among Americans and Canadians with Tour experience, but absent this year, are Brandon Mcnulty, sean Quinn, Kevin Vermaerke, Derek Gee, and Hugo Houle, who secured a remarkable solo victory in the Pyrenees in 2022.

Houle, a regular participant with six consecutive tour starts, shifted his focus to the Giro this year, supporting Gee’s GC aspirations. This strategy paid off as Gee achieved an remarkable fourth overall at the Giro, marking IPT’s best grand tour result to date. Both riders prioritized Italy from the season’s outset.

Mcnulty, who competed in two Tours but hasn’t returned since 2022, also participated in the Giro, achieving a personal best of ninth overall while assisting UAE teammate Isaac del Toro to second place. Similar to Gee, the Tour was not part of his 2025 plans.

questions still remain about other riders choices and team strategies for the rest of the season.

EF’s Quinn, who debuted in last year’s Tour wearing the U.S. national champion’s jersey, has been sidelined since February due to a knee injury. Vermaerke, a two-time Tour starter, did not make the cut this year with Picnic-PostNL.

Other potential contenders who did not make the final Tour rosters include Matthew Riccitello (Israel Premier Tech) and Magnus Sheffield (Ineos grenadiers).

North American Starters: A Comparison

What are your predictions for the North American cyclists in the 2025 tour de France? Which stage are you most looking forward to?

Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!