Felix Gall: On the hunt for fame in the Pyrenees of the Tour de France!

Felix Gall: On the hunt for fame in the Pyrenees of the Tour de France!

Dolomitenstadt, Österreich - Felix Gall, the talented cycling professional from East Tyrol, survived the first half of the Tour de France 2025 as an eleventh with a gap of 5.5 minutes. He showed himself in good shape in the mountainous stages and escaped the numerous falls that could be observed during the race. For him, the fast uphill target sprints represented special challenges, while in the climbs he was often at eye level with the best drivers.

In an interview, Gall expressed that he has now recovered from cooling and is optimistic about the upcoming stages. From Thursday, the demanding Pyrenees stages begin, which should accommodate him. "I can see myself able to be in the best and make a few places until the next day of rest," emphasizes Gall, who as a protected captain for the team Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale is going into the race.

preparation and goals

GALL has prepared intensively by training in the French Alps and participating in the Tour de Suisse, where he achieved some good results. Despite a disappointing start in the season, he was able to increase his level of shape and is optimistic to improve his placement from the previous year, where he took eighth place. Gall plans not only to concentrate on the overall ranking, but also strives for stage wins, especially in the last week in the Alps.

"We are ready to attack in the mountains as a team," says Sébastien Joly, the team's direct sporting pace. Gall also has specific goals, such as a successful appearance at the Col de la Loze, where he had previously won. He relies on the support of his team -mate Oliver Neasen, with whom he shares the room during the race.

Current situation in the race

The yellow jersey is currently wearing Ben Healey, but a replacement by the favorite drivers, including Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel, can be expected. Gall has had a more relaxed experience in the previous tour despite the stress factors and risk of falling than in the previous year and plans to change his tactics to minimize risks. "I often stayed further back to get to the finish," explains Gall.

, however, show drivers such as Florian Lipowitz and Primož Roglič, while others, such as Kevin Vauquelin, reveal weaknesses. Gall observes the situation closely because he is aware of the threat of several dangerous competitors behind him who also have top ten ambitions.

Development in professional cycling

Cycling has changed in recent years, which also concerns the physical constitution of the participants. On average, today's tour drivers are larger and lighter than in the past. The body weight of a tour starter has dropped by more than 5 kg since 1990. In 2020, the average weight of a participant was 68.2 kg and the body size rose to around 1.81 m. These developments show how the requirements in professional cycling change.

With the level in the Tour de France and the increasing pressure to provide high performance, the discussion about the commercialization and the associated challenges is becoming increasingly up to date. Jonathan Vaughters recently asked for a “Salary Cap” in professional cycling to increase equal opportunities and comparisons with the financial structure in football illustrate the challenges that cycling is facing.