The crunch moment of the 2025 Tour de France has arrived, as the third and decisive week opens, promising sparks fly on the legendary Mont Ventoux on stage 16.

The 'Giant of Provence,' despite being located outside France's two main mountain ranges (the Alps and the Pyrenees), boasts a fearsome reputation and a rich history in the Grande Boucle. Unforgettable moments have been written here: from the tragic death of Tom Simpson in 1967, to the duel between Armstrong and Pantani in 2000, to Chris Froome's surreal 2016 road race.

This year's protagonists, Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, already have their own chapters on Ventoux: in 2021, the Dane demonstrated his superiority by outpacing the Slovenian, a harbinger of his future supremacy in the following two editions.

Today, Pogačar dominates the standings with a more than four-minute lead over Vingegaard. The question on everyone's mind is: will the Slovenian's dominance continue in this final week? Or will we witness a historic comeback on the slopes of Mont Ventoux?

Mont Ventoux is one of the most iconic climbs in world cycling, with its 21.5 km ascent at an average gradient of 7.5%. The final stretch, characterized by its distinctive lunar landscape and often buffeted by fierce winds, will test even the most prepared riders.