EF Education-EasyPost has announced an expert line-up of stage hunters for the 2025 Tour de France, with Neilson Powless leading the way in his quest for the success he admits would ‘complete my career’.

The American team will have to do without expected leader Richard Carapaz, who is sidelined by a serious gastrointestinal infection, but the 'Plan B' is still very interesting. The team said it will focus exclusively on stage victories, going on the attack whenever possible to exploit every opportunity.

Ireland's Ben Healy, winner of a spectacular breakaway at this year's Tour of the Basque Country, is known for his ultra-aggressive strategies, while former Tour of Flanders winner Kasper Asgreen demonstrated his Grand Tour prowess with a stage win at the Giro d'Italia in May.

The team also includes Michael Valgren, a highly experienced rider with numerous successes in the classics, who will be chasing victories in the transition stages in his eighth Tour. Vincenzo Albanese, fresh from a sprint finish at the Tour de Suisse, and Dutchman Marijn van den Berg will be the cards for the first week.

Powless, who has already won major races such as the Clasica San Sebastian and the Dwars door Vlaanderen, is still chasing the dream of a stage win in a Grand Tour: 'My best memory of the Tour was the cobblestone stage in 2022 when I fought for the yellow jersey. I've been chasing that feeling ever since. Winning the Tour or wearing the yellow jersey is the only thing missing for me, it has become my top priority.'

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