Tour de France 2025: Aussie cyclists rated as Groves, O’Connor, Plapp and more deliver big
Australian riders weren’t just making up the numbers at the Tour de France, they were shaping it. From Kaden Groves’ emotional win to Ben O’Connor’s summit heroics, here’s how the green and gold stood tall on cycling’s biggest stage.
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The Tour de France may have finished in Paris yesterday under sodden skies but it was definitely a bright outlook for the Australian talent.
Ten faced the starter three weeks ago in Lille and nine made it to Paris after Jack Haig crashed at the end of the first week.
Kaden Groves was fantastic on Saturday, claiming his maiden Tour de France victory in his debut Tour with a brilliant solo attack 16 kilometres out from the finish in Pontarlier.
The Australian, who has won stages at the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España, burst into tears after crossing the line, overwhelmed at claiming the victory.
“There’s so much pressure at the Tour,” Groves said at the finish.
“Having won in the Giro and the Vuelta, all I’m asked is whether I’m good enough to win at the Tour. And now I’ve shown them.”
Groves is a world-class sprinter but this win was one out of the ordinary as it was a gnarly stage, and to ride away from some quality riders and win alone was special.
Fellow Queenslander Harry Sweeny had attempted his own solo attack on the same stage.
He opened a gap of 40 seconds before being reeled in, but was awarded the most combative prize.
On the monster Queen stage 18, Aussie Ben O’Connor conquered the highest summit of the 2025 Tour de France to claim his first win for Jayco AlUla.
What a brilliant ride it was. A 16km solo on the toughest stage of the race in the final week.
That’s when many falter, but O’Connor finally found his form in this year’s race.
To get in the break is tough.
To force the pace and make it stick is hard. But to be then joined by the heavyweights – Tour winner Tadej Pogacar and runner-up Jonas Vingegaard – and be able to ride away from them is bloody serious.
His ferocious attack showed just how good the young man from Western Australia is.
This was one of the most impressive stage victories ever by an Australian.
Last year O’Connor was unstoppable, but after a spectacular crash on day one, he had struggled to find the exceptional form he is capable of.
“It’s special to do it again here in the Tour de France,” an elated O’Connor said.
“Having that moment today is absolutely massive. You always want another win at the Tour and you can’t get enough of these.”
It had been a successful Tour for Jayco, with Mauro Schmid’s oh-so-close second and Luke Plapp’s brilliant time trials.
But it needed a win and O’Connor delivered.
Team owner Gerry Ryan was overjoyed with the win.
“The team have worked hard for this victory,” an excited Ryan said.
“But we needed a win. Strong efforts and close finishes may show just how well we’re going, but winning a stage is very important, not just for our riders and sponsors, but for all our staff who work so hard.”
Plapp, riding his first Tour de France, was all smiles in Paris.
“It’s the most brutal race but the most beautiful race,” he said.
“It’s just the hardest race I’ve ever done. I just want to be in Paris every year at the end of July.”
Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling) rode a super aggressive Tour and whenever the roads rose up he seemed to be there.
His third on Stage 6 was impressive.
There is no doubt he will challenge again.
JOHN TREVORROW’S TOUR TAKEAWAYS
Many fans believe that the final stage of the Tour de France in Paris is a virtual cakewalk, just a race for the sprinters.
Well certainly not this year.
The Tour de France organisation is always looking at new innovations and the inclusion of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre in the finale stage was a masterstroke.
This was similar to the circuit used for last year’s Olympic road course and it delivered again.
A Tour de France winner has never won the final stage in recent memory unless it was a time trial.
But Pogacar took the race on and the result was exhilarating racing in the rain.
Although he couldn’t match Belgian Wout Van Aert on the final assent, he certainly lit up the race, eventually finishing fourth.
O’Connor is capable of anything and a place on the podium at the TdF next year is not out of the question.
He started this year’s race with very lofty ambitions but his spectacular crash on day one knocked him around quite a bit and it wasn’t until the final week that we started to see a
glimpse of the man who finished second in the Vuelta and the world road title last year.
The world title in September in Kigali, Rwanda is very tough and would suit him but, if he rides the Vuelta which he is almost certainly going to do, it may be a bit much.
Jayco AlUla teammate, Plapp will certainly be riding the world titles.
He looked exhausted after the final day in Paris but he was impressive in both time trials on the Tour and h is a realistic chance to not only get on the podium but take the rainbow jersey.
Plapp missed a spot on the podium at the Paris Olympics and the world title because of a crash and a puncture.
He has revenge high on the agenda.
Sweeny rode a brilliant tour as the strongman for American squad EF Education-Easypost.
He was a vital teammate when his leader Ben Healy won a stage and again when he snuck into the Maillot Jaune.
I expect Harry to win something special this year.
* Former pro cyclist and veteran commentator John Trevorrow is on the ground in France, bringing expert insights and updates on the Aussie riders throughout the Tour for CODE Sports.
Originally published as Tour de France 2025: Aussie cyclists rated as Groves, O’Connor, Plapp and more deliver big
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