{"id":8222,"date":"2025-11-02T01:37:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T17:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=8222"},"modified":"2025-11-02T01:37:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T17:37:46","slug":"top-sprinters-return-for-the-tour-de-france-singapore-criterium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=8222","title":{"rendered":"Top sprinters return for the Tour de France Singapore Criterium"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SINGAPORE \u2013 Cycling fans can expect some \u201cfast racing\u201d at the Tour de France EFGH Singapore Criterium on Nov 2, when some of the world\u2019s top sprint cyclists compete for the winner\u2019s trophy.<\/p>\n

Among the favourites are <\/p>\n

2023 champion Jasper Philipsen<\/p>\n

<\/a>, who finished just behind legendary British cyclist Mark Cavendish in 2024. With Cavendish hanging up his helmet and cleats, the Belgian will be trying to emerge victorious among a sprint field that includes Italy\u2019s green jersey winner Jonathan Milan and Eritrea\u2019s Biniam Girmay, who in 2024 became the first black African to win a stage in the Tour de France.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a media conference at the Singapore Recreation Club on Nov 1, Philipsen, who has won 10 stages on the Tour and races for WorldTeamAlpecin-Deceuninck, said: \u201cIt\u2019s been a while since I won here\u2026 With Mark\u2019s win last year, I hope to do better this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked what makes Singapore such a happy hunting ground for him, the 27-year-old laughed and added: \u201cIt\u2019s flat, so that helps. But I\u2019ve actually gone riding here, and there\u2019s one hill in Singapore, one hill, one kilometre is the maximum they have. So that\u2019s still in my capabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just like fast racing, city criteriums and technical, just fighting for position. That\u2019s what it\u2019s all about here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Philipsen and Cavendish shared a fierce rivalry in the Singapore Criterium, with the <\/p>\n

latter ending his illustrious career<\/p>\n

<\/a> \u2013 which included 35 Tour de France stage victories \u2013 with a winning flourish here in 2024. <\/p>\n

Cavendish, who is in Singapore as an ambassador this time, said that \u201cit is much better returning here without a number on the back\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boys have been here many times. We\u2019ve all ridden here, and we\u2019ve all ridden with a local community in Singapore, and there\u2019s an incredible cycling community that rides on a brilliant infrastructure here,\u201d added the cyclist known as the \u201cManx Missile\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven over the last four years, I\u2019ve seen the infrastructure grow and grow here, and that\u2019s super nice. And it\u2019s events like this that people can see the stars. It is predominantly a European sport, but you can see the best in the world, here in Asia. <\/p>\n

\u201cTo be able to come and see that and that gives an inspiration, it gives an excitement. And hopefully it gets more people on bikes and people can enjoy it the same way, like we all enjoyed it when we were young.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans will also get the chance to catch Primoz Roglic, the 2020 Olympic gold medallist (time trial) and 2024 Vuelta a Espana champion, in action.<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old Slovenian said: \u201cThere are the top world-class sprinters here, and to be among them, and be one of them, it\u2019s pretty special. And I hope that on Sunday, I\u2019ll be able to write my name on the winning list, like Mark and Jasper did.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2025 route will see cyclists go past iconic landmarks like the Padang, Anderson Bridge and the Esplanade.<\/p>\n

Each lap covers a distance of 2.45km \u2013 slightly more than the 2.3km route in 2024 \u2013 but the number of laps remains at 25.<\/p>\n

There will also be a new mass participation event, A l\u2019Attaque, a ride series that allows amateur cyclists to experience the same closed-road circuit used by the professionals.<\/p>\n

The series will feature a team time trial for pairs and solo ride categories for masters (men aged 35 and above) and women (aged 17 and above), as well as a race for foldable bike riders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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