Bahrain Victorious Aiming for More Success at the 2025 Tour of Britain
# Bahrain Victorious Gears Up for the Challenge at the 2025 Tour of Britain
As Bahrain Victorious currently showcases impressive performances at the Vuelta a España, the team is set to shift its focus to the Tour of Britain next week. The 21st edition of this prestigious race kicks off on Tuesday in Woodbridge and spans six stages, culminating in Cardiff on Sunday. This year’s route predominantly favors sprinters, although the fifth stage promises a robust challenge for climbers.
Sports Director Roman Kreuziger elaborated on the course layout, stating, “The race is six stages long, and is a bit more on the south compared to last year. I would say the first three stages should be sprints. Then stage four finishes with a kick. The fifth stage, the Queen stage, is very solid, with a five-kilometre climb at 8% that we do twice. And then the last stage to Cardiff, that seems elevation-wise could be a sprint, but we have to be ready for everything because nine kilometres before the finish, there is another kick that really gives opportunities to many riders.”
Kreuziger also acknowledged the unique challenges that lie ahead, emphasizing that the smaller roads and varying skill levels within the peloton will influence the outcome of the race. He remarked, “As usual the roads are pretty small, and there will be a different level in the bunch, but those guys who want to compete are very high-level riders. So we have to be realistic with our goals.”
Four of the six-man lineup for Bahrain Victorious have previously competed in this race, including Matevž Govekar, who secured victory in the final stage in Felixstowe. The rising star is looking to replicate that success early on, with flat stages tailored for sprinters in the first two days. He will receive valuable support from former British champion Fred Wright, participating in his home race, alongside the talented Žak Eržen and seasoned rider Edoardo Zambanini, who claimed third place in stage three last year.
Leading the team’s overall ambitions is Pello Bilbao, who made a strong impression during his debut at last year’s event. Zambanini and Wright will bolster his efforts on the steeper sections of the course, with Portuguese rider Afonso Eulálio providing essential support and potential opportunities as they arise.
Kreuziger provided insight into the team’s strategy: “We have Pello as leader, and Edoardo who also did it last year. Then we have Afonso who is in great shape and we are really looking forward to having him there because the course suits him really well. Then we have the winner of last year’s last stage, Matevž, who is getting there step by step and I really hope that he can do an amazing finale to the season. Then Freddie, who will want to show himself on home landscape. He knows what we want to see there and he’s in amazing shape. Finally, we have the young kid Žak who should be really important, especially in the first three days for Matevž.”
The initial stages of the Tour of Britain will take place near the eastern coast, marked by flat terrain and minimal climbing. The first leg features a 161 km route from Woodbridge to Southwold, followed by a 169 km loop around Stowmarket. The race then transitions to central England for a hilly 123 km stretch from Milton Keynes to Ampthill, before tackling the second toughest stage, a demanding 187 km journey from Atherstone to Burton Dassett.
The competition will intensify over the weekend in Wales. Saturday’s leg begins in Pontypool and includes four categorized climbs over a 133 km route leading to ‘The Tumble’. The final stage on Sunday, while the shortest at 112 km from Newport to Cardiff, presents a challenging profile and unpredictable dynamics.
Kreuziger concluded by highlighting the significance of motivation and teamwork: “Being just six riders, we have to be careful how we split the task and do the things properly. For me, the biggest thing is to have riders that are motivated. And then everything comes after that. So the focus from day one to six will be on the challenges of the course: smaller roads, wind, the weather, and we have to be ready for everything. We want to be stage winners, but we have to be careful if we want to fight for the podium to take some intermediate sprints where there are also bonus seconds. I think top three on GC with Pello is achievable. And with the sprinters a stage win is also possible. The combination of Pello and Zamba – who finished 7th last year – can do really well. So we want to have someone on the podium.”
