The Monday Pedal: This Week in Cycling (June 2, 2025)
From pro peloton punch-ups (figuratively, we promise) to tech tweaks and tented ambitions, here are the five cycling stories that stole the show this week:
1. Lille to Launch the 2025 Tour de France – And It’s Going to Be Wild
Source: Cycling Weekly
The Tour de France 2025 Grand Départ has been unveiled, and we’re starting in style – and cobbles – in Lille. The opening weekend features a punchy 185km opener through the hills of Flanders, followed by a potentially chaotic team time trial on narrow roads.
This year’s Tour is clearly designed to catch teams off guard early. The route’s mix of cobbles, wind-exposed plains, and tight urban finishes should separate the soigneurs from the squabblers. Expect crashes, crosswinds, and crosswords from the commentators trying to explain it all.
2. SRAM Red AXS Gets a 2025 Makeover: Lighter, Quieter, and Now With Fewer Excuses
Source: VeloNews
SRAM just dropped their latest update to Red AXS, and it’s basically the Marie Kondo of drivetrains. Lighter derailleurs, a redesigned power meter, and quieter brakes mean your bike can finally stop screaming during descents.
The levers have gone fully wireless (goodbye, ports), the hood shape is now more ergonomic, and yes, the price remains “optimistic.” Still, if your goal is to feel like a pro (or fool one into thinking you are), this might be the smoothest ride yet.
3. Lotte Kopecky Keeps Winning. Everyone Else Just Keeps Watching
Source: Rouleur
Lotte Kopecky stormed the Thüringen Ladies Tour this week like it was her personal warm-up ride. After dominating the punchy hilltop finishes and outsprinting rivals with apparent ease, she’s now tipped to take on the rest of the season with a suspiciously casual air.
She’s won everything from classics to stage races this year, and it looks like the only real question left is whether she’ll let someone else take a podium photo once in a while.
4. The Giant Revolt X Advanced Pro Review: Gravel’s Monster Smooth Operator
Source: BikeRadar
Giant’s new Revolt X Advanced Pro has landed – and it’s basically a mountain bike in a gravel bike’s dinner jacket. With 40mm of front suspension, dropper post compatibility, and a frame that looks sculpted by wind tunnel artists on holiday, this is the mullet of the cycling world: party up front, performance all over.
It’s aimed squarely at the increasingly rowdy world of gravel racing, and while purists may flinch at the suspension, riders with spines will rejoice.
5. Sleep Your Way to Victory: Altitude Tents Take Over the Pro Peloton
Source: CyclingTips
This week, a look into the slightly surreal world of altitude tents – the latest (and legal) way to get a leg up on your rivals. Riders are sleeping in simulated 2,000m+ elevations to boost red blood cell production and recovery.
While effective, the experience is akin to sleeping inside a low-budget spaceship. Several pros have joked that the only downside is sounding like Darth Vader through the night. But hey, if it helps drop the peloton, it’s worth the noise complaints.
In Summary
This week’s cycling world brought us gravel bikes that think they’re enduro machines, tent-dwelling pros gasping for gains, and SRAM’s attempt to make bike mechanics obsolete. The Tour route announcement promises chaos and classics-style drama, while Kopecky’s continued form reminds us that talent – and perhaps a good altitude tent – goes a long way.
