Felix Gall eyes historic home victory at the Tour of the Alps

Two years ago, he was an outsider to watch; now, Felix Gall enters the 2025 Tour of the Alps (April 21-25) officially listed among the race favorites. Over two seasons, Gall has evolved from a talented prospect of Austrian cycling to an established figure in international cycling, and the protected leader of World Tour Team Decathlon-Ag2R when the roads tilt upwards.

For Felix, who first rose to prominence at the 2023 Tour of the Alps, this year's Euro-regional stage race carries special significance. Precisely forty years ago, in 1985, the Austrian flag was raised atop the podium at the Giro del Trentino for the first and only time, thanks to Harald Maier.

This drought has endured even after the event evolved into its current Euroregional format, starting in 2017, a dry spell Gall has the chance to break precisely on his home roads in East Tyrol. Indeed, the #TotA 2025 will reach its decisive conclusion on Friday, April 25, in Lienz, Osttirol, less than five kilometers from Nußdorf-Debant, where Felix was born on February 27, 1998.

For Felix Gall, the countdown to the Tour of the Alps has already begun: “It will be a special race—I can already feel the excitement. Few riders have the opportunity in their career to compete in a race tailored to their strengths on their home training roads, with a real chance at overall victory. I hope to fully exploit this opportunity.”

In 2023, it was indeed the Tour of the Alps that gave Gall the confidence to race shoulder-to-shoulder with the elite of global cycling. After narrowly missing a stage win in Alpbach and consistently racing at the front throughout the #TotA, he went on to claim victory in the queen stage of the Tour de Suisse and subsequently conquered a grueling Alpine stage of the Tour de France, finishing eighth overall.

“The #TotA 2023 was a turning point," Gall confirms. "It was an exceptional experience, racing in front of family and friends, feeling such incredible support along the roads—it's not something you have in every race. Of course, there will be higher expectations this year, but that motivates me to deliver my best."

“The Tour of the Alps will wrap up the first part of my season. I have already raced Paris-Nice and am currently competing in the Volta a Catalunya. Afterward, I will spend some recovery days at home in Osttirol to prepare optially for the #TotA challenge," Gall continued. "The last two stages unfold on my training roads, but I won't rule out checking the finale of some other stages to ensure I am thoroughly prepared."

In his quest for the Melinda Green Jersey, Gall will be supported by a strong lineup: in 2024, Team Decathlon-Ag2R stood out as the most aggressive squad on the Euregio roads of Trentino-Südtirol/Alto Adige and Tirol. Among the anticipated teammates of Gall is French climber Geoffrey Bouchard, winner of the Mountains Classification at the 2019 Vuelta a España and the 2021 Giro d'Italia, and the first leader of the #TotA 2022 after surprising rivals at the finish line in Fiera di Primiero.

"Although our final lineup hasn't been confirmed yet, I am confident of having strong climbers capable of setting a high pace. There's no doubt our team will race as protagonists," Gall said.

From April 21 to 25, Tirol will unite in one powerful voice, pushing him toward the finish line: Felix Gall is ready to chase his dream on home soil, where every triumph holds an even deeper meaning.