Cycling’s top sprinters converged in Singapore for the Tour de France Singapore Criterium over the weekend, bringing world-class cycling to Asia’s doorstep.
Returning for its fourth edition, the Singapore Criterium featured 25 laps around the country’s iconic street circuit.
While all eyes were on Belgian sprint superstar Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin–Deceuninck, it was Lidl–Trek’s Jonathan Milan who blew his rivals away to snatch the win in a hair-raising sprint finish.
Criterium races are known for being high-speed, high-adrenaline affairs and typically take place on a closed circuit where cyclists must do a pre-determined number of laps for a fixed period of time.
Milan cements green jersey dominance
Riders were expecting to face sweltering, tropical conditions in Singapore but were instead given a tricky wet course that made the race even more dramatic.
In the end, EF Education–EasyPost’s Ben Healy tried to go for a breakaway in the final lap.
However, the peloton managed to close the gap 700 metres before the finish line.
From there, the sprint was on, with Milan eventually outpacing Intermarché–Wanty’s Biniam Girmay and Philipsen, who took second and third place, respectively.
Milan’s victory was even more impressive considering he had not previously raced in Singapore.
Retired rider Sir Mark Cavendish won the criterium in 2024 after Philipsen had done so in 2023.
“I’m really happy to have won here… it’s my first time racing in Singapore, so it feels really special to take the victory,” Milan told The Straits Times.
“I have to say that I was not expecting this weather. The last couple of days were pretty hot, but today for the first hour of the race it was raining a lot and that can sometimes influence the race.
“But the road was pretty good and it was clean and I was able to ride really well on the bike.”
He also praised his teammates from Lidl–Trek, saying they “did a really good job”, particularly on the last lap when they helped Milan position for the sprint.
The Italian enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2025, with his debut appearance at the Tour de France seeing him topple fellow sprinters to snatch the green jersey – an honour bestowed to the rider with the highest points classification.
He previously topped the points classification category at the Giro d’Italia in 2023 and 2024.
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TDF goes beyond Europe
Besides bringing the stars and offering various fan experiences, the 2025 edition of the Singapore Criterium introduced a new way of involving cycling enthuasiasts with À l’Attaque – Asia’s first official TDF mass-participation event.
À l’Attaque provided everyday cyclists a chance to ride on the same closed-road circuit as the pros, where they could test their speed, stamina, and strategy in a range of categories across team and individual road races.
Speaking in an interview with A+ Singapore, Singapore Criterium race director Yannick Talabardon emphasised how big and crucial it was for such an event to be held in Southeast Asia.
The Singapore Criterium is one of very few opportunities for Asian fans to witness their cycling champions compete in a high-intensity race, Talabardon added.
It also offers exposure to local teams as part of efforts to uplift cycling in the region.
For the race director, bringing TDF-branded events to Southeast Asia meant “sharing the magic of the tour far beyond Europe”.
“TDF is one of the world’s most iconic sporting brands, and bringing it to Southeast Asia allows us to connect with new audiences, celebrate the universal appeal of cycling, and create memorable experiences in a region where the sport’s popularity continues to grow,” he explained.
Next stop for the TDF is the J:Com Saitama Criterium in Japan, where some of the tour’s best riders will compete, including two-time TDF champion and current world number two, Jonas Vingegaard.
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Geoffrey H. Latayan 
Vivien Bernardino