Belgian climber Steff Cras enjoyed a strong start to 2025 with a sixth-place overall at the Vuelta a Andalucía. Yet questions swirl around his future at TotalEnergies, where he stands as the lone non-French rider and his Tour de France selection remains in doubt. With the race organizers granting an unexpected extra wildcard, Cras is vocal about safety concerns and team politics. As his contract nears its end, he faces not only the challenge of earning a Tour berth, but also securing his professional path beyond this season.
Born on February 10, 1996, in Deurne, Belgium, Cras turned professional in 2018 and quickly demonstrated his climbing prowess. Over the years, he has played valuable support roles in Grand Tours and seized opportunities in week-long stage races. His consistency and versatility have made him one of TotalEnergies’ most reliable general-classification riders. Below are the key milestones that chart his progression from neo-pro to GC contender:
Career highlights:
These achievements underline Cras’s steady improvement and capacity to shoulder leadership responsibilities. His GC results have become a cornerstone of TotalEnergies’ ambitions in stage races. Despite his record, selection for cycling’s biggest race is never certain, particularly when team strategy and sponsorship pressures come into play.
Cras expected a firm invitation after TotalEnergies’ wildcard win last year and Anthony Turgis’s stage triumph, but the addition of a 23rd team has left him frustrated with ASO and UCI’s decision-making. He argues that expanding the peloton undermines safety and reflects commercial influence over sporting integrity. Meanwhile, his own contract talks are reportedly stalled, raising doubts about whether the team still values international talent. Below are the main factors shaping this uncertain selection process:
Main factors:
These factors converge to make Cras’s Tour de France spot the most hotly contested on his team. His public criticism of organizational decisions speaks to broader tensions in pro cycling between commerce, safety, and sporting merit. As Cras presses for clarity, his performance in the Ardennes and beyond will be every bit as crucial as boardroom negotiations.
Steff Cras’s battle for recognition highlights the precarious nature of professional cycling, where team strategy, sponsorship deals, and rider performance intertwine. His vocal stance on safety and fairness suggests a rider determined to shape his own destiny. As the Tour de France roster finalizes, Cras must continue delivering top-tier results to make his case undeniable. Regardless of next month’s announcement, his resolve and talent position him as one of Belgium’s most promising climbers and a rider to watch in the Grand Tours to come.