We know the Grand Départ for 2025! The start of the Tour de France returns to France

At a press conference on 30 November, the organisers of the Tour de France unveiled the Grand Départ for 2025. Participants will start the 112th edition of the world’s most famous cycling race from the city of Lille, a city of 200,000. The Old Lady will thus be relaunched on French territory after three starts across the border.

Tour de France organisers unveil 2025 Grand Départ

The Tour de France last started in France in 2021, when the Grand Départ was hosted by Brest in the Brittany region. This was followed by opening ceremonies in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Bilbao, Spain. For next year’s edition of the Old Lady, participants will start the race from Florence in the heart of Tuscany.

A press conference held in Lille, site of the future start ceremony, introduced the first three stages of the 2025 Tour de France. The route revealed that the organisers are unlikely to take the opportunity to visit the fabled Paris-Roubaix cubes as part of the race, although the opening stages will pass in close proximity to the famous monument.

Across the north of France

The riders will start the first stage on July 5 in the north of France from the capital of the Hauts-de-France region. A 185-kilometre circuit around Lille is set to take them back to the tradition of flat opening stages. For the first time in several years, sprinters will get the chance to wear the legendary yellow jersey on the first day.

The peloton will then move on to the Pas-de-Calais department. The riders will ride from east to west between Lauwin-Planque and Boulogne-sur-Mer.

The organisers expect that the end of the 209km second stage may suit the explosive classics riders in particular. With less than 10km to go, riders will be tested by two climbs, first in Saint Étienne-au-Mont, with sections of up to 15% gradient, and then in Outreau. There is likely to be a change of yellow leader’s jersey, and the contenders for the overall lead will also have to be wary.

The next stage, 172km long, will run between Valenciennes and Dunkerque. After a relaxed start, the riders will face the 2.3km climb of the Côte de Cassel. At the finish of the third day, almost in sight of the English Channel, the strength and direction of the wind is expected to play a decisive role, promising an interesting spectacle for the spectators.

It is not known where the peloton will go on day four after the start from Amiens, nor is the route of the other stages. The full shape of the 112th edition will be revealed after the end of the Tour de France 2024, which will be very unusual in its course. For the first time in the history of the race, the peloton will not pass through the French capital, because of the Olympic Games, the winner of the next Old Lady will enjoy the victory in Nice.

Source: Amaury Sport Organisation