The full details for the 2025 Tour de France, which will begin in Lille in northern France, have been announced. The course, which covers only France, runs “counterclockwise” through the Massif Central and the Pyrenees. The race then enters the Alps from Mont Ventoux and finishes on the Champs Elysées in Paris.
Mark Cavendish (Astana Kazakhstan, UK) at the course presentation image:ASO
Tour de France 2025 course map image:ASOOn Tuesday, October 29th, the course presentation for the 112th Tour de France was held at the Palais des Congrès (International Conference Center) in Paris, as usual. Although the big four who competed for the maillot jaune this year (Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepour, Roglič) were not present at the venue, the retiring Mark Cavendish (England, Astana Kazakstan) was in attendance. Tournament director Christian Prudhomme revealed the full details of the course.
As previously reported, the opening location will be Lille, in the Nord department, located in the northernmost part of France. From there, they will head “counterclockwise” through France to Brittany, where they will take part in the first mountain stage of the competition in the Massif Central. After a first day of rest in Toulouse and a mountain battle in the Pyrenees, we had a second day of rest in Montpellier, facing the Mediterranean Sea. The final week will see them climb the Alps from Mont Ventoux, and then finish in Paris for the first time in two years.
Stage category breakdown
Flat stage: 7
Hilly stage: 6
Mountain stage: 6
Individual time trial: 2
“Magic Mountain” Mont Ventoux that appears in the 16th stage photo: Kei Tsuji
The notable stages of this year’s tournament are the 13th stage, where an individual time trial with an uphill slope is held (course profile has not been announced), the 16th stage, which finishes at Mont Ventoux, and the Col de Rose, which is considered the queen stage. It’s probably the 18th stage. The total distance of 3,320km/total elevation gain of 51,500m is a slight decrease compared to this year’s numbers, but the harsh mountains will still pose a challenge to the athletes.
It is also worth noting that the 2025 tournament will not take place outside of France, and the first week will include one more day than usual until the 10th stage.
Week 1
Tour de France 2025 10th stage image:ASO
The first day will be a flat stage, so the athletes who win the group sprint will likely wear the maillot jaune. On the second day, punchers have an advantage as there is a short steep hill before the finish. After that, the stages continued to be hilly and flat, and on the fifth day, the 33km individual TT, which was the turn of the general race, finally arrived.
The first mountain stage of the tournament is the 10th stage, which is the last day of the first week. Although the 4,400m elevation gain does not include long climbs on mountains, you can expect to see some intense climbing battles befitting Bastille Day.
Week 2
Tour de France 2025 14th stage image:ASO
The setting for the second week is the Pyrenees Mountains in southern France, near the border with Spain. On the 12th day, I finished the Autacum (distance 13.6km/average 7.8%), and on the 13th day I did an 11km climb time trial. The 14th day will be the 3rd day where the overall battle with Luchon Superbaniere (distance 12.4km/average 7.5%) will intensify.
Week 3
After spending their second rest day in Montpellier, the athletes were suddenly faced with the “magical mountain” of Mont Ventoux (distance 15.7km/average 8.8%). This is the place where Christopher Froome (GBR) fell while wearing a maillot jaune in 2016 and ran up through the crowd. Also, in 2021, Wout van Aert (Belgium) ran away and won on the course he has climbed twice, and we are looking forward to a memorable victory.
Tour de France 2025 18th stage image:ASO
The 18th stage, which finishes at the top of Roz Pass (distance 26.2km/average 6.5%), is considered the queen stage (the most difficult stage) of this tournament. This climb, which aims for an altitude of 2,304m, was held in 2023 by Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia), who lost the race and Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark) took the overall victory. Also, before that, they will have to cross two 2,000m-class mountains, so it will be a big day with an elevation gain of 5,500m.
After that, there will be a short mountain stage and a hilly stage, and the finale will be held at the Champs Elysées in Paris, which was not possible this year due to the Paris Olympics.
Champs Elysées, the final destination for the first time in two years photo: Makoto AYANO
