Start Pro Peloton Tour de France 2025 Preview: Route and Stages

Tour de France 2025 Preview: Route and Stages

The biggest and most important bike race in the world, the 2025 Tour de France, runs from July 5 to 27, covering 21 stages and a total of 3,350 kilometers with 51,550 meters of climbing. The 21 stages break down like this: 7 flat stages, 6 hilly stages, 6 mountain stages with 5 summit finishes, and 2 time trials.

The Grand Boucle kicks off in Lille, up in northern France. After a first week packed with sprint stages, classic routes, and a time trial, the peloton hits the Massif Central just before the rest day. In the second week, the riders will face the Pyrenees and iconic climbs like the Tourmalet. The final week features summit finishes on Mont Ventoux and in the Alps. The 112th edition of the Tour de France wraps up with the final stage to Paris, ending with the traditional Tour d’Honneur on the Champs-Élysées.

Double Trouble at Mûr-de-Bretagne on Stage 7

After the well-known three days in northern France, the pros will stick close to the coast. First up are two more stages – one for the sprinters and one for the punchers – plus a long 33-kilometer time trial in Normandy, before the Mûr-de-Bretagne steals the show. Just like in 2021, the climb will be done twice, and it’s sure to bring back great memories for the winner from that year, Mathieu van der Poel.

Before things get real for the GC riders on Bastille Day, the sprinters will have their moments to shine in Laval and Chateauroux – unless the wind blows the peloton apart. On Bastille Day, the riders will tackle seven categorized climbs in the Massif Central over 163 kilometers on their way to the first summit finish. All in all, the climbs of this stage add up to a hefty 4,400 meters of elevation gain.

Next up is a rest day in Toulouse, which this year falls on an unusual Tuesday. The southern French city will also host the start and finish of the following 11th stage, which could be another one for the fast guys.

One day later, the route takes the peloton into the Pyrenees. First up is a stage finishing at the summit of Hautacam, followed by an 11-kilometer mountain time trial to the Altiport of Peyragudes. The Pyrenean trilogy wraps up with the 14th stage, which is meant to bring back memories of the duel between Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond in 1986. From Pau, the pros will ride the same route over the Tourmalet and Aspin to the final climb to Luchon-Superbagnères.

Throwback to the LeMond vs. Hinault Showdown in Luchon-Superbagnères

The next day leads the riders to the fortress of Carcassonne and is likely to be a day for the breakaway riders on the rolling terrain, before they get to rest up on the second rest day ahead of the final week.

Finish on Mont Ventoux at the End of Stage 16

This stage kicks off with a bang. Stage 16 takes the riders up to the Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux. This climb could be a game-changer in the fight for the Yellow Jersey.

Queen Stage of the 2025 Tour de France to Col de la Loze

After a transfer stage, the riders hit the Alps on “Day 18.” But calling it that really downplays the challenge ahead. It’s the Queen Stage. It takes the riders from Vif over the Col du Glandon and Col de la Madeleine to the final climb up to Col de la Loze, the highest point of this year’s Tour at 2,304 meters.

By the end of this day, we might know who the 2025 Tour winner is. If he has enough of a lead, that is, because the next day brings a real rollercoaster on the second and final Alpine stage. The 130-kilometer stage is never flat and includes five categorized climbs, ending with the 19.1-kilometer ascent to the ski resort of La Plagne.

While the GC riders need to get through Stage 20 without any mishaps, the breakaway specialists and sprinter teams will have one last chance to show what they’ve got. On Sunday, the Tour wraps up traditionally with the final stage to Paris.

All 21 Stages of the 2025 Tour de France at a Glance

StageDateStart – FinishDistance
1July 5Lille Métropole – Lille Métropole185 km
2July 6Lauwin-Planque – Boulogne-sur-Mer212 km
3July 7Valenciennes – Dunkirk178 km
4July 8Amiens Métropole – Rouen173 km
5July 9Caen – Caen (Individual Time Trial)33 km
6July 10Bayeux – Vire Normandie201 km
7July 11Saint-Malo – Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan194 km
8July 12Saint-Méen-le-Grand – Laval Espace Mayenne174 km
9July 13Chinon – Chateauroux170 km
10July 14Ennezat – Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy163 km
11July 16Toulouse – Toulouse154 km
12July 17Auch – Hautacam181 km
13July 18Loudenvielle – Peyragudes (Mountain Time Trial)11 km
14July 19Pau – Luchon-Superbagnères183 km
15July 20Muret – Carcassonne169 km
16July 22Montpellier – Mont Ventoux172 km
17July 23Bollène – Valence161 km
18July 24Vif – Courchevel Col de la Loze171 km
19July 25Albertville – La Plagne130 km
20July 26Nantua – Pontarlier185 km
21July 27Mantes-la-Ville – Paris Champs-Élysées120 km

Profiles: © A.S.O.
Maps: © A.S.O. – © GEOATLAS.fr