Tour de France: All You Need to Know

The route for the 112th edition of the Tour de France has been unveiled, sparking excitement among cycling fans worldwide. The race will kick off in Lille, France, and conclude in Paris. With no Olympic Games taking place in 2025, the Tour de France Femmes will also make its return!

Here’s all you need to know about the Tour de France and how to immerse yourself in its electrifying atmosphere.

When does the Tour de France start?

The Tour de France is usually a 3-week event that starts in early July, with the start of this historic event being known as the Grand Départ. The location of the Grand Départ, since the 1970s, has been awarded to different cities outside of France to increase international interest in this cycling event.

In 2024 the Tour de France Grand Départ 111^th edition took place in the beautiful city of Florence, Italy and to ensure smooth running of this cycling event, the race ended in Nice, France because of the 2024 Olympic games being held in Paris.

Where will the next edition of the Tour de France start? Click here to find out the Tour de France route.

How long is the Tour de France?

Recognised as the largest annual sporting event in the world, this prestigious race draws approximately 200 professional cyclists from across the globe each year. Over the course of 23 grueling days, these elite athletes cover an astonishing distance of over 3,500 kilometers (roughly 2,000 miles).

The route alternates annually between clockwise and counterclockwise circuits, taking riders through a variety of challenging terrains. This unparalleled combination of endurance, strategy, and skill has solidified the race’s reputation as the ultimate test in cycling, widely regarded as the pinnacle of the sport.

How many stages are there in the Tour de France?

The Tour de France is split into 21 stages, each designed to test different cyclists skills in endurance, strength and strategy. These stages include 7 flat stages, 6 hilly stages, and 6 mountain stages, 5 of which culminate in dramatic mountain-top finishes, as well as 2 individual time trials.

The flat stages are characterised by relatively level terrain, allowing riders to reach exceptionally high speeds. These stages often result in thrilling sprint finishes.

Hilly stages, on the other hand, introduce a mix of rolling terrain and smaller climbs. While not as daunting as the mountain stages, they demand tactical precision and stamina.

The mountain stages are widely regarded as the most grueling and iconic parts of the race. Featuring long, steep ascents and high-altitude challenges, these stages push riders to their physical and mental limits.

Finally, the time trials present a unique challenge, as riders race individually against the clock on closed roads. These stages demand a combination of power and pacing.

Tour de France Femmes

The Tour de France took significant steps towards gender inclusivity in 2014 with the introduction of the Tour de France Femmes, a one-day race held on the iconic Champs-Élysées. Since then, the event has seen further growth, expanding in 2017 to a two-day race that challenged competitors with mountainous terrain. In recent years, the race has evolved to a nine-day event.

The Tour de France Femmes features a diverse range of stages featuring flat sprints, hilly courses, medium mountains and gruelling back-to-back mountain climbs, designed to push the endurance and skill of the world’s top female cyclists.

Where can you watch the Tour de France?

The Tour de France is the most epic cycling event in history and welcomes spectators from around the world to experience the electric atmosphere in-person each year.

Sports Tours International are an official partner of the Tour de France and offer many ride or spectating packages that allow cycling enthusiasts the opportunity to experience phenomenal cycling event.

Tour de France Travel Packages.

How many riders compete in the Tour de France?

This annual cycling event welcomes only the elite professional cyclists who are members of International Cycling Unions. This is then divided into 22 pro cycling teams of 8 or 9 riders, amounting to around 200 competitors.

However, there are plenty of opportunities for cyclists who are not part of an International Cycling Union to race in the same routes before the official Tour de France kick starts. Each year one of the stages of this cycling event is chosen to be the Etape du Tour, allowing amateur riders the opportunity to ride in one of the Tour de France stages under professional race conditions.

When does the Tour de France finish?

After three weeks of intense competition, the Tour de France traditionally concludes at the end of July, with the iconic finish taking place on the historic Champs-Élysées in the heart of Paris, France. This prestigious finale, often described as the grand celebration of cycling, is a moment of triumph and spectacle, attracting fans from around the globe to witness the final leg of the race.

Since 1975, Paris has been the race’s permanent finishing location, providing a picturesque and symbolic backdrop for crowning the champion. Typically, the Tour concludes with a ceremonial ride into the city, followed by a thrilling final stage that sometimes features a time trial, where the riders battle for any last opportunity to improve their standings.