The 2025 edition of the Tour de France (the 112th edition) will take place from July 5 to July 27, 2025, and will be held entirely within France — a rare occurrence in recent years, especially considering that next year’s Grand Départ will take place in Barcelona. The race will start in northern France, specifically in Lille, and will once again finish on the iconic Champs-Élysées in Paris, after the Olympic year forced a temporary move to Nice. This will mark the 50th finish on this legendary avenue.
The route, spanning approximately 3,320 km, offers a very balanced and exciting design: seven flat stages for sprinters, six hilly stages, six mountain stages with five summit finishes, and two individual time trials (a flat one in Caen and an uphill time trial in Peyragudes). As always, there are two rest days, in Toulouse and Montpellier, strategically placed during the second and third weeks.
The first half of the Tour keeps the tension high with flat and slightly undulating stages that could split the peloton due to crosswinds and the always-feared crashes, especially in the Normandy region and along the Channel coast. Some stages, such as those finishing in Mûr-de-Bretagne and Vire Normandie, provide the perfect terrain for puncheurs to shake things up and go after the polka-dot jersey.
The 2024 Tour de France passes by the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Image: © A.S.O./Billy Ceusters
The second week is focused on the Pyrenees, with a historic trio of stages: a finish in Hautacam, followed by a rare uphill time trial to Peyragudes, and culminating in Luchon-Superbagnères, with nearly 5,000 meters of total elevation gain. In the third week, the action shifts to the Alps, featuring the return of the mythical Mont Ventoux in stage 16, followed by the queen stage (stage 18), which includes the legendary climbs of Glandon, Madeleine, and the Col de la Loze (2,304 m), climbed from Courchevel. The mountain drama continues in stage 19 with a summit finish in La Plagne (2,052 m), and then an explosive medium mountain stage in the Jura, from Nantua to Pontarlier (stage 20), ahead of the final showdown in Paris.
All rider profiles will have their opportunities — from sprinters to pure climbers, as well as time trial specialists and puncheurs. The return of Mont Ventoux adds a mythical dimension that always ignites the race, while the final in Paris — featuring several ascents of Montmartre — sets the stage for a vibrant and unpredictable finish, far from the traditional bunch sprint. This stage was inspired by the road race course of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which ended with a sensational victory for Remco Evenepoel in front of a packed and electrified crowd. The inclusion of an uphill time trial, a rare feature in recent editions, reinforces the idea that this Tour is designed to break conventions and keep fans on edge until the very last moment.
Two names stand out above the rest: Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard remain the leading figures, expected to battle for the overall victory. All eyes will be on the Slovenian after a stellar season, while uncertainty surrounds the Danish rider, whose injuries have kept him from performing at his highest level. Other contenders like Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič, among others, will also be looking to seize opportunities and challenge the status quo.
In short, the 2025 Tour de France offers a rich and varied route: a first week filled with tactical tension due to wind, a second week dominated by Pyrenean climbs, and a thrilling Alpine finale crowned by the queen stage, followed by an unprecedented and dynamic finish in Paris.
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