Grand Departure of the Lille-Nord de France Tour
After hosting the start of the fifth stage of the Tour de France in July 2022, the Métropole Européenne de Lille, the Département du Nord and the Région Hauts-de-France joined forces to support the region's bid to host the Grand Départ 2025. With great success, as the world's best cyclists will set off from Lille, capital of Flanders, on July 5.
This is already the fourth time the city has hosted the Tour's Grand Départ, after the 1960, 1969 and 1994 editions. The program includes four stages over four days, as well as the traditional team presentation sequence, two days before the start of the Tour.
"For this Grand Départ, we absolutely wanted a land of cycling, that breathes cycling, that breathes cycling, that loves cycling. And the alliance of these three communities is something very strong. We know that we have the warmth of people from the North here, but also that we love cycling, champions and the Tour. It was obvious to us that the Tour should start in the North after three years abroad", explained Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, at the event's D-100, held at the Métropole on March 26.
The 4 stages of the Grand Départ
The region will be in the spotlight with four stages, including climbs in the Monts des Flandres and a passage through the Pas-de-Calais.
Discover the route of the first 4 stages:
- July 5: Lille Métropole > Lille Métropole (185 km, finish on boulevard Vauban, Lille)
- July 6: Lauwin-Planque > Boulogne-sur-Mer (209 km)
- July 7: Valenciennes > Dunkirk (172 km)
- July 8: Amiens > Rouen (173 km)
Events not to be missed
Thursday, July 3 to Saturday, July 5: Tour de France Fan Park
For the first stage around the metropolis, a Fan Park set up on Place de la République in Lille will be open free of charge on Thursday 3rd from 2pm to 7pm, Friday 4th from 10am to 7pm and Saturday 5th from 10am to 6pm. The venue will bring together the Tour's partners, and will feature a bike park and bike-riding activities.
Thursday, July 3: Team presentation
The party kicks off a few days before the first stage with the traditional presentation of the teams. At 6:30 p.m. on the Grand-Place in Lille, the great champions of the 23 teams taking part in the Tour will mount the podium. After their briefing at the Opéra de Lille, the riders will follow a "parade" route, team by team. They will make their way up Rue Faidherbe, past Lille-Flandres station and then Rue du Molinel, returning to Grand-Place via Rue Pierre-Mauroy to be presented on a round stage in the shape of a bicycle wheel. A great moment at the start of the Tour!
Saturday, July 5: The Grand Depart of the Tour Lille-Nord de France
The start village at the Citadelle will be bustling with activity from early morning. Strollers will be able to see riders and bikes, near the podium and the team paddock (where cyclists and bikes are prepared). The Tour de France Caravan will depart from the Citadelle at 11:05 am. Fans will be able to watch the peloton set off from the Champ de Mars esplanade at 1:05pm for the fictitious start. The start ceremony at Porte de Paris, Lille, takes place at 13:10. The real start will take place at 13:35 on the M147 (Lille towards Wattignies), where the riders will be able to travel at full speed. The caravan is expected to arrive at the finish line at around 4 p.m., while the first riders are expected to return to Lille at around 5:30 p.m. for a sprint down boulevard Vauban.
Practical information on: lillemetropole.fr, letour.fr and letourlille-norddefrance.fr