Everything you need to know about the Grand Départ in Boulogne-sur-Mer

From the Grandes Lettres in the colors of the various Tour de France jerseys in the harbor to the big yellow jersey on the Belfry, the whole town and all the people of Boulogne are getting ready to welcome the world's third biggest sporting event.

It's an opportunity for locals and tourists alike to experience the thrill of a hill climb finish at the end of Grande Rue and Boulevard Mariette, and to share their passion for cycling with supporters from all over the world, who come to celebrate, exchange ideas and enjoy a memorable day.

This letter is an opportunity to find out all about the program for this unique day, as well as access and parking arrangements, and to discover all the actions carried out throughout the year to celebrate the passage of the Tour de France through Boulogne-sur-Mer.

For it remains a rare moment. This is only the 5th time since 1949 that the capital of the Côte d'Opale has had the pleasure of hosting the Grande Boucle. It's an event that will have a major impact both economically and in terms of Boulogne-sur-Mer's image, as it reveals its many assets to millions of television viewers around the world.

See the program below!

Michel Chemin displays his love of cycling at City Hall

Boulonnais painter Michel Chemin declares his love of cycling in paintings and drawings from June 20 to July 7 at the town hall. On the second floor, discover a dozen large paintings and 60 cartoons from the book "La tête dans le guidon".

His brushstrokes are as fluid as his pedaling. Michel Chemin loves cycling, especially competitive cycling, the warm atmosphere of the roadsides, the long-distance breakaways, the sleeping pelotons, the hectic sprints, the raised arms, the bouquets, the podiums and the colorful dresses of the pretty girls flowering the winners. He doesn't like falls, but he renders them with the right brushstrokes, beautiful, funny and sometimes frightening." The words are signed Jean Réveillon, former general manager of France 2, and perfectly illustrate Michel Chemin's love of cycling.

Let's give them to cycling J-1 2025

On D-1 of the Tour de France, from July 4 to 26, 2025, Donnons des elles au vélo J-1 and its team of 9 amateur women cyclists will ride the same stages in their entirety the day before the professional men, with the aim of promoting women's cycling and developing the base of female cyclists.

A human, sporting and committed adventure built by women for women... and men defending the values of equality in sport!

The challenge is for the "fil rouge" team of national ambassadors to complete all the stages of the men's Tour de France on D-1, in order to inspire other women cyclists.

A goal shared with local cyclists of all types of bikes and riding styles, who are invited to complete all or part of one or more stages, to surpass themselves and ride together in a mixed environment.

Supported over the years by the United Nations, the International Cycling Union, the European Parliament, the French Ministry for Equality between Women and Men and the French Ministry of Sports, this project is part of a gender-balanced approach, inviting cyclists from the regions it crosses to ride alongside the participants on a daily basis, free of charge and open to all, with a limit of 35 women and 35 men. Registration opens at midnight on June 4! More information at https://www.donnonsdeselles.net

Websites: letouraboulogne.fr / ville-boulogne-sur-mer.fr