After Copenhagen (2022), Bilbao (2023) and Florence (2024), the Tour de France will return to France for its big start in 2025. After announcing Lille as the scene of the big start, the organizers unveiled this Thursday the first three stages of editing. With few cobblestones (with the exception of those sown on the coast of Cassel, 3rd stage, famous passage during the 4 Days of Dunkirk, also at the heart of the last and sumptuous French championship) but not without difficulties, especially if the wind invites himself.
On July 5, 2025, the 1st stage will be a loop around Lille (185 km) which should suit sprinters. The 2nd stage which will take the peloton from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer (209 km) will be more designed for punchers. The 3rd stage, finally, will go from Valenciennes to Dunkirk (172 km) and could see a new sprint. Before the 4th stage which will start from Amiens.
Regarding the marked absence of cobblestones, Christian Prudhomme, the tour director, explained in La Voix du Nord: “The stage which could have made them legitimate is the first (Lille-Lille) and that gives us seemed too big a risk. Furthermore, we decided to favor the mountains, and that makes the second stage of Boulogne. Which can do great damage. We all have in mind the ascent of Cape Blanc-Nez, with Wout Van Aert in yellow and acting like a bird (in 2022). The finale of the Boulogne stage is even tougher. We love cobblestones, I played a part in bringing them back after a long absence. They will come back. We are lucky to already have the queen of the classics every year. We chose more sprinters and punchers, without jeopardizing the favorites. Sprints? I want to say that it’s like the Worlds. From time to time when Cipollini or Cavendish win, it looks good too. Indeed, the first yellow jersey should be worn by a sprinter. This loop to the south and return to the northwest takes us through emblematic places. We also have a first passage through Cassel, since we return there in the third stage.
