Seven flat stages, six hilly days, six mountain stages – five of them finishing at altitude – plus two time trials: that’s the 2025 Tour de France. The route has it all:
Fast sprints, brutal climbs in the Pyrenees and Alps, and dramatic finishes. From 5 to 27 July 2025, the 112th edition of cycling’s biggest race winds its way through France. Alpecin Cycling has taken a stage-by-stage look at the 2025 Tour – from the Grand Départ in Lille to the final showdown in Paris.
Stage 1 | 5 July | Lille Métropole – Lille Métropole | 184.9 km
The 2025 Tour de France opens with a sweeping loop around Lille, ridden anticlockwise. Over the 185 km route, wind could become a key factor. While the sprinter teams eye up the stage win, the polka dot jersey will be hotly contested. Three categorised climbs – including Côte de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette and the cobbled ramp up to Mont Cassel – give breakaway riders a real shot.
The final climb comes 40 km from the line, giving the sprinter trains time to bring things back together. The last kilometre runs dead straight at the foot of the Lille Citadel – a perfect set-up for a dramatic bunch sprint.
Stage 2 | 6 July | Lauwin-Planque – Boulogne-sur-Mer | 209.1 km
Stage 2 gives the puncheurs a chance to shine. The 209 km route from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer winds through the undulating terrain of Pas-de-Calais, with the final 50 kilometres especially lumpy. Wind off the sea could add to the chaos.
Positioning will be everything – not just for stage hunters, but also for GC hopefuls trying to stay out of trouble. In the finale, the brutal 15% Côte de Saint-Étienne-au-Mont is followed immediately by the Côte d’Outreau, before the road rises again into Boulogne-sur-Mer. Expect fireworks at the finish.
Stage 3 | 7 July | Valenciennes – Dunkirk | 178.3 km
Stage 3 runs 172 km from Valenciennes to Dunkirk, tracing a route near several famous pavé sectors, including Mons-en-Pévèle, through France’s old mining heartland. After the intermediate sprint in Isbergues – home to a well-known one-day race – the peloton turns towards the North Sea.
The Côte de Cassel is the day’s only real climb, but it’s the final 30 km where crosswinds could cause real trouble. Will a breakaway survive, or will we see a full-bunch sprint in one of the world’s most storied port cities? One thing’s certain: it’ll be fast and fiercely contested.
Stage 4 | 8 July | Amiens Métropole – Rouen | 174.2 km
Stage 4 starts in Amiens, the historic capital of Picardy, and heads west through rolling terrain into Normandy. At 173 km long, the route is shaped by wind and topography. On the open plains early on, echelons could quickly form and shake things up.
The final third is littered with short, punchy climbs – too hard for the pure sprinters. The Côte Jacques Anquetil looks tailor-made for late attacks and could set the tone for a dramatic finish.
With 20 km to go, the peloton hits the historic Côte de Bonsecours, passing the memorial to French legend Jean Robic. Then come the Côte de Grand’Mare and the savage Saint-Hilaire – a brutal 15% ramp that will empty the legs before a 5 km high-speed descent into Rouen.
The final kick? A 500-metre uphill drag just after the flamme rouge in Anquetil’s hometown. Expect fireworks from punchy climbers and GC riders with a finishing kick.
Stage 5 | 9 July | Caen – Caen (Individual Time Trial) | 33 km
The first of two time trials at this year’s Tour comes on Stage 5 in Caen. The Normandy city marks its 1,000-year anniversary in 2025 – the perfect stage for a dramatic race against the clock.
The route is fast and flat, running mostly along wide, arrow-straight roads with little in the way of technical demands – ideal for pure power riders.
The time trial specialists will have their eye on the stage win, but also the chance to take yellow. Top favourite? Olympic champion and reigning world TT champion, Remco Evenepoel.
Stage 6 | 10 July | Bayeux – Vire Normandie | 201.5 km
Stage 6 may not be a true mountain stage, but it’ll feel like one. With more than 3,500 metres of climbing, the second-longest day of the race crosses into the rugged terrain of “Swiss Normandy” – a region defined by sharp hills, deep valleys and striking cliffs.
A series of categorised climbs awaits, winding through tough but scenic countryside – including Mont Picon and La Ranconnière. The last big test is the Côte de Vaudry, four kilometres from the line, before riders hit the final ramp: 700 metres at over 10%.
It’s short, it’s savage – and it could prove decisive both for the stage and the GC battle.
Stage 7 | 11 July | Saint-Malo – Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan | 197 km
The Tour is back at Mûr-de-Bretagne – where Mathieu van der Poel wrote his name into the history books in 2021. The grandson of the late, great Raymond “Poupou” Poulidor didn’t just win the stage – he pulled on the yellow jersey in his very first Tour de France.
Stage 7 starts in the seaside town of Saint-Malo and covers 194 km through the heart of Brittany. Along the way, the peloton passes through Yffiniac – hometown of French legend Bernard Hinault – in a nod to the “Badger” and his final Tour win, exactly 40 years ago.
Just like in 2021, the riders will tackle the iconic Mûr-de-Bretagne climb twice in the final 20 km. It’s a brutally inconsistent ascent with ramps reaching 15% – and it never fails to deliver drama.
Perfect ground for the puncheurs, where timing is everything – the first to jump rarely crosses the line first. GC riders will be alert too: get caught out on the climb, and you could lose 20–30 seconds before the finish.
Stage 8 | 12 July | Saint-Méen-le-Grand – Laval Espace Mayenne | 171.4 km
Stage 8 offers the sprinters another golden opportunity. The route from Brittany to the Mayenne is free of major obstacles – and even the wind is rarely a factor on this eastbound run.
With less than four hours in the saddle, the final dash in Laval will be all about positioning, timing and raw speed. Whoever nails it best will take a prestigious Tour stage win.
And speaking of prestige – the day starts in Saint-Méen-le-Grand, birthplace of the great Louison Bobet, who sealed his third consecutive Tour de France win back in 1955.
Stage 9 | 13 July | Chinon – Châteauroux | 174.1 km
The peloton rolls into Châteauroux after 170 km – and there’s little doubt who’ll be eyeing the win: the sprinters. Stage 9 offers one more chance to shine before the first rest day.
This is where Mark Cavendish took his maiden Tour stage in 2008, aged just 23 and racing for Team Columbia. Thirty-four more would follow – and counting.
But it’s not all straightforward. The final 40 km feature three sharp 90-degree turns – placed deliberately to expose the riders to crosswinds. If the breeze picks up on this summer Sunday afternoon, the peloton could splinter and tactical fireworks might follow.
Stage 10 | 14 July | Ennezat – Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy | 165.3 km
Stage 10 is the first real test for the climbers – and the GC favourites can’t hide any longer. From the start in Ennezat to the summit finish at Puy de Sancy, it’s uphill all day. The 163 km stage packs in seven category 2 climbs and nearly as many uncategorised ones, racking up 4,400 metres of elevation through the rugged Massif Central.
With Bastille Day falling on a Monday, the rest day shifts to Tuesday – and fans can expect fireworks on the road. After just 12 km, the peloton hits the first classified climb, the Côte de Loubeyrat, with more like it to come.
The finale is a tough one: the climb to the ski resort at Le Mont-Dore via Puy de Sancy averages 8% over 3.3 km, with pitches up to 12%. A perfect opportunity for explosive GC riders to distance the diesels and grab a few precious seconds.
Stage 11 | 16 July | Toulouse – Toulouse | 156.8 km
After a well-earned rest day in Toulouse, the peloton gets back to business. Just five stages remain this week – but they pack a punch. Stage 11, a loop starting and finishing in Toulouse, may look simple on paper and even hint at a sprint. The course rolls through the scenic Fronton vineyards and features mostly flat roads.
But the finale is anything but easy. With 8 km to go, the Montée Pech David looms – a short but savage climb on narrow roads, with ramps hitting 20%. Once over the top and down the descent, there’s barely time to reorganise.
Positioning ahead of the climb will be key. A small group of puncheurs and GC contenders may end up fighting it out for the win.
Stage 12 | 17 July | Auch – Hautacam | 180.6 km
Stage 12 marks the Tour’s arrival in the Pyrenees. From Auch, the peloton rides 120 km before hitting the mountains proper – and nearly all of the day’s 3,850 metres of climbing comes in the final 60 km.
First up is the Col du Soulor via Ferrières: 11.8 km at 7.3%. Then comes the punchy Col de Bordères – just 3.1 km long but still enough to sting. From the summit at 1,156 metres, riders plunge down a two-part descent through Argelès-Gazost into the Vallée d’Arens, where the real test begins.
The final climb to Hautacam stretches 13.5 km at an average of 7.8%. Jonas Vingegaard won here in 2022 – and with its unrelenting gradients and length, this summit finish is both a physical and mental battle.
Stage 13 | 18 July | Loudenvielle – Peyragudes (Mountain Time Trial) | 10.9 km
A spectacle for the fans – and pure pain for the riders. Stage 13 is a brutal mountain time trial in the Pyrenees, climbing from Loudenvielle to the Peyragudes altiport – a finish famously featured in Tomorrow Never Dies.
Just 10.9 km long, but ferociously steep – especially near the top. The uneven gradients make pacing everything. Get it wrong on the 16% ramps near the line, and you’ll pay for it in lost seconds.
The opening 3 km are flat or slightly downhill, followed by a brief lull – then the road bites. The final 8 km average 7.9%, climbing all the way to the Col du Peyresourde. The last few hundred metres to the altiport are cruel – and perfect for late drama.
Stage 14 | 19 July | Pau – Luchon-Superbagnères | 182.6 km
The last of three brutal Pyrenean stages is a throwback to Stage 13 of the 1986 Tour – Greg LeMond’s breakout day. That was when the American crushed his rival Bernard Hinault and set the stage for his first overall victory.
19 July 2025 may not be quite as historic, but it’s set to be a massive day of racing. Over 183 km, the peloton tackles a trio of iconic climbs – Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde – before the final summit finish at Luchon-Superbagnères. The total elevation gain? Just shy of 5,000 metres – more than any stage this year except the Alpine queen stage.
After a 70 km roll-out from Pau, the real climbing begins – up the western flank of the Tourmalet from Luz-Saint-Sauveur. It’s long (19 km) and steady (7.4%) rather than steep, but relentless all the same. At the top, the first rider earns the prestigious Souvenir Jacques Goddet.
From there, it’s down into Sainte-Marie-de-Campan – the village famed for its forge – and straight into the Col d’Aspin: 5 km at 7.6%. The road then rises again over the Col de Peyresourde – a climb the riders will partially recognise from Stage 13. From the summit at 1,569 m, a long 13 km descent leads into Bagnères-de-Luchon.
The final climb kicks off right in town: Luchon-Superbagnères – 12.4 km at 7.5%. After everything that’s come before, it’s the perfect launchpad for a proper GC shake-up.
Stage 15 | 20 July | Muret – Carcassonne | 169.3 km
Who’ll hit the line first in the walled city of Carcassonne – a sprinter or a breakaway artist? Stage 15 has all the makings of that timeless Tour de France duel. The 169 km route from Muret may not be mountainous, but it’s far from flat. Riders face 2,400 metres of climbing, including sharp kicks like the Côte de Saint-Ferréol and the Pas du Sant – the latter averaging 10% over nearly 3 km.
It may all come down to whether the teams actually want a sprint – or whether they’re just looking to survive the final stage of week two. One wildcard? The Tramontane wind. If it starts to blow over the final 40 km, the road into medieval Carcassonne could split wide open. And then, everyone – front group and bunch alike – will need to stay fully alert.
Stage 16 | 22 July | Montpellier – Mont Ventoux | 171.5 km
Mont Ventoux – one of cycling’s most iconic climbs. And yet, in nearly 75 years, the Tour has only finished at its 1,910-metre summit nine times. It should have been ten, but in 2016, fierce winds forced organisers to move the finish down to Chalet Reynard.
Stage 16 from Montpellier to the “bald giant of Provence” follows the classic Ventoux formula: a long flat run-in with no major climbs to soften the legs. It’s reminiscent of Stage 20 in 2009, when Juan Manuel Garate outlasted Tony Martin in a breakaway duel to win at the summit.
But don’t be fooled by the profile. If the day is hot and windy – and it often is – the race could already explode long before the climb. Back in 2009, just 30 riders were left in the yellow jersey group by the time they reached the base of Ventoux.
As for 2025: the first 150 km are mostly flat, winding through the Hérault, Gard and Vaucluse regions – before the mountain decides who’s got anything left.
Mont Ventoux – the Bald Giant of Provence
The climb to Mont Ventoux begins in the village of Bédoin: 15.7 km long, averaging a punishing 8.8%. The lower section to Chalet Reynard is steep and sheltered. But once out of the trees, the real Ventoux begins.
The upper slopes are fully exposed – a barren, rocky moonscape with no cover and no hairpins to break the rhythm. The gradient stays steady and unforgiving all the way to the observatory. It’s this unrelenting nature that gives the mountain its brutal reputation.
If the wind stays down – unlike in 2016, when it forced organisers to shorten the stage – we could see a new climbing record. The current benchmark was set in 2004 by Iban Mayo during the Dauphiné’s Ventoux time trial.
Stage 17 | 23 July | Bollène – Valence | 160.4 km
A calm day for the GC and mountain specialists – before the Alps bring the pain. Stage 17, from Bollène to Valence, is likely the sprinters’ last proper shot before Paris. At 160.4 km, it’s short, mostly flat, and tailor-made for a full-gas bunch sprint.
The route runs through the scenic Vaucluse and Drôme regions, starting on gently rolling roads. As the peloton turns north towards the Baronnies, the terrain remains steady – but in the final third, a series of direction changes could make things nervy if the wind gets up. Positioning will be everything.
Stage 18 | 24 July | Vif – Courchevel Col de la Loze | 171 km
Stage 18 is the queen stage of the 2025 Tour de France – and it earns the title. From Vif, just south of Grenoble, the route climbs the Col du Glandon and Col de la Madeleine before finishing atop the Col de la Loze. At 2,304 metres, this relatively new summit is the high point of the entire race.
The climbing starts early. From Allemond (746 m), the riders tackle the Glandon – a 21.7 km ascent averaging 5.1%. After a long descent to La Chambre, there’s barely time to catch a breath before the road kicks up again: 19.2 km at a punishing 7.9%.
At the summit of the Madeleine, riders hit 2,000 metres for the first time this Tour. A long descent into Moutiers follows, then it’s straight into the final climb – the Col de la Loze, tackled this time via the eastern approach from Courchevel.
The climb is 26 km long with an average of 6.5%, but it’s the final four kilometres that really bite. They follow a purpose-built cycle track, riddled with uneven ramps and punishing gradients. At over 2,000 metres, it’s a brutal finish that could shape the race.
Stage 19 | 25 July | Albertville – La Plagne | 129.9 km
The last Alpine stage is short but brutal – just 129.9 km with 4,600 metres of climbing crammed into five classified climbs. It’s a proper rollercoaster and could well cause late drama in the GC battle.
Alpine rollercoaster: a short but savage stage
There’s barely a flat stretch on this Alpine rollercoaster from Albertville – host of the 1992 Olympics – to the summit finish in La Plagne at 2,052 metres. The climbing starts almost straight away with the Côte d’Héry-sur-Ugine (11.3 km at 5.1%). It’s a perfect springboard for early attackers. As we’ve seen in the past, the unclear early dynamics – who’s up the road and who’s chasing – can make for chaotic, high-speed racing, with scattered groups and little control.
A short descent follows, but there’s no real time to recover. At 21.4 km, the peloton tackles the second climb of the day – the Col de Saisies (13.7 km at 6.4%).
After a longer descent into Beaufort, the race might briefly settle – but not for long. A brutal double act awaits, as the road climbs towards the Cormet de Roselend via the Col du Pré.
Stage 20 | 26 July | Nantua – Pontarlier | 184.2 km
A final chance for the breakaway artists to make their mark. The route from Nantua to Pontarlier is likely too tough for the sprinters, with 2,850 metres of climbing over 185 kilometres through the rolling Jura region.
After rolling out from Lake Nantua, the Col de la Croix de la Serra will ignite the racing and sort out the pecking order. But the short, punchy Côte de Thésy – the day’s final climb, 40 km from the line – could shake things up again. It’s the perfect spot to launch a solo bid and ride to victory from the break.
Stage 21 | 27 July | Mantes-la-Ville – Paris Champs-Élysées | 132.3 km
Plans for a traditional sprint finish on the final stage of the 2025 Tour de France may be thrown into doubt. In May, race organiser A.S.O. confirmed the route will tackle Montmartre not once but three times. The Butte Montmartre – a 1.1 km climb averaging 5.9% – featured in the Paris 2024 Olympic road race and delivered a gripping finale.
Stage 21 sets off from Mantes-la-Ville, to the northwest of Paris, covering 132.3 km. The finish, as tradition dictates, will once again be on the Champs-Élysées – marking its 50th anniversary as the iconic Tour finish line, first used in 1975 with Walter Godefroot taking the honours.
However, with the final climb of Montmartre just 6.1 km from the line, a late solo attack or a reduced group sprint could well decide who wins on the most famous avenue in cycling.
