Stage 1 - Saturday, July 5: Brest - Plumelec, 197.5km
The Tour de France kicks off without a prologue (or time trial) for the first time since 1967;...
The Tour de France kicks off without a prologue (or time trial) for the first time since 1967; instead it starts with a rolling 195-kilometre road stage. After crossing four fourth category climbs the stage finishes at the top of the Côte de Cadoual – locally known as the Breton Alpe d'Huez. As there will be no time bonuses available on the stage, the first yellow jersey will securely be taken by the stage winner. The hilltop finish though, means that this is unlikely to be one for the pure sprinters.
Brest, a sub-prefecture of the department of Finistère and the most westerly city in mainland France, is a stage town for the 29th time and will host the Grand Départ for the third time – after 1952 and 1974. Its other big claim to cycling fame is of course the fact that it is the turning point of the epic 1200-kilometre Paris-Brest-Paris endurance event.
Cycling mad Plumelec hosts a stage finish for the third time, as well as hosting the prologue on 1985 when local boy Bernard Hinault won. The last time the Tour finished here the stage was won by Erik Zabel (then Telekom, now Milram) who overcame a youthful Frank Vandenbroucke (Mapei-GB) who misjudged the length of the climb to the finishing line.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Tour de France stage 6 Live – Breakaway specialists eyeing up tough, hilly route on Pogačar's first day in yellow
Six categorised climbs and 200km await on the roads from Bayeux to Vire Normandie -
Amazon Prime Day 2025 Live: Save on Canyon bikes, Adidas shoes and more
Canyon electric bikes, Adidas shoes, Garmin computers and more. Day three of Amazon Prime Day is here and the sale is heating up -
'Maybe they can take yellow as well' – Could a breakaway really trouble Tadej Pogačar's Tour de France lead on stage 6?
Long, hilly day could swing in favour of the escapees, but the gaps would have to be very big for the jersey to change hands -
Amazon Prime Day bike deals 2025: The standout savings on day three of the sale
Amazon Prime Day is here, and we've unearthed 60 deals that our readers will love