The town is renowned for its extraordinary number of starred chefs, inspired primarily by the Troisgros family. But Roanne has also made waves on the basketball court, its Chorale team winning the French championship twice, in 1959 and 2007. The following year, Roanne hosted a Tour start for the first time and in doing so provided Sylvain Chavanel with an instinct for victory, the Frenchman claiming his first Tour stage success in Montluçon at the end of one of his trademark breakaways. Since then, Roanne was the setting for a Wout van Aert time trial success in the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné.
- Stage town for the 2 nd time
- Sub-prefecture of Loire (42)
- Population: 34,000 (Roannais and Roannaises), 100,400 within the 40 communes comprising the Greater Roanne municipality
