Travelling the world is an integral part of the Tour de France. However, with the one exception of Évian in 1926, it took until the 1950s for the Grande Boucle to start outside Paris and until 1954 for the peloton to begin its adventure outside France for the first time with a Grand Départ in Amsterdam.
Since World War II, a total of 55 towns and cities have experienced the thrills of the final preparations and the arrival of the teams in dribs and drabs, giving each edition its own special flavour and feel.
For 2025, the Grand Départ from Lille-Nord de France promises a welcome for the Tour worthy of northern France’s inhabitants’ friendly reputation.
