Tour de France 2025: all set for departure from Lille on July 5

Tomorrow, Saturday, July 5, 2025, the 112th edition of the Tour de France will start from Lille (Hauts-de-France) with the much-anticipated Stage 1 - Lille Métropole > Lille Métropole circuit, approximately 185 km long. The sporting heart of the city will be invaded by fans, athletes and onlookers from late afternoon, when the teams will be presented on the Place Grande at 6:30 p.m. .

Objectives of the day

• Final sprint and yellow jersey: expected sprint finish fuels the challenge between pure sprinters such as Jasper Philipsen, Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan.
• First cracks between GCs: Pogacar and Vingegaard (absolute favorites) will have to avoid falls and echelons caused by frequent side winds in the region.
• Climbers category: three short 4th-category climbs and poorly paved sections (e.g., Mont Cassel) will offer the first polka-dot jersey-and perhaps a few surprise attacks.

Curiosity and storytelling

1. Rivals in the starting blocks
   The Pogacar-Vingegaard challenge, considered one of the most iconic in modern cycling, continues for the fourth consecutive year. Pogacar is aiming for his fourth yellow jersey; but Vingegaard, fresh off a double win (2022-23), is ready to overturn the odds.
2. France in bat withdrawal
   Forty years after the last victory by a Frenchman (Hinault, 1985), tomorrow will see 38 transalpine riders start with "the wind in their sails" in Lille. Mathieu Alaphilippe, Lenny Martinez, Benjamin Thomas and Anthony Turgis will seek stage glory.
3. Winds and falls: an explosive mix
   The North is famous for crosswinds: as early as tomorrow, crosswinds could cause fractures in the group (echelons), turning an "easy" fraction into a day of chaos and twists and turns .
4. Culture and celebration in Lille
   The passage through the Grand Place and the festively prepared streets reflect years of planning. Each Grand Départ raises the city's international profile, fostering tourism, the economy and a love of cycling.
5. Special knitted chameleons
   Tomorrow we will see 23 "special edition" jerseys in the race, some designed to avoid color confusion and others to pay homage to routes or partners: Groupama-FDJ, Visma-Lease a Bike, and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe will wear unique colors at the start.

Palimpsest of the first fraction

• Start: Lille Métropole, late morning
• Fraction: ~185 km, ups and downs + cobblestone sectors + three 4th category climbs
• Expected arrival: sprint in the last hour
• Eyes on:
  • UAE Emirates, Visma Bike and Soudal-Quick-Step teams for overall and points standings
  • Top sprinters, ready to take advantage of final fans

Why follow it?

• Pure strategy: exits from formations, alarm bells among riders, tactical battles from the start.
• Living history: Pogacar in the hunt for his fourth title, sprinters ready to undermine the leaders.
• Nordic entertainment: festive atmosphere, punctum in the winding stretches of northern France.

Tomorrow is the day when the Tour of France 2025 takes shape: the Lille narrative will be just the beginning of three intense weeks of mountains, legendary rivals and stories to be told.

Happy viewing and may the best man win!