Route Rumours 2025 - Update #2
Photo credit Joolze Dymond
The Rumour Review
Before we get into some newly announced route information, it seems worth going back to a true/false on the rumours we’ve already blogged about…
TRUE (probably!)
1. Mur de Bretagne is definitely in, but probably sooner than we thought. It looks like the Brittany stages will appear mid way through the first week in order to make time for other week-one fun (see “new rumours” below)
2. The Dday beaches will most likely appear quite quickly after the Grand Depart with a stage start in Bayeux (stunning cathedral, famous tapestry) and possibly a time trial in or around Caen (if not a time trial, another Normandy/Brittany stage). This makes for a great Tour combo of stunning coastal scenery and historic inland locations. Normandy is a beautiful region – the cycling will be excellent.
3. A Pyrenees stage centred around Luchon (see below for more Pyrenean intel) seems increasingly likely. Maybe even two stages here. Maybe a time trial!
4. And lastly, Mt Ventoux is a sure thing; start getting excited!
FALSE (possibly!)
1. The talk of Alpe d’Huez has gone a bit quiet with the intel we’ve seen favouring Col de la Loze or another similarly very high Alpine summit.
(*** update from 2nd October: Alpe d’Huez is back on the cards – we’ve seen it named over the weekend on 2 different websites with info coming from 2 different sources… we may still be in luck!)
2. In the same vein, since we heard it a few weeks ago, the rumours about la Madeleine have gone quiet. It might just be that not enough has leaked out yet, so these locations might not be off the table completely – but for sure there isn’t high confidence in which big name Alpine climbs we’ll enjoy in July.
3. A few weeks ago we were convinced we’d see some Loire valley chateau, but now it looks that this region will be passed over in favour of the Massif Central and one or two stages that take us further south (see below)
4. For a while it seemed that the Alps would be a longer stay than the Pyrenees but that’s now looking to have switched, with at least 3 Pyrenean stages being likely. The idea of a mountain Time Trial is still TBC and if so, that could be in the Alps or Pyrenees. There are lots of unknowns concerning the mountains!
NEW (we think)
1. Chateauroux is a lovely small town in the centre west. It might not be top of your list to visit but it’s an important revelation because it signals the Tour moving away from the north with at least 2, maybe 3 stages still to go before the first rest day in Toulouse…
2. …And this means we’ll have time for a stage finish at (drum roll…) Le Mont-Dore, a lovely, misty, valley town not far from the volcanoes of the Massif Central.
3. Concerning the Alps, Courchevel or Albertville rumours point to La Plagne, Le Praz and/or Col du Pre Roseland as possible climbs. It might not be both Courchevel and Albertville but either one of those point towards some big, long, high climbs. Bring it on!
4. A mountain Time Trial seems increasingly likely. It’s an idea we like a lot (for us a short, relaxed day in the mountains between some gnarlier days is a wonderful idea) and looks like it could be the Col de la Loze with a night in Courchevel. That’s a rival idea for a mountain TT we mentioned previously that would be the Peyragudes climb and a night in Luchon. Only time will tell!
5. And lastly, a note on the rest days which look almost certain to be in Toulouse and Vaucluse (the area around Ventoux). We’ve hinted at both in our previous blogs but these locations are looking pretty sure now and genuinely couldn’t be better news. Two easy-access locations for cyclists coming and going and two nice areas to soak up some French southern sunshine!
As ever, we’ll continue to keep you updated with the biggest rumours ahead of the route announcement on 29th October in Paris. And remember, if you haven’t secured your place to ride 2025 yet, there’s still time. Our Guaranteed Loops have sold out but our Priority Deposits are still available.
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