Why the Tour de France 2025, which starts from Lille on Saturday, does not go through the northern cobblestones

Despite a large departure from Lille and four stages in Hauts-de-France, the legendary northern cobblestones will not be borrowed by the Peloton du Tour de France.

For the first time since 2001, the Tour de France rushes this year from the North, and more specifically from Lille, Saturday July 5. As with each passage of the large loop in the surroundings, the pedal fans hoped only one thing: to see the big names of the Tour rubbing the hell of the cobblestones, which make the legend of Paris-Roubaix. As was the case in 2010, 2014 or 2022. But not in 2025.

All the ingredients were gathered on paper, but the organizers of the Tour de France finally decided to rule out the cobblestones, this time. “It is true that it was a big questioning, we did not know if we had to put them or not”recognizes Thierry Gouvenou, director of the race and thinking head of the course. “We did it in 2022, we will do it again in the future, but here we did not want to focus the big start on the cobblestones, even if we start from the North.”

Several factors explain this decision which can resonate like a heartbreaker. First, the timing: the most conducive step for the cobblestones would have been the first, from Lille. In 2022, it was – as often – starting from the capital of Flanders that the peloton had ventured on a passage from northern hell towards Arenberg. “But the cobblestones from the first day, it would have been very early. We would have put very important stress in the peloton, which is already always very, very nervous on the first step. So we made the choice not to do it”evacuates Thierry Gouvenou.

Instead, the organization drew a first step thought to offer the first yellow jersey of the Tour to a sprinteuR, “what had not happened since 2020, it will compensate for the absence of the pavers”, Estem Thierry Gouvenou. “”We are not suspect not to like the cobblestones with Thierry, who is the man of Paris-Roubaix, since it was we who put them on the Tour in 2010, after almost 20 years of absence “smiled Christian Prudhomme, a great lover of the Lille region, since he studied there.

In a region known for her love of the little queen, the idea was also to show something other than the cobblestones, as mythical as they are. “It's not just the cobblestones in the North, we will take the roads of the four days of Dunkirk, a historic race. The next day in Boulogne we will have a very disputed arrival. It will be even harder and more spectacular than the final in Calais in 2022, where we had seen a van Aert above the lot”, warns Christian Prudhomme. “The whole peloton will dislocate in the last ribs before Boulogne!”

Another element that explains this choice: the desire to protect runners, not all used to this kind of roads, unlike those who are committed – knowingly – in Paris -Roubaix in the spring. A choice assumed by the boss of the Tour: “We did not want to take as much risks as possible from the first day “. And for good reason: no one has forgotten the third stage of 2010, between Wanze and Arenberg, who ended up putting several favorites outside the race, nor the 5th of 2014, marked by the fall and the abandonment of Christopher Froome. Memories that make the peloton reluctant, necessarily.

“You have to listen to the voice of the runners. The cobblestones, on the Tour, that does not appeal to everyone. It is from time to time, to energize the race, like the stage of white paths in Champagne last year, but you should not abuse it. When it's from time to time, it's nice. When it's all the time, it becomes a little boring “estimates Yoann Offero, consultant for France Télévisions, “Especially since with bad weather on the cobblestones, it can be dangerous and cause early abandonment.”

“There is something else in the north than the pavers to make a spectacular step. We still remember the Wout Van Aert festival on Cape Blanc Nez in 2022.”

Yoann Offredo

In Franceinfo: Sport

Rather than the cobblestones, the organization has focused on the Hauts-de-France coasts, not that flat. “We wanted to take the side of the coasts for the Punchers and the contenders in the general classification. We know that on these four northern stages, the general's favorites will already be in the blow. We will see them shoulder against shoulder from the start”promises Christian Prudhomme. Which, if necessary, would quickly make the absence of the cobblestones forget.