Does the Tour de France route change every year?

The geography of France remains the same, but the Tour de France shifts its route annually. How has the Tour route changed over time?

There are more than 200,000 square miles that comprise French territory. Across the largest national territory in Europe, roads span more than 600,000 miles throughout the landmass. Even before considering the myriad starts and detours to foreign soil, there are countless opportunities to develop new courses annually for the Tour de France.

The inaugural race in 1903 covered a loop between six of France’s major cities. The run between each city constituted a single stage, as riders remained on the road through the night and into the next day. Several days of rest were built in between each long stage. After covering six stages once again in 1904, more stages and more cities started to be incorporated into the route.

Over time, hosting a start or finish of a Tour stage became an honor.

These days, cities would bid years in advance. The standard of 21 stages was established when the race resumed in 1947 after World War II. However, certain years continued to deviate from that standard. Prior to that, each race varied in terms of the number of stages from year to year. Only since 1999 has 21 stages remained a constant.

Certain sections of road are used more frequently than others, especially over the legendary cols of the Pyrenees and Alps. The route along the Champs-Elysees has been included as the location for the final sprint every year since 1975. Prior to that, the Parc des Princes and the Velodrome des Vincennes served as the regular site of the finish line for the final stage.

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While certain sections of road show up again and again in the race routes over the years, each year’s Tour de France is a unique trip through the country. Every year offers a new chance to see distinct parts of a diverse territory. The race organizers do their part, introducing a new set of 21 stages each fall.

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