It's the biggest annual spectator event in the world. Here's where the 2017 Tour de France will go.
The 2017 Tour de France goes through 34 departments of France, plus it visits Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg, making it a truly international event once again.
The 104th Tour de France run July 1-23. There won't be as many climbs as in 2016 but there are some tough gradients. Allround riders like Sagan should do well.
Five mountain ranges are featured: the Vosges, the Jura, the Pyrenees, the Central Massif and the Alps. It's the first Tour de France since 1992 that all five major ranges are on the route.
There are two individual time trials: one in Düsseldorf for the Grand Depart to open the Tour and another on the penultimate stage in Marseille.
Waiting for the Tour. Photo: will_cyclist
La Course women's race
There is a major change to La Course, the women's event that has been run in Paris on the final day of the Tour de France for the last two years. The 2017 edition won't be in Paris but it will instead tackle the Izoard on the same day as the Tour de France.
For reasons I can only imagine come down to time constraints, however, La Course only covers the final 67 kilometres of the Briançon to the Izoard stage on July 20. Bizarrely, that makes the amateur Etape du Tour event – set to run over the same stage on July 16 – longer and tougher than the pro women's race. Strange way to promote women's cycling.
Full 2017 Tour de France route – stage-by-stage
(Every stage is also mapped in the Official Race Guide).
Stage 1: Saturday, July 1 – Düsseldorf (Germany), Individual Time Trial, 13km
Download Stage 1 route map here
The Grand Départ for the Tour de France will take place in Düsseldorf, a vibrant German city on the Rhine. 2017 marks 30 years since the 1987 Grand Départ was held in Berlin.
Düsseldorf has a funky mix of old and new architecture and makes an interesting destination, with diverse attractions and bustling nightlife. You can find more information here, including maps, tourist advice and a dedicated Grand Depart section.
Düsseldorf is also making huge efforts to promote cycling as a fast and green method of transport. The city is in the process of creating a 300-kilometre-long cycle path network and you can find a handy pdf map here in English.
Dusseldorf will host the Team presentation on Friday, June 31, followed by stages 1 and 2.
Stage 2: Sunday, July 2 – Düsseldorf (Germany) to Liège (Belgium), 202km
Download Stage 2 route map here
The Tour will leave Düsseldorf, passing along its harbour en route out of the city.
Stage 3: Monday, July 3 – Verviers (Belgium) to Longwy (Lorraine), 202km
Stage 4: Tuesday, July 4 – Mondorf-les-Bains (Luxembourg) to Vittel (Lorraine), 203km
Stage 5: Wednesday, July 5 – Vittel (Lorraine) to La Planche des Belle Filles (Franche-Comté), 160km
Stage 6: Thursday, July 6 – Vesoul (Franche-Comté) to Troyes (Champagne-Ardenes), 216km
Stage 7: Friday, July 7 – Troyes (Champagne-Ardenes) to Nuit Saint Georges (Burgundy), 214km
Stage 8: Saturday, July 8 – Dole (Franche-Comté) to Station Rousses (Franche-Comté), 187km
Stage 9: Sunday, July 9 – Nantua (Rhone-Alpes) to Chambery (Rhone-Alpes), 181km
Rest day: Monday, July 10 – Perigueux (Dordogne)
Stage 10: Tuesday, July 11 – Perigueux (Dordogne) to Bergerac (Dordogne), 178km
Stage 11: Wednesday, July 12 – Eymet (Dordogne) to Pau (Pyrénées- Atlantiques), 202km
Stage 12: Thursday, July 13 – Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) to Peyragudes (Midi-Pyrénées), 214km
Stage 13: Friday, July 14 – Saint Girons (Midi-Pyrénées) to Foix (Midi-Pyrénées), 100km
Stage 14: Saturday, July 15 – Blagnac (Midi-Pyrénées) to Rodez (Midi-Pyrénées), 181km
Stage 15: Sunday, July 16 – Laissac Severac L’Eglise (Midi-Pyrénées) to Le Puy En Velay (Auvergne), 189km
Rest day: Monday, July 17 – Le Puy En Velay (Auvergne)
Stage 16: Tuesday, July 18 – Le Puy En Velay (Auvergne) to Romans-sur-Isere (Rhone-Alpes), 165km
Stage 17: Wednesday, July 19 – La Mure (Rhone-Alpes) to Serre Chevalier (Rhone-Alpes), 183km
A monster climbing stage to the ski area of Serre Chevalier, featuring Col de la Croix de Fer (2067m), Col Télégraphe (1600m) and the Col du Galibier (2646m)
Stage 18: Thursday, July 20 – Briancon (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) to Izoard (Rhone-Alpes), 178km (this is also the Etape du Tour stage)
Stage 19: Friday, July 21 – Embrun (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) to Salon de Provence (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), 220km
Stage 20: Saturday, July 22 – Marseille (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), Individual Time Trial, 23km
Stage 21: Sunday, July 23 – Montgeron (Île-de-France) to Paris Champs-Élysées (Île-de-France), 100km
Following the Tour de France
Firstly, don't leave home without the official race programme.
See our dedicated Tour de France section for lots of advice and information, including info on watching the Tour de France in person, and our beginner's guide. See also this page for watching the final stage in Paris.
Tour de France accommodation
We're adding accommodation that's within reach of the route (generally 50km, but sometimes a little more) to this page. (Or you could zoom in and search the map below).
Bike hire for the Tour de France
See our bike hire section. We can't stress enough how you need to BOOK EARLY if you need hire a quality road bike near the route, especially in the mountains. It gets booked out quickly. You can use our bespoke service if you get stuck.
TDF cycling holidays
See this page for organised rides and supported packages that take care of your accommodation and bike hire (you'll usually get to ride a stage or part of a stage, plus the chance to be roadside). Again, you can use our bespoke service if you get stuck and can't find a tour that sutis you.
Road closure information
This is really important - we get more enquiries about road closures than anything else in the week before the Tour. We post road closure info here as it comes to hand (there is lots of other general advice on that page too).
Other Tour de France travel information
See here for ferry info if you're crossing the Channel from the UK with your bike.
We have French bike/train information plus this page for the Eurostar.
See here for driving in France info.
