With the Grand Depart of the 2025 Tour de France from Lille, let’s ride in France and take in the spectacle!
Thursday 3rd or Friday 4th July to Monday 7th July 2025
Day One Thursday 3rd July: Ferry to France, check in at hotel – afternoon bike ride 57km (or RandoRail)
Day Two Friday 4th July: Cycle ride to the coast 110km (or Ferry to France, check in at hotel – afternoon bike ride)
Day Three Saturday 5th July: Ride out to watch The Tdf Stage 1 Caravan and Peleton Roadside 84km
Day Four Sunday 7th July: Ride out to watch The Tdf Stage 2 Caravan and Peleton Roadside 84km
Day Five Monday 8th July: Check out of hotel then drive towards Channel Ports. Park up then ride out to watch The Tdf Stage 3 Caravan and Peleton Roadside 69km before returning to car and catching evening ferry home
If it is your first trip to watch the tour, you should be aware that it involves standing at the roadside for two hours and then seeing a peleton fly by in seconds. This may sound odd, but in fact it is very social and there is the fun of trying to catch as many free gifts as one can from the Commercial Caravan (a procession of advertising vehicles that drive the route ahead of the peleton). The atmosphere is buzzing and social, although one is not always aware of what is evolving in the race, there is an awe as they speed by with a hugesense of occasion … you’ll love it but remember that you won’t be following the action, it is just witnessing a spectacle. You’ll never forget it and most people go back and do it again (this writer is into double digits for visiting the tour live at the roadside).
The rides we are devising will involve a loop which rides out to the Tour to watch the race go by then rides back in the second half of the loop. It may be possible to catch the Tour twice during the Boulougne stage.
You will need to book your own Ferry and drive over (Two persons per car with bikes seems optimal) and book your own hotel. Details of ferries is set out below whilst hotels are being discussed on the West London Cycling France 2025 Whatsapp Group amongst those who have registered interest.
MEMORIES FROM OUR PREVIOUS TOUR de FRANCE TRIPS IN 2022 AND 2023…..
2022 DUNKERQUE & CALAIS
2023 PARIS
FERRIES
We recommend going on the Dover – Calais route as Dunkerque is likely to be busy on the return day (due to Le Tour de France). Calais is also nearer to our intended location.
8.25am from Dover on 3rd July and 21.o5 (or 19.00) from Calais on 10th July around £260 with car and two persons (RIDERS HAVE ALEADY BOOKED THESE CROSSINGS, SO YOU WILL FIND CLUBMATES ON BOARD)
Not yet available at the time of this article
Not yet available at the time of this article
