Over the weekend, the world’s most famous cycle race will pass through two historic French départements. Here’s what you need to know.
For the first time since 2017 – and three years since it last saw the peloton whistle past – an entire stage of the Tour de France will take place in the Dordogne département of south-west France.
On Saturday, riders will set off from Périgueux and go the long way round to Bergerac – via Thenon, Les Eyzies, Sarlat, Saint-Cyprien and Lalinde – to complete a 180.4km journey between two towns that are less than 50km apart.
The Dordogne stage. Graphic: Tour de France
The Tour’s long and winding and hugely popular gift-giving caravane publicitaire parade is due to set off from Périgueux at 11am, a little under two-and-a-half hours before the race proper gets under way – at 1.25pm – in the Dordogne town.
