The 2025 Tour de France is just around the corner, kicking off on Saturday, July 5th in Lille.
But this year, there’s one notable absence — no South African cyclists will be lining up at the start.
It’s a surprising development, especially considering how passionate cycling fans in South Africa are about the race.
Louis Meintjes and the Changing Team Dynamics
South Africa’s Louis Meintjes has been a regular face in the Tour in recent years, riding for the Intermarché-Wanty UCI team.
However, the team’s 2025 lineup is focused on another talent — Eritrean sprinter Biniam Girmay — and unfortunately, Meintjes won’t be part of the peloton this time.
This means South Africa will have to watch from the sidelines as the race unfolds.
What to Expect from the 2025 Tour Route
The 112th edition of the Tour de France will cover a challenging 3,338 kilometers across 21 stages.
The race finishes on the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris on Sunday, July 27th. Highlights of this year’s route include two individual time trials and five tough summit finishes at iconic climbs like Hautacam, Ventoux, and La Plagne.
Fans are buzzing about the epic showdown expected between defending champion Tadej Pogačar and the fierce challenger Jonas Vingegaard.
Their battle promises to be a highlight of this year’s race.
Stage-by-Stage Overview of the 2025 Tour de France
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Stage 1 (July 5): Lille to Lille, 184.9km
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Stage 2 (July 6): Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer, 209.1km
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Stage 3 (July 7): Valenciennes to Dunkirk, 178.3km
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Stage 4 (July 8): Amiens to Rouen, 174.2km
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Stage 5 (July 9): Caen to Caen (Individual Time Trial), 33km
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Stage 6 (July 10): Bayeux to Vire Normandie, 201.5km
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Stage 7 (July 11): Saint-Malo to Mur-de-Bretagne, 197km
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Stage 8 (July 12): Saint-Meen-Le-Grand to Laval, 171.4km
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Stage 9 (July 13): Chinon to Chateauroux, 174.1km
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Stage 10 (July 14): Ennezat to Le Mont Dore, 165.3km
Rest Day on July 15
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Stage 11 (July 16): Toulouse to Toulouse, 156.8km
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Stage 12 (July 17): Auch to Hautacam, 180.6km
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Stage 13 (July 18): Loudenvielle to Peyragudes (Individual Time Trial), 10.9km
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Stage 14 (July 19): Pau to Luchon Superbagneres, 182.6km
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Stage 15 (July 20): Muret to Carcassonne, 169.3km
Rest Day on July 21
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Stage 16 (July 22): Montpellier to Mont Ventoux, 171.5km
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Stage 17 (July 23): Bollene to Valence, 160.4km
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Stage 18 (July 24): Vif to Courchevel, 171.5km
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Stage 19 (July 25): Albertville to La Plagne, 129.9km
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Stage 20 (July 26): Nantua to Pontarlier, 184.2km
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Stage 21 (July 27): Mantes-La-Ville to Paris, 132.3km
Is the Tour de France the Best Three Weeks in Sport?
With all this excitement ahead, many sports fans are wondering: is the Tour de France the greatest three-week sporting event of the year? What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below or drop a WhatsApp message to 060 011 0211.
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