A sprinter is likely to take the first yellow jersey of the 2025 Tour de France, but the Grand Depart stages in the Nord de France region surprisingly do not visit the famous Paris-Roubaix cobbles.
Race organisers ASO revealed details of the opening three stages at a presentation in Lille, opting for an opening road stage around the city, followed by a ride to the coast for a finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer and then a stage from Valenciennes to Dunkerque, where crosswinds could be a factor. Much to the relief of many riders, the cobbles of northern France and Paris-Roubaix will be reserved for the April one-day Classic.
