Bike + at The Grand Depart
3rd July - 7th July 2025, Nord pas de Calais

With the Grand Depart for the 2025 TdF located in the Nord-pas-de-Calais region, it feels like too good an opportunity to pass up. So we have decided to put together a simple, but fun package using our Eurotunnel tour operator status and knowledge of the local region.

The hub of the grand Depart is Lille and we will look to visit the city on the Friday and take in the pre tour atmosphere.

Over the next 3 days we will ride are bikes along the route of the first three stages and watch the peloton come past at potential point of action.

As well as watching the racing spectacle, we will also try and show you the best of the region. the hilltop town of Cassel is a feature of a number of top bike races, but was also a significant part of WW1 and WW2, not least during the Allied retreat to Dunkirk. We will also visit the Canadian war memorial on the Vimy Ridge above lens. This is not only a magnificent memorial to fallen soldiers, but also has preserved trenches and a brilliant visitor centre.

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On the final morning we will also visit the town of Arras to see more of the region and enjoy a peaceful coffee before seeing the race one last time.

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What does the package include?

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Friday 4th July - Monday 7th July

Based on two sharing a twin room
Ibis Bethune - bed and breakfast for 3 nights, or similar depending upon availability

Eurotunnel - Friday am - Monday pm - based on two people sharing 1 vehicle

Routes for each day

Sporta staff on site throughout

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£395pp

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Supplementary costs:​

• single room supplement - £120

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If you are interested in this trip, please get in touch using the contact form below or email swoodward@sportagroup.com

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The Cycling

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We have outlined the current cycling plan below, however we anticipate this changing depending upon what guests fancy and what the race dictates (regarding closed roads).

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Friday

Arrival day - we envisage guests arriving in Bethune early afternoon after a mid morning Le Shuttle crossing. We will then head out on a loop to Lille to take in the start village and event atmosphere. This will be about a 70km loop.

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Saturday

Relaxed start and then cycle to Cassel, which is a beautiful hill tip town which the Tour will get to about 3pm. We will ride the route ahead of the caravan and be in Cassel for a couple of hours to soak up the local atmosphere before riding back to the hotel. This will be a c.90km loop with Cassel as the halfway point.

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Sunday

A slightly earlier start and we will ride to the stage 2 start in Douai. We will ride to the start via the Canadian war memorial at Vimy Ridge which is an amazing place. After the riders have left we will then follow the tour route back to Bethune. This will be a loop of about 100km on rolling terrain.

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Monday

Check is in the morning and then I was planning a loop out to Arras for a coffee and to explore the local area before heading back to Bethune to watch stage 3 come through with the aim of a 5pm ferry crossing back to the UK. Todays ride will be around 80km with Arras as the half way point.

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Next Steps

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If you would like to book a place on this trip please complete the form below and pay the deposit. We will then get in touch with full booking conditions and our contract to you, we can also arrange your Eurtunnel crossings and chat through the arrangements as you might prefer them. At this stage if you no longer wish to proceed with the trip we will return your deposit.

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