The second of three stages in the Hauts-de-France region rings the changes with an undulating profile that sees the race take in the hills inland of Boulogne-Sur-Mer, as it heads to the coast.
The route finishes with a series of punchy climbs, including the race to the line in the centre of Boulogne itself.
The wooded hills could provide some relief from the wind, but the run-in to Boulogne could be exposed enough for headwinds or crosswinds to influence the result, as we saw on stage one.
One to watch – Wout van Aert
Wout van Aert (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) is the kind of rider who can contend with the climbs and still finish fast
Stage 2: Lauwin-Planque > Boulogne-sur-Mer
- Date: 6 July
- Distance: 209.1km
- Elevation gain: 2,550m
- Stage type: Hilly
Route profile
Route map
Given the start in and around Lille, you’d be forgiven for thinking cobblestones would
be involved at some juncture of this Grand Départ, with the town of Roubaix, of Paris-Roubaix fame, just 15km northeast of the city.
But no. Today we start in the small town of Lauwin-Planque, hosting the race for the first time, and head west to the coast and the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Despite the flat theme through the Hauts-de-France région, the arrière-pays of Boulogne is surprisingly hilly in a Weald of Kent sort of way. When the race took in the Boulonnais hills in 2022, Wout van Aert was the winner in Calais.
The last time the Tour de France finished in Boulogne, in 2012, an emergent star named Peter Sagan scored his second stage win in his first Tour de France, complete with a running man celebration.
Three sharp climbs in the finale will likely strip the yellow jersey wearer of their prized garment, because it’s tailored for the puncheurs.
The race favourites will have to be on their guard.
“There’s good reason to think that the yellow jersey could find a new owner in Boulogne-sur-Mer, where the first of the 2025 Tour’s punchy finishes will take place,” says race director Christian Prudhomme.
“The hills in the regions of Artois and Boulonnais will already have taken a physical toll on the riders by the time they tackle two tough tests on the coast, at Saint-Étienne-au-Mont, where there are gradients of 15%, and then at Outreau, just over five kilometres from the finish line.
“After that, there’s still a demanding kilometre-long ramp where the final verdict will be decided.”
Boulogne food and drink
Beer continues to dominate the drinks menu in the Pas de Calais. Boulogne is a major French fishing port, so seafood is on the menu. But shellfish are popular and moules frites – mussels with chips – is the signature dish.
Boulogne boasts extensive sandy beaches, with windsurfing and sand yachting favourite seafront pastimes.
Further north, near Wimereux, and further south, near Hardelot, the beaches are backed by impressive sand dunes.
