Tour de France: A Race for the Most Beautiful Images

The Tour de France, the world's largest bicycle race, attracts about 13 million spectators annually, with roughly half tuning in primarily for France's landscapes and cultural heritage rather than the sport itself. Tour director Christian Prudhomme, a former TV reporter and hobby historian, deliberately designs the route to showcase historical and cultural landmarks. In July, the tour passed through Catalonia, Carcassonne (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Foix, Pau (birthplace of King Henry IV), Vichy (site of the WWII collaborationist regime), and Nevers (burial place of Bernadette Soubirous). Prudhomme emphasizes three aspects: sport, aesthetics, and history. France Télévisions director Anthony Forestier scouts the entire route by helicopter and car, consulting locals to identify the most photogenic sites. The race will conclude on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The 114th edition in 2026 will start in Edinburgh, with a time trial at a symbolic heritage site to be announced in October 2025.