The last Pyrenean challenge of the Tour de France 2025, the 14th stage will start from Pau. This is the 76th time that the city has hosted the biggest cycling event on the planet. “We’re snacking on Bordeaux (82, Editor’s note),” jokes Josy Poueyto, municipal councilor. And the specialist of the “little queen”, to get ahead: “The 2026 edition will leave from Catalonia, I will push for next year”.
Each turn in its time. 183 kilometers await the runners at the fictitious start from avenue Gaston-Lacoste, on Saturday July 19. The cyclists will be the day after a short and dense stage: the time trial between Loudenvielle and Peyragudes. A good introduction before the four passes on Saturday. “The Tour will not be won in the Pyrenees, but it can be lost there,” comments Yannick Goasduff, responsible for the Tour de France departures.
Pau, in any case, will undoubtedly benefit, especially since Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) has chosen to establish itself there for two nights (July 17 and 18). A significant financial windfall for Pau businesses and hotels. 30 hotel establishments in the Agglomeration will be contacted: “Which represents a budget of 200,000 to 220,000 euros per night,” continues one of the key men in the organization of the Tour. For its part, the Urban Community pays 120,000 euros including tax for this deadline.
8:30 a.m. to noon
As usual, the surroundings of the Philippe-Tissié stadium will be celebrating, with the usual entertainment inherent to departure cities, from 8:30 a.m. The passage of the advertising caravan is scheduled between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Tour of the Giants, which aims to be “the museum” of the Grande Boucle, will see, provided that it is still in the race, the three-time winner Tadej Pogacar inaugurate his winner’s totem 2024. On the slope of Avenue Napoléon Bonaparte, the name of Swiss champion Marlen Reusser will swell the ranks.
The festivities will last until midday, before the fictitious departure and a 7.3 kilometer stroll through the very center of Pau (the usual tour but in the opposite direction). The opportunity also for “a focus on the city” carried out by the realization of the Tour de France, according to Josy Poueyto. “The development of the Halles will be completed, it is also a way of highlighting developments, our heritage. » Kilometer zero, on the other hand, will be extra-muros, in Mazères-Lezons, at the level of the “Franqueville” bridge.
In the meantime, 100 days before the Tour, Pau should light up its Halles in yellow and the next day, March 28, the traditional dictation, carried out by Josy Poueyto, will take place at the Hameau stadium before the bicycle festival at the end of May. Like a warm-up lap.
Another passage in the 64
The 12th stage of the Tour de France will connect Auch and Hautacam on Thursday July 17, 2025. 40 of the 181 kilometers awaiting the riders will be completed in the north east of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. If Pontacq and Asson appeared on the route, the latter must still be validated in its most precise seams, this will be the case this Friday January 10 at the end of a plenary meeting bringing together in particular the Prefecture and the organizers of the Tour de France.
