While waiting for July, Pau is already preparing for the Tour de France

Pau, a habit

When the riders arrive on July 19, they will be treated to what will probably be one of the most important stages of this edition. Because after Pau, they will have to reach Luchon Superbagnères and its 1,804 meters of altitude after having swallowed 183 kilometers with Tourmalet and Aspin as an aperitif. A substantial program of which the city will be the starting point.

“This will be the seventy-sixth time that Pau hosts the Tour. We are nibbling on Bordeaux,” remarks Josy Poueyto, MP and municipal councilor responsible for the Grande Boucle. A real habit whose benefits “far exceed” the 120,000 euros that a stage start costs. “It’s something very positive for the city, tourism and the local economy. Pau is seen, known and recognized in many countries. It’s an extraordinary comeback,” insists the elected official, who recalls that the race is broadcast in 190 countries.

Visibility and repercussions confirmed by Yannick Goasduff, the Starter of the Grande Boucle, present in recent days in Pau. “It’s a guaranteed enhancement for the territory. We are going to stay two days, but for the tourist area, that will represent a lot of people.”

Chosen both for its proximity to the Pyrenees and its know-how, the royal city is also very appreciated for its hotel capacity. This year, the Tour and its great barnum will therefore sleep for two nights, on July 17 and 18, in hotels in Pau and those in surrounding towns. In addition to the 2,000 beds reserved daily by the ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) group which organizes the event, there are 2,500 more with all the followers, including many media.

The Tour of the Giants as a symbol

The start village will take place at the Tissié stadium. Its implementation should be later than usual due to a time trial the day before in Loudenvielle which will require the presence of the entire system there until the end of the day. Nothing to worry about ASO, whose science of assembling and dismantling such devices is well established. “We will be ready at the end of the night around 6 a.m.,” specifies Yannick Goasduff.

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And as the stage will be long, the departure will be quite early, probably before noon. The duration of opening of the departure village should therefore be quite short. Which will not prevent the organization from pulling out all the stops. As has been the case for several years, the riders will all be presented on site to the public while the City will take the opportunity to inaugurate Tadej Pogacar’s totem within the Tour of the Giants.

A symbol that Josy Poueyto holds very dear. “It’s another way of anchoring the Tour in the City and in its history” insists the elected official who wishes to recall “François Bayrou’s idea of ​​creating such an open-air museum”. The elected official also specifies that the name of Marlen Reusser, stage winner in Pau during the 2023 women’s Tour de France, would soon join the Painted East Slope of Avenue Napoléon-Bonaparte.

Already looking towards 2026

For the city, bringing the Tour is both a habit, but also a permanent battle, as Josy Poueyto recalls. “We see each other every year with Yannick, so we will definitely see each other next year,” smiles the Paloise, already looking towards a 2026 edition whose big departure will be from Catalonia. “I can’t imagine that with a departure from Barcelona, ​​the Tour would not stop in Pau.” And the elected official sees a little further: “I also don’t despair of bringing back the Vuelta”. Enough to write a lot of pages between Pau and the bike.

The runners’ route through the City

The starting line for the Pau-Luchon stage on July 19 will be located on avenue Gaston Lacoste near the Tour des Géants. The fictitious departure will be at 11:55 a.m. and will be preceded by that of the advertising caravan at 9:55 a.m.
The runners will then leave in the direction of avenue Napoléon Bonaparte then follow the route: avenue Léon Say, rue Daran, rue Gambetta, rue Samonzet, rue du Docteur Simian, place Marguerite Laborde, Place de la République, rue Nogué, rue d ‘Orléans, rue Bordelongue, rue du Maquis de Béarn, rue Bayard, avenue du 18e RI, tunnel/pont d’Espagne, avenue des Vallées (Jurançon), rue du Colonel Gloxin, rue Terrier, rue du 14 Juillet, avenue de Gelos.
They will then arrive in Gelos, take the D37 towards the ring road roundabout where the real start will be given. Then head for Bizanos then Idron before branching off towards Coarraze, Igon, and the rest of the stage.