On July 23, professional cyclist Jonas Vingegaard (26) was crowned overall winner of the Tour de France. The Dane prevailed over 3,400 kilometers in a superior manner. But there was another star that stood out, but not so much from a sporting point of view: the beautiful track. After all, in addition to spectacular chases, there were also fantastic areas to be admired, which could be worth a trip after the hustle and bustle of the big event.
It has been common for the Tour de France to also complete stages abroad for many decades. In 2024, for example, Florence, Italy, will be the starting point of the legendary tour. This year, the first stage of the tour took place in Spain on July 1st. The 182 hilly kilometers around Bilbao represented hard work for the drivers.
Bilbao itself is not stingy with visual attractions and could also turn out to be the perfect starting point for your next vacation trip. The largest city in the Basque Country offers rich culture and architecture with unforgettable impressions. Whether it’s the futuristic Guggenheim Museum, the bizarre Zubizuri Bridge or the Puente de Vizcaya transporter bridge: there is hardly a better start to your journey than Bilbao.
As a backdrop to the seventh Tour de France stage, Bordeaux offered a dramatic finish at the Place des Quinconces, with Belgian Jasper Philipsen (25) prevailing in the end.
If you want to take it a little easier, the City of Wine is also the place for you. For example, the old town of Vieux Bordeaux invites you to stroll, and the entire cityscape generally reflects the eventful history of this place. The exquisite local cuisine is also an experience. The sea and the region offer a variety of different local specialties – of course with the right wine.
The Avenue des Bénédictins in Limoges became Mads Pedersen’s (27) road to victory in the eighth stage of the Tour de France: the Dane drove faster than everyone else that day.
But Limoges also has a lot to offer apart from the sporting competition. Not far from the finish line, the magnificent Champ de Julliet amazes visitors. The Saint-Étienne Cathedral from the 13th century also offers great visual value, especially at night: the sacred building is then illuminated from the outside and announces the city from afar.
The riders on the 17th stage of the Tour de France were not to be envied when they had to climb an average of six percent on their bikes. From Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc to Courchevel, Austria’s Felix Gall (25) was the fastest of the day.
The spa town of Saint-Gervais is actually known for its relaxing effect. Near the highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc, visitors can lean back and switch off in the healing thermal baths. Saint-Gervais is particularly popular in winter, when the ski season draws tourists to the nearby downhill slopes.
At the 21st and final stage of the Tour de France, Jonas Vingegaard was crowned overall winner. However, the Belgian Jordi Meeus (25) won the last race and couldn’t believe it when he crossed the finish line on the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris.
It was not for nothing that chanson legend Joe Dassin (1938-1980) sang the song of the same name on the world-famous avenue in the French capital in 1969. Of course, the city of love also has plenty of other iconic landmarks to offer, from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame.
For once, the last stage of the Tour de France will not end here in 2024. Because a few days later the Summer Olympics will start there.
