Grand Depart Lille
Thursday 3rd July – Tuesday 8th July 2025
Grand Depart in Lille and Northern France with Sportive Breaks
Witness the Team Presentation, see Stage 1 in Lille, the finish of Stage 2 in Boulogne sur Mer and the start of Stage 3 in Valenciennes. There are no cobbles included on the stages of the Grand Depart but with Sportive Breaks you will not only ride the roads of the Grand Depart but you will also discover the best cobbles from the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix!
Sportive Breaks are at home in this part of northern France. Also called French Flanders the area comprising Lille, Roubaix all the way to the coast and Dunkirk is just as crazy about cycling as Flanders just next door in Belgium. We are staying in Kortrijk which is just 30 kilometres from Lille. Our local team of hosts, mechanics and drivers are Flanders based, and you will also find them when you travel with Sportive Breaks to take part or spectate at the Spring Classics.
Our team of local ride leaders will explore the bergs of the Tour of Flanders and the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix with you. We will visit the Tour of Flanders Museum, Roubaix Velodrome and guide you on the Arenberg, Carrefour de L’Arbre, Oude Kwaremont, Koppenberg and many more…!
On this tour you have the option to join us by arriving at the Eurostar in Lille or we also provide airport transfers from Brussels airport. Bike rental is also available.
Spread your payments: Our payment plan is an interest-free payment method where you will have the opportunity to spread payment for your booking.
Watch 3 Grand Tour Stages LIVE: Witness the excitement of the team presentation, Stage 1 in Lille, the finish in Boulogne sur Mer on Stage 2 and the start in Valenciennes on Stage 3.
Transport included: Transport to and from the stages. Vehicle support on all guided rides. Airport transfers from Brussels airport or Lille TGV.
Premium 4* accommodation: In Spring Classics country in Kortrijk. Close to the heart of all the action including breakfast and dinner daily
Spectator and rider friendly: Explore the cycling roads this part of France and Belgium has to offer and indulge in its amazing cuisine.
Spring Classics Experiences: Explore the Tour of Flanders Museum, Roubaix Velodrome and ride the cobbles of the Arenberg, Carrefour de L’Arbre, Oude Kwaremont, Koppenberg and many more…!
Package and Prices
Prices for the 5-night Grand Depart Package
$2698 per person based on two people sharing a room (Twin or Double option)
$3298 based on a single occupancy of a room.
Note: It is a requirement that you have Travel Insurance for your trip.
What's Included?
Accommodation
4* hotel in Kortrijk with excellent stage access
Included meals
Breakfast and evening meal included
Transfer
Airport return transfers from Brussels airport or Lille Eurostar station
Mechanic
Mechanic and vehicle support for the tour
Guided Rides
Daily ride options from experienced local guides
Additional Extras
Bike Rental – Available at a supplement
Itinerary
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL & TEAM PRESENTATIONS
Date
Location
Arrival Brussels Airport, Lille TGV & Kortrijk
The Sportive Breaks team will meet you at our hotel in Kortrijk today.
If you are flying into Brussels Airport, then we provide an airport transfer at 12.00 today. Collection from Lille Eurostar is also possible on request.
On arrival at our hotel, we will fit you with your rental bike and our team are also available to help you with unpacking and building your own bike after travel. We offer a short warm up ride in the local area to test bike and legs.
This afternoon we will transport the short distance from Kortrijk to Lille where we will enjoy the 2025 teams’ presentation.
This evening, we enjoy the evening meal together at the hotel and our hosts will present the programme of the week to you.
Hotel in Kortrijk
DAY 2 - Tour of Flanders Experience
Date
Friday 4th July
Location
Kortrijk
TOUR OF FLANDERS EXPERIENCE
We are in Tour of Flanders territory. Famous races such as Gent Wevelgem, Omloop het Nieuwsblad, Paris-Roubaix all take place in this region. Today we enjoy a Tour of Flanders experience. We will ride some of the famous ‘bergs’ and we will visit the Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen in Oudenaarde which is the finish location of the Tour of Flanders.
Evening meal together at Hotel Damier in Kortrijk
DAY 3 - STAGE 1 | GRAND DEPART LILLE
Date
Location
After breakfast we will ride on the race route of stage 1 before finishing in Lille. In Lille we will enjoy the atmosphere as it builds up before the finish of the riders.
We are likely to see a sprinter in the Yellow Jersey after Stage 1 which starts and finishes in Lille. The opportunity may never get better with less than 1000 metres of ascent and a flat final 50 kilometres.
Dinner together at the hotel in Kortrijk.
DAY 4 - Stage 2 Boulogne sur Mer Finish
Date
Sunday 6th July
Location
Kortrijk
The stage starts in Lauwin-Planque close to Valenciennes today and it finishes in Boulogne Sur Mer on the coast. From the hotel in Kortrijk, we will transfer you and the bikes to the starting point of our ride today. We will ride through the Côte d’Opale to our destination of Boulogne Sur Mer. The Côte d’Opale is a 120 kilometre (75 mi) stretch of French coast with a varied landscape including beaches, dunes, swamps, estuaries and cliffs.
After watching the conclusion of today’s stage, we will transfer you back to Kortrijk.
Dinner together at the hotel in Kortrijk
DAY 5 - Stage 3 Start & Paris-Roubaix Cobbles day
Date
Location
After breakfast, it is your turn to enjoy the cobbles of the Hell of the North, the famous Monument. We will transfer you from Kortrijk to Valenciennes where we watch the riders set off for the stage today which will take them from Valenciennes to Dunkirk.
We will choose our starting point to include the final 40 kilometres of the famous Spring Classic. You will ride the most famous stretches such as the Carrefour de L’Arbre and the Trouee d’Arenberg. After visiting the famous Roubaix Velodrome including the showers, the team will transfer you back to the hotel in Kortrijk for our final dinner.
DAY 6 - DEPARTURE
Date
Tuesday 8th July
Location
Kortrijk
Today we bid you Au Revoir as our tour ends.
We offer a return transfer to Brussels airport or to Lille TGV station.
Hotels
Welcome to Hotel Damier!
Hotel Damier Kortrijk is a charming 4-star hotel, situated in the city centre of Kortrijk, with a classic facade from 1769. This luxury boutique hotel – is a stylish base to discover the city and the Flanders region. Hotel Damier is the place where history has been combined with contemporary charm. It is a hospitable hotel where service comes first.
Your stay here will be with breakfast and 3-course dinner included. The hotel has a bike store room for safe storage of your bike.
More about the event
The Grand Depart of the 112th edition of the world-famous cycling race is taking place in Lille and northern France. Lille will be hosting the team presentation and the first stage.
The first three stages all take place in northern France before the race moves down the country via Brittany.
Stage 1 has a start and finish in Lille. We are likely to see a sprinter in the Yellow Jersey after Stage 1 which starts and finishes in Lille. With less than 1000 metres of ascent and a flat final 50 kilometres the opportunity may never get better.
Stage 2 starts close to Valenciennes and takes place on rolling terrain but there are two sharp climbs inside the last 10 kilometres making for exciting racing and the opportunity for an attack late on before the finish in Boulogne sur Mer.
Stage 3 between Valenciennes and Dunkirk is also a flat stage so again perfect for a bunch sprint.
Tour Dynamic
Daily Rides
We offer a guided ride each day listed in the itinerary. We have an experienced local rider as your bike guide on the road with you. On the ride you will be supported by our vehicle carrying nutrition, hydration and tools for basic mechanical support.
We will ride each day to engage with the day’s stage, the support vehicle will always be close by in case we have any mechanical issues or if you are not feeling up to riding the whole distance. On some occasions we may have 2 ride options for the day, these will be communicated as short ride and long ride.
Transportation
We will have the support vehicle close to the riding group at all times, the support vehicle will carry the rider’s day pack, sports hydration powders, water, and some refreshments.
If the day’s stage is a long distance that we can’t safely cover by bike we will arrange additional transport, see itinerary for details.
Who is this tour for?
Our tours are all about enjoyment and safety, you must be used to riding in a group. This tour largely involves riding to and from the hotel each day and includes watching each stage live.
Riding: Ride 2 to 3 times a week / Average ride distance: 50km+ kilometres | Average ride elevation: Comfortable with 1000+ meters | Average Riding Time: Comfortable being in the saddle for 4+ Hours
My fitness and experience: Fitness is central to my life. I ride my bike regularly every week and am comfortable with rides of 3-4 hours or more at a relatively steady pace. I enjoy all-terrain, with hills and some moderate mountain passes. I like getting some speed on moderate descents.
BOOK NOW
Sportive Breaks are part of the Destination Sport Experiences Group. When clicking on the booking link below, you will be taken to the Destination Sport Experiences booking engine. If you have any questions, please do contact our team [email protected]
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We have a team of highly experienced professionals who have been organising cycling trips for over 25 years.
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Spread your payments
Our payment plan is an interest-free payment method where you will have the opportunity to spread payment for your booking. *Selected products. Terms and Conditions apply
Logistics covered
We know the routes, we know the roads. We know how the event works and the best hotels for the start and finish. We organise everything for you; transfers, bike transport, additional feed stops, rep support and more.
