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'It has a real weight on the Tour': Behind the making of the Tour de France's foreign Grand Départ

From Amsterdam in 1954 to Barcelona in 2026, Rouleur traces the history of the Tour de France's foreign Grand Départs and how start cities are chosen.

By James Startt

Photography by James Startt/Getty

26 JUNE 2024 | UPDATED 11.40 PM BST

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Rouleur Issue 144 — The Tour Issue
In printIssue 144

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The Tour Issue

Le Tour de France: a race defined by colour, passion and history, whose drama and romance continue to shape the identity of cycling’s greatest stage.