This Fourth of July can become a meaningful moment for a father or even a grandfather to share his identity with his son or grandson. Luis Ocaña. It may remind readers of when Peter Finne began letting go of the training wheels on his bike, or of Miguel Indurain. Growing up in the Val d’Aran, a runner with a sometimes grumpy, very particular character, he rode a tricycle so uniquely that he married on Christmas Eve, probably the only one to do so. More French winners rode the Tour than Castilians. Inside, July marks a 50th anniversary. In July 2023, the Tour will begin anew and will honor Ocaña by arriving in the town where he lived, Nogaro, on the Landes border, where his vineyards lie, and where he died by suicide in 1994.
The Tour will be presented in Paris on Thursday, yet as is customary, the French regional press spent days, even weeks, leaking details of an already secret route that was never truly secret. It will surely be described as one of the toughest Tours in history, but that assessment hinges on how riders respond. Ocaña’s memory will be remembered whether Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar reprise their duel, as they did with Eddy Merckx in 1971, though nothing permanent happened then and the climb remained manageable. French mountain ranges—Pyrenees, Massif Central, Jura, Alps and Vosges—will test riders who chase glory across chicha and lemon-scented twists.
There will be no single, dedicated stage making the entire Tour extraordinarily hard, nor will the organization honor just one cycling genius. On July 9, a ride will depart from Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat and arrive at Puy de Dôme, a place famous for Raymond Poulidor who lived and died there. Poulidor won the heart of French fans in 1964 with a legendary ascent in the Massif Central, finishing second in Paris and forever being remembered for not wearing yellow… until his grandson Mathieu van der Poel carried his memory into the 2021 edition.
From Bilbao
Fans will have to wait until Paris on Sunday, July 23, when the Tour concludes for the summer, to relive the race’s third tribute as riders pass along the Laurent Fignon route in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, about 30 kilometers from the Champs-Élysées. The Parisian cyclist, twice a winner of the race and a long-time television commentator who battled for championships, left a lasting mark after succumbing to cancer in 2010.
Many will be surprised to see a map of France with more gaps than expected, as the Tour begins in the Basque Country from Bilbao on July 1, but the route will mostly emphasize the final two weeks in the eastern part of the country, including seven days in the Alps for mountain climbers who must move hotels and claim new air for a chance to own the terrain.
While flipping through French newspapers, readers can find mentions in July of the arrival in Cauterets, where Indurain won after climbing the Tourmalet in 1989, followed by a ascent to the Grand Colombier in the Jura mountains and an alpine festival sponsored by Le Dauphiné Libéré. Morzin after Joux Plaine, Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, including climbs to Combloux, and plans against time and altitude dominance where Bernard Hinault reshaped the 1980 World Cup, a moment remembered in Courchevel.
Van Vleuten Scene
Yet there’s more. L’Est Républicain recalls that the penultimate stage will be recreated in the Vosges and finish at Le Markstein. Last July, Movistar’s Dutch leader Annemiek van Vleuten shone brightly, underscoring the depth of women’s cycling and the Tour’s broader memory of achievements beyond the men’s race.
Several details deserve note, such as a potential time trial near Pau. Regardless of scenic beauty, the Tour’s presentation is bound to evoke strong emotions. The gastronomic traditions of Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa, with San Sebastián as a landmark, stand before thousands of French spectators.
This Fourth of July could be a wonderful moment for a father or grandfather to tell his story to the younger generation, reflecting on legends like Ocaña and the era of Indurain. The Tour’s narrative, interwoven with personal histories, keeps evolving as riders chase glory across mountain passes and memories across borders. The route, always in motion, invites fans to feel the drama—an enduring testament to the sport’s enduring appeal.
The Tour will be presented in Paris on Thursday, yet as is customary, the French regional press spent days, even weeks, leaking details of an already secret route that was never truly secret. It will surely be described as one of the toughest Tours in history, but that assessment hinges on how riders respond. Ocaña’s memory will be honored whether Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar reprise their duel, as they did with Eddy Merckx in 1971, though nothing permanent happened then and the climb remained manageable. French mountain ranges—Pyrenees, Massif Central, Jura, Alps and Vosges—will test riders who chase glory across chicha and lemon-scented twists.
There will be no single, dedicated stage making the entire Tour extraordinarily hard, nor will the organization honor just one cycling genius. On July 9, a ride will depart from Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat and arrive at Puy de Dôme, a place famous for Raymond Poulidor who lived and died there. Poulidor won the heart of French fans in 1964 with a legendary ascent in the Massif Central, finishing second in Paris and forever being remembered for not wearing yellow… until his grandson Mathieu van der Poel carried his memory into the 2021 edition.
From Bilbao
Fans will have to wait until Paris on Sunday, July 23, when the Tour concludes for the summer, to relive the race’s third tribute as riders pass along the Laurent Fignon route in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, about 30 kilometers from the Champs-Élysées. The Parisian cyclist, twice a winner of the race and a long-time television commentator who battled for championships, left a lasting mark after succumbing to cancer in 2010.
Many will be surprised to see a map of France with more gaps than expected, as the Tour begins in the Basque Country from Bilbao on July 1, but the route will mostly emphasize the final two weeks in the eastern part of the country, including seven days in the Alps for mountain climbers who must move hotels and claim new air for a chance to own the terrain.
While flipping through French newspapers, readers can find mentions in July of the arrival in Cauterets, where Indurain won after climbing the Tourmalet in 1989, followed by a ascent to the Grand Colombier in the Jura mountains and an alpine festival sponsored by Le Dauphiné Libéré. Morzin after Joux Plaine, Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, including climbs to Combloux, and plans against time and altitude dominance where Bernard Hinault reshaped the 1980 World Cup, a moment remembered in Courchevel.
Van Vleuten Scene
Yet there’s more, as L’Est Républicain recalls that the penultimate stage will be recreated in the Vosges and finish at Le Markstein. Last July, Movistar’s Dutch leader Annemiek van Vleuten shone strongly, underscoring the enduring legacy of the women’s Tour.
There are several notes to keep in mind, such as a likely time trial near Pau. Beyond the beauty of the route, expect genuine emotion in the Tour’s presentation. The gastronomic traditions of Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa, with San Sebastián as a finish for Stage Two, set the scene for thousands of French fans.