2023 Tour de France Rolls Through Bordeaux Region
The world famous Tour de France bike race takes place from July 1st to 23rd, 2023, and this year we’re excited that it will be coming to Bordeaux, where crowds are expected to line the streets to cheer the cyclists on.
In fact, stage seven, on July 7, ends right here in Bordeaux, having started earlier in the day in Mont-de-Marsan, in the neighbouring department of Landes, before arriving in the city after 110 miles of cycling, over mostly flat terrain.
This year is the 110th Tour de France, with 22 teams competing, although it’s expected to be an exciting tight race between defending champion Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar, who has won the race twice previously. It starts on July 1st, in Bilbao in the Basque country, in Spain, and ends in Paris on Sunday, July 23rd. Stages seven and eight pass through the Bordeaux region.
While not everyone has the stamina and speed to participate in the Tour de France, even a non-champion cyclist can traverse the streets of Bordeaux on two wheels. Bordeaux is one of France’s loveliest tourist cities and with so much to see and do, it’s great that the city is also very pedestrian and cyclist-friendly.
If you’re not whizzing through the city doing a professional cycling time trial, why not take a leisurely tour of Bordeaux, by bike or on foot? Whether you’re particularly interested in architecture, history, food or art, there’s something for everyone. Check out the interesting architecture, impressive city gates and charming traditional buildings, lots of culinary delights, and the Cite du Vin wine museum.
And then you can get back in the saddle the following day. For the professional cyclists, July 8, is stage eight, a medium-mountain stage, and the second longest stage, covering 125 miles. Stage eight starts not too far from Bordeaux, in Libourne, a town that is close to the famous wine village of Saint-Emilion.
For anyone wanting to explore the area around Libourne at a more leisurely pace, while they’re visiting the Bordeaux region, we recommend a guided cycling tour in the Saint Emilion appellation. It’s a great way to get around, cover more area, and it’s also something different to do, a fascinating and fun activity with one of Bordeaux With Elodie’s English-speaking local guides, who can explain the history of the area, talk about winemaking and wines and so much more. While you might not win a yellow jersey or any cycling races, we’re sure Bordeaux will win your hearts, just as it has ours.
