The Amaury Sport Organisation confirmed that the 2028 Tour de France will begin with its Grand Départ in Reims [1].
The decision brings the prestigious start of the race back to French soil after two consecutive years of international openings. This return marks a strategic shift for the organizers as they navigate a crowded global sports calendar and a desire to highlight domestic regions.
Reims, located in the Champagne region of northeastern France, will host the opening ceremonies and initial stages [1]. This selection serves as a homecoming for the event, as the Grand Départ had previously moved outside the country for the 2026 edition in Barcelona, Spain, and the 2027 edition in Edinburgh, Britain [2].
To accommodate the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, the race will undergo a scheduling change. The event is now set to begin in early June [4], a move designed to avoid a direct clash with the Olympic window [2]. This timing adjustment ensures that the cycling world's premier event does not compete for viewership or athlete availability during the Summer Games.
Hosting the start in Reims also connects the modern race to its history. The city first hosted a Tour stage in 1956 [5]. By returning to the Champagne region, the ASO leverages the city's cultural and historical significance to frame the start of the 2028 competition.
Organizers have not yet released the full route for the 2028 race. However, the confirmation of Reims as the starting point allows the city to begin preparations for the influx of spectators, and logistical requirements associated with the Grand Départ [1].
“The Grand Départ returns to France for the first time in three years.”
The shift of the 2028 Tour de France to an early June start demonstrates the growing influence of the Olympic Games on the global sporting calendar. By returning the Grand Départ to France after two years abroad, the ASO is balancing international expansion with the need to maintain its domestic core and avoid the logistical and promotional shadow of the Los Angeles Olympics.
