Cycling in Yorkshire & Beyond
Cycling in Yorkshire & Beyond
Stage 16 | Stage 17 | Stage 18
Stage 17 of the Tour de France 2025 is a 161km flat stage from Bollène to Valence.
This is a transition stage, which heads north up the Rhône valley albeit with an excursion into the hills east of the river.
If the Mistral wind blows, that could put the cat among the pigeons. The race organisers have made sure that there are direction changes in the final 50km, in the hope of splitting the peloton up into echelons.
If it isn't windy, this could be a straightforward bunch sprint.
This is the race report for Stage 17 Tour de France 2025.
These are video highlights of Stage 17.
Race Details | Poll | Map & Profile | Timings | Videos | Food & Drink | Route Notes | Favourites
| Date | Wednesday 23rd July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Stage classification | Flat |
| Distance | 160.4km |
| Intermediate sprint | Roche-Saint-Secret-Béconne |
| Climbs | Col du Pertuis (Cat. 4) Col de Tartaiguille (Cat. 4) |
| Total climbing | 1,650m |
Vote for one of the main contenders to win Stage 17.
This is a map of the route of Stage 17, Tour de France 2025.
This is a zoom-able map of Stage 17 Tour de France 2025.
This is the profile of Stage 17 Tour de France 2025.
| Caravan | Fast Schedule | Slow Schedule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start Time (départ fictif) | 1135 |
1335 |
1335 |
| Start Time (départ réel) | 1150 |
1350 |
1350 |
| Roche-Saint-Secret-Béconne Intermediate Sprint | 1255 |
1450 |
1455 |
| Col du Pertuis Climb | 1320 |
1513 |
1520 |
| Col de Tartaiguille Climb | 1429 |
1616 |
1629 |
| Finish Line (160.4km) | 1529 |
1710 |
1729 |
This is a video of the route of Stage 17 Tour de France 2025.
The last time the Tour de France finished in Valence was on Stage 10 of the 2021 edition. Mark Cavendish was on a roll that year.
Stage 17 is from Bollène to Valence.
The Suisse biscuit is a speciality of Valence. It is made with shortcrust pastry and almond powder, flavoured with orange blossom, and eaten around Easter time.
It is inspired by the Swiss Guards of Pope Pius VI, a Pope who died in Valence. The biscuit is made to look like a Swiss guard in uniform.
As the stage starts in Provence, you could accompany it with a Côtes de Provence rosé.
The stage starts in Bollène (départ fictif).
Stage 17 starts in Bollène.
Bollène is in the Vaucluse département. It's close to Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, where Stage 17 of the 2024 Tour started.
There are clay deposits in the area, and bricks were made around Bollène.
In the C20th, Bollène's economy depended on the construction of major infrastructure such as the Canal Donzère-Mondragon, the Tricastin nuclear power station, and the André-Blondel hydroelectric power plant.
This is a grape-growing area that produces wines under the label Vin de pays de la Principauté d'Orange.
Le Barry is within the commune of Bollène. It's a village with cave dwellings, and a Medieval village and castle above.
The Barrage de Donzère-Mondragon is immediately north of Bollène.
The départ réel is south of Bollène, just after Mondragon.
From Mondragon, the riders take the D152 and head east through vineyards to Rochegude.
From Rochegude, the race goes north. The next place of significance on the route is Suze-la-Rousse.
Suze-la-Rousse château was built in the 1100s by the Princes of Orange. Today it is used as a University of Wine.
The peloton heads on north to La Baume-de-Transit and Montségur-sur-Lauzon.
Montségur-sur-Lauzon is a grape-growing area, producing Côteaux de Tricastin wines. It's also the truffle capital of Tricastin.
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Still going north, the race goes through Chamaret and Grignan.
Grignan has quite an impressive château which was first built in the C11th. The Adhémar family were the local lords.
Now the race goes north east to Taulignan and Roche-Saint-Secret-Béconne. This is where the intermediate sprint takes place.
The intermediate sprint at Roche-Saint-Secret-Béconne comes after 47.9km raced.
Green jersey competition: from 20 points for 1st place down to 1 point for 15th place.
Côteaux de Tricastin wine is produced here, as well as lavender essence and olives.
The riders cross the river Lez to Dieulefit.
Dieulefit attracts holiday visitors and valetudinarians. A number of potters and ceramicists work there, and lavender is grown in the surrounding area.
From Dieulefit, the race continues north towards the Montagne Saint-Maurice.
The riders go over the Col du Pertuis (632m). The climb is 3.7km at 6.6%.
KOM competition: 1 point for 1st place.
The Col du Pertuis is closely followed by the Col de Ventebrun (637m) and the Col de la Boutière (655m).
Stage 17 descends to Bourdeaux, on the river Roubion. Now the riders follow the Roubion to Saou.
Next the race goes west to Puy-Saint-Martin.
Puy-Saint-Martin is a village perché with the ruins of a Medieval castle.
Still going west, the race goes through Cléon-d'Andran and La Laupie, then north to Marsanne.
Now Stage 17 comes to the second categorised climb - the Col de la Tartaiguille. It is 3.6km at 3.5% to a height of 406m.
KOM competition: 1 point for 1st place.
The riders descend to La Roche-sur-Grane and Grane.
Grane is a village just before Stage 17 crosses the river Drôme to Allex. Next, the riders go through Montoison and Montmeyran.
The parcours then skirts around Chabeuil.
From Chabeuil, the race goes west north west past Valence-Chabreuil aerodrome. It is approaching the finish now.
Stage 17 finishes in the glamorous surroundings of the Briffaut Industrial Park outside Valence.
After going over the N7, there's a sharp left turn at a roundabout onto Avenue Maurice René Simonet. The finish line is on Avenue Simonet, in front of a car dealership.
Every so often the Tour de France finishes in an industrial estate. It's not ideal, but the finish location wasn't ideal on Stage 5 of the 2024 Tour. Mark Cavendish didn't care when he won that day, and neither will the winner in Valence.
Green jersey competition at the finish line: from 50 points for 1st place down to 2 points for 15th place.
Time bonuses at the finish line:
The Stage 17 finish town is Valence.
It's the capital of the Drôme département, and has a population of around 65,000.
They say that 'à Valence, le Midi commence', or 'at Valence, the south of France begins'.
Valence's name comes from Valentia Julia. Valentia means strength or bravery, and Julia refers to Julius Caesar.
It was founded in 121BC after the invasion of Gallia Narbonensis by the Romans, perhaps initially as a military camp.
The Via Agrippa ran south-north through Roman Valence, and passed the Forum. There were also thermal baths, a circus and amphitheatre.
Ramparts were strengthened during the years of Barbarian invasions, as the Roman Empire crumbled.
From the 1400s, Valence was part of the Dauphiné. Valence's University was founded by the Dauphin in 1452.
Valence was badly damaged by Allied bombing in World War II.
There are two stations in Valence - one in the city centre, and the other a Gare TGV on the high-speed line between Lyon and Marseille.
The economy of Valence is based on transport, food processing, electronics, aerospace and film.
The Cathedral in Valence is dedicated to Saint-Apollinaire. The Maison des Tetes was built in the 1500s in a Renaissance style.
Favourites for Stage 17 of the 2025 Tour de France include the top sprinters. Could this be a day for Soudal Quick-Step's Tim Merlier?
Who do you think will win Stage 17 of the 2025 Tour de France?
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