A LABEL SERVING MOBILITY
Established in 2021, this initiative enables cities that are hosting or have previously hosted the Tour de France to have their commitment to promoting cycling in all its forms assessed and rewarded. Whether French or foreign, rural or urban, cities applying for the label must highlight all existing measures to encourage cycling in their application and present short- and medium-term development plans at the local level (deployment of infrastructure, improvement of cycling safety, learning to ride a bike with the ‘Savoir rouler à vélo’ programme, parking and anti-theft measures, maintenance and repair, etc.). All these measures contribute to the growth of cycling as a means of daily transport, a source of leisure, and exercise.
Today, 203 towns are labelled cycle city of the Tour de France.
25 cities applied in 2026, bringing the club's total to over 200 cities!
CERTIFIED CITIES IN 2026
This year, 25 cities received the label, including 13 for the first time. Among them, 10 cities are located on the route of the 2026 Tour de France and 5 on that of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. This year’s selection includes the territories of both "Grand Départ" of the year, with the certification of Barcelona (3 bikes) and the reassessment of Lausanne (4 bikes).
Alongside Bédoin (2 bikes) and Malaucène (2 bikes), known for the daily passage of thousands of cyclists tackling Mont Ventoux, major metropolitan areas are also represented, such as Lyon (4 bikes) and Nice (3 bikes).
Beyond France’s borders, Vitoria-Gasteiz (4 bikes), which hosted the start of Stage 2 of the Tour de France in 2023 in the Basque Country; Esch-sur-Alzette (2 bikes) in Luxembourg, which hosted the Tour twice (1968 and 2006); Prachatice (1 bike), which hosted L’Étape Czech Republic by Tour de France in 2024 and 2025; and Sun Moon Lake (2 bikes) in Taiwan, where an Étape by Tour de France event will take place on October 3, all join the map of certified cities.
NEW “REGIONS, DEPARTMENTS, METROPOLITAN AREAS/TERRITORIES ON BIKES” LABEL
Five years after the launch of the Tour de France cycle city, it is now being extended to other public entities whose cycling policies complement those implemented by municipalities. As a result, regions, departments, as well as metropolitan areas and EPCIs (public intermunicipal cooperation agencies) are now eligible to apply for this label starting this year.
NEW “REGIONS, COUNTIES, METROPOLITAN AREAS/TERRITORIES” CYCLING LABEL: THE 2026 APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED!
- THE RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON JULY 3, 2026.
THE "CYCLE CITY" LABEL IN KEY FIGURES
- 6th edition in 2026
- 203 cities labelled since 2021
- 12 different countries
- 13 million inhabitants benefiting from infrastructure.
Four levels of labelling are symbolised by small yellow bicycles displayed on the signs that the municipalities set up at their town limits. The label criteria (set out in the application file for the second promotion, which can still be downloaded via the link below for your information) look at the cycling infrastructure development strategy, concrete actions to promote cycling (e.g. learning in school, awareness campaigns and recreational rides) and the support provided to clubs and various associations involved in cycling in their area.
Tour de France CSR Manager Karine Bozzacchi explains how the great disparity in resources between large cities such as Paris or Rotterdam and rural towns of a few hundred residents are taken into account when awarding the label, as is only natural: "While it can be hard for a small town to build a bike path, implementing 30 km/h zones in some neighbourhoods is more feasible and still shows a real commitment to supporting cycling as a means of transport."
If you have any further questions, please contact labelvilleavelo@aso.fr!
