The 2028 Tour de France will begin in Reims, with the Grand Est region hosting the opening four stages, marking back-to-back grand départs outside France after Barcelona in 2026 and Edinburgh in 2027.

The start date is moved earlier than usual to avoid clashing with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, a decision explained by Tour director Christian Prudhomme.

Reims was selected over Luxembourg to emphasize starting in France with regularity and to maintain a French anchor for the race.

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Top contenders like Tadej Pogačar, Wout van Aert, and Mathieu van der Poel have targeted Olympic gold, influencing scheduling decisions for the Tour.

ASO has not unveiled the full route beyond the first four stages, but five additional towns are confirmed for the opening sequence, and Luxembourg remains a potential nod in the plan.

The overall route for 2028 remains in development, with details beyond the initial towns yet to be released.

In addition to the first four stages, there is ongoing discussion about possibly returning to Luxembourg for more stages as part of a broader bid strategy.

ASO has historically adjusted schedules for major events like the Olympics, and this iteration represents a rare case of adapting to the Games.

There is unconfirmed talk of a finish in Épernay, echoing the 2019 victory-associated narrative around Reims’ cathedral area.

Future hosts are discussed: Luxembourg was rumored for 2028 but not chosen; 2029 could start in Germany (Berlin or Dresden), and 2030 might feature Slovenia or the Czech Republic (Ljubljana or Prague).

The early stages are expected to be sprinter-friendly, followed by a hillier second stage to move the yellow jersey, with potential Luxembourg stages as part of a strong bid.