4018) Tour de France (the most prestigious Cycling Race in the World), France: 50th Anniversary milestone (1975-2025): La Poste France (French Post) has issued a Block of stamps (Set of Two Stamps) featuring the prestigious Cycling Race: Date/Year of Stamps issue: 05.07.2025:
France. Prestigious Tour de France, the most famous Cycling Race in the World Celebrates Milestone Anniversary with a Block of stamps (two Stamps).
The La Poste, France has released a set/Block of two stamps highlighting the most famous cycling race in the world.
The Tour de France was first organised in 1903 by the newspaper L'Auto, with the aim of bringing public attention to the sport and, above all, increasing readership over its rival Le Vélo.
Today, the Tour de France is the 3rd most watched sporting event in the world, after the Football World Cup and the Olympic Games.
However, the three-week long race has not always ended on the Champs-Elysées as this spectacular finish dates back only to 1975, thanks to journalist Yves Mourousi.
It was his phone call to the-then President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, that he suggested the idea of the backdrop of the boulevards of Paris.
As more than 1.5 million applauding spectators lined the famous Parisian throughway, the French cyclist Bernard Thévenet crossed the finish line and was crowned winner of the 1975 Tour de France on the Champs-Elysées.
It is now this final stage which has now become un-missable and has made these repeated scenes an iconic venue for competition and celebration, engraved in the history of international sport.
For 2025, the race commenced on the 5th July in the city of Lille and concludes on the 27th July when all the riders race down the Champs-Elysées to the finish line.
The route will include 21 stages over 23 days and is over 3300 kilometres or, 2050 miles long cycling through 34 cities or villages in 11 regions. The tournament has 176 competitors in 22 teams of 8 cyclists.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the amended place of conclusion.
Another highlight of the race this year is after 5 years of major departures and passages abroad, the 2025 Tour de France will take place within the borders of France and there will be no foreign crossings this year. The last time the Tour was entirely on French soil was in 2020.
About 50 Years Since the Arrival of the Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees:
Celebrate a legendary sport with an exceptional stamp
block!
To mark the 50th anniversary of the polka-dot jersey and the white jersey, as well as the first finish on the Champs-Élysées, La Poste unveils a unique block of two stamps.
This creation pays tribute to a legendary sport, deeply rooted in the hearts of the French and followed by millions of enthusiasts around the world.
100% French this year, the race starts in Lille with a legendary finish in the heart of Paris. Designed and manufactured in France, this limited edition block captures the emotion of a popular and timeless event. A unique souvenir for lovers of cycling, heritage, and philately.
The Stamps:
Block of 2 stamps - 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Tour de France on the Champs-Elysées - Green letter.
Technical details:
Issue Date: 05.07.2025
Commercialisation start date: July 5, 2025
Commercialisation end date: July 31, 2026
Adherence type: Gummed
Printing technique: Heliogravure
Number per sheet: 1
Permanent value: No
Face value: 1.39 €
Philatelic charter family: Philatelic program stamp
Official release date: July 5, 2025
Stamp format: 110 x160 mm
Designer: DOZ
Links:
1) For more on the Olympics and Paralympics held in the past, including the origins and history of the Olympics and Commemorative coins issued both on London Olympics and Paralympics please read my post on the London Olympics 2012 link as follows: History of the ancient & modern Olympics and Paralympics & commemorative coins issued during the London Olympics and Paralympics
4) For Rio 2016, please click on the following link to get interesting insights into the mascots of the Rio Olympics Vinicius and Tom, the Games and the Commemorative Coins and stamps issue programme: 1)The 31st Summer Olympics "Rio 2016"2) Commemorative Stamps and booklets issued by the Department of Posts, India on 05.08.2016
5) For Ancient Olympic Games on Greek Coins of Antiquity, please click on the following link: Ancient Olympic Games on Greek Coins of Antiquity
6) For a set of Post cards titled "Olympic Events" : please click on the following link: "Olympic Events": A set of 12 Post Cards issued by the Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post on 11.07.2016
7) For a presentation set of two stamps titled "Spirit of Olympics, Athens, Atlanta" please visit the following link: Spirit of the Olympic Games, Athens-Atlanta: Celebrating the Centenary of the Modern Olympic Games
8) For a presentation set of four stamps titled "XXVIII Olympic Games" (2004 Summer Olympics Athens, Greece, please visit the following link: XVIII Summer Olympic Games, Athens Greece (2004)
9) For a presentation set of two stamps titled "XXIX Olympic Games" (2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing, China, please visit the following link: XXIX Olympic Games Beijing, China: 08.08.08- 24.08.08: A Presentation set of four stamps issued by India Post on 08.08.08
Links to the Mutiny on the Bounty Coins/Stamps:
Links to other posts in Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series:
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very informative post."
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DeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for sharing this informative post."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
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