Feature
Tour de France 2025 through the lens of James Startt - Stage 7
On each stage at the Tour de France, James Startt selects his image of the day, offering a unique perspective on the rolling citadel and the characters who inhabit it.
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James Startt
Normandy had already given the Tour de France a raucous welcome in recent days, with crowds flocking to the roadsides with special support for local riders Guillaume Martin and Kévin Vauquelin.
The Tour’s arrival in neighbouring Brittany was always liable to see an even greater explosion of colour and support. The region’s peripheral geographical position means the Tour can’t visit every July, and this cycling heartland had a four-year wait for the return of La Grande Boucle.
Absence only makes the heart grow fonder, of course. The walled port city of Saint-Malo was the start town, and the quays were packed with fans as the peloton was waved away on Friday.
Stage 7 took place amid a wall of noise, with highlights along the route including Bernard Hinault’s home village of Yffiniac, where Le Blaireau was given a thunderous welcome. The finale at Mûr-de-Bretagne didn’t feature in the Tour until the 21st century, but it has quickly established itself as a modern classic – and the modern master Tadej Pogačar picked up his first win on Breton roads.
James Startt is covering his 36th Tour de France. He is a two-time winner of the World Sports Photography awards and he currently serves as the creative director to inGamba luxury cycling tours.
