His Serene Highness Prince Albert II travelled to the Jura on Friday, July 17, to attend the start of the 13th stage of the Tour de France in Dole before following the race to Belfort, a region with longstanding historical ties to the Grimaldi family, where he later took part in the podium ceremony…
A passionate cycling enthusiast who has regularly attended the Tour for more than three decades, Prince Albert II described the race as a unique celebration of sport, history and French heritage. Speaking during his visit, he praised the atmosphere surrounding the world’s most famous cycling event and said its enduring appeal lies not only in the competition but also in its ability to showcase the country’s landscapes, culture and traditions.
The Sovereign also reflected on the dominance of race leader Tadej Pogačar, describing the Slovenian as an extraordinary athlete whilst noting that the outcome of the Tour is never certain until Paris.
The visit also highlighted Belfort’s historic links with Monaco through the Grimaldi family before attention turned to the Principality’s own major cycling event. In just over a month, Monaco will host the Grand Départ of the 2026 Vuelta a España, becoming the only city-state ever to have staged the starts of all three Grand Tours after the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.