---
title: Brittany. The untamed heart of the Tour de France
description: The 2021 edition of the Tour de France will begin in Brittany, from Finistère the most westerly point of the Breton peninsula. It is where the true untamed heart of France beats.
---

[The Wilier Journal [EN] - A collection of stories and emotions. ](https://journal.wilier.com/en)

# [Brittany. The untamed heart of the Tour de France](https://journal.wilier.com/en/brittany-the-untamed-heart-of-the-tour-de-france)

 Written by [Wilier](https://journal.wilier.com/en/author/wilier) | Jun 24, 2021 7:50:00 PM

**Brittany** is t*he Old and New World of France*. It is the sanctuary of the Celts, and where the land reaches out towards **America**.

It is there, at *the End of the Earth*, where the spirit of travel and the desire for deeper contact with nature makes **Brittany** the true untamed heart of **France**. This in itself makes it the ideal place for those who possess a particular vision of tourism, something less crowded and more reflective, and for those who enjoy a bicycle touring that is more exposed to the force of the elements.

The **Tour de France 2021** dedicates **four stages** to the allure of **Brittany**: from the start in **Brest** to the fourth leg finish line, in **Fougères**. Not just a **Grand Départ** but a true confirmation.

If the starting point is a foreshadowing of the difficulties of the new Tour de France, then the 2021 edition will be hard to forget. **Brittany** is without doubt a beautiful region –in this sense it unleashes the same attraction as the **Grande Boucle**– but it coexists with the natural elements whose might will quickly put a terrible strain of the **physical and mental condition** of the riders.

The ocean wind and the Tour’s lower than usual summer temperatures will get in the way of the first four days of the race that **Christian Prudhomme** has decided to dedicate entirely to this region.  
From **Brest** to **Fougères**, it will be an uninterrupted battle against nature, which will be made even harsher by tough stretches like the **Mûr-de-Bretagne**, which will be a decisive factor in the second Breton stage.

Courses conceived for **racing** but which easily adapt to the enjoyment of the bicycle tourist, with special mention for the segment that runs alongside the **Pink Granite Coast**, which wows the eyes from **Trégastel** to **Paimpol**.

The coast, the colour of the rocks and the deep fjords will bring back to the surface a world that is forgotten but continues to live unflinchingly exposed to the force of the wind and tides, each and every day.

This is **[Brittany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany)**: so embedded in nature that it seems almost imaginary. Indeed, it offers countless destinations for bicycle touring that the **Tour de France 2021** has left out, like the beautiful **Saint-Malo**, with its **ocean bastions**, and the breathtaking **Emerald Coast**, overlooked by the seaside resort of Dinard.

But, in the end, it’s all for the best because this is the nature of a grand stage race: making general recommendations but leaving it to the excursionist to discover, with *great amazement*, some of the area’s most wonderful places.

[View full post](https://journal.wilier.com/en/brittany-the-untamed-heart-of-the-tour-de-france)

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