Lyon Achieves Highest ‘Tour de France Cycling City’ Label
Lyon, France – The city of Lyon has been officially recognized with the highest ‘4-bike’ distinction from the ‘Tour de France Cycling City’ label on May 21, 2026. This prestigious award, granted by the organizers of the Tour de France, celebrates municipalities deeply committed to fostering cycling culture and infrastructure.
This year, 25 municipalities, including 13 new additions and 19 French cities, received labels ranging from 1 to 4 bikes. However, Lyon stands out as the only French city to achieve the maximum ‘4-bike’ level, joining international counterparts such as Lausanne (Switzerland) and Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain).
What is the ‘Tour de France Cycling City’ Label?
Established in 2021 by ASO, the organizer of the ‘Grande Boucle’, this label aims to acknowledge cities that have hosted or been involved with the Tour de France (men’s, women’s, or associated events) and are actively promoting cycling in all its forms. It serves as a recognition of effective public policies and their continuous improvement in supporting cycling.
Lyon’s success in obtaining this top honor is attributed to several key initiatives and achievements:
- A structured long-term cycling strategy in place since 2009, significantly bolstered by the 2020-2026 cycling plan.
- The development of the ‘Voies Lyonnaises’, a comprehensive and safe cycling network.
- Dedicated efforts in road safety, including the widespread implementation of 30 km/h zones.
- A full range of cycling services, such as secure parking, repair workshops, and the Vélo’v bike-sharing system.
- The active involvement of a robust network of associative and institutional partners.
With an impressive score of 81 points in the evaluation, Lyon far exceeded the threshold required for this distinction, solidifying its position as the best city in France for cycling.
Reactions to the Recognition
Lyon’s Mayor, Grégory Doucet, expressed his satisfaction with the award, stating, “It is an immense source of pride to see Lyon shine at the top of the cycling cities ranking.” These comments come six years after his 2020 remarks, where he had criticized the Tour de France as being “macho” and “polluting,” and had viewed its passage through the city that year unfavorably.
Despite past debates surrounding the event itself, the attainment of this label demonstrates that Lyon’s cycling policies can be recognized by the Tour de France organization. The municipality emphasizes the substantial investments made since 2020 and the consistent increase in cycling activity, as explained by Laurent Bosetti, Deputy Mayor of Lyon for Mobility: “It acknowledges the concrete transformations undertaken for the benefit of our residents.”
Maëlle Charlet
Source: https://tribunedelyon.fr/sport/lyon-label-ville-velo-tour-france/
