On the occasion of the third stage of the Tour de France, which takes place today Monday, a giant flag of the European Union (22 × 17 meters) will be displayed at 16:05, just before the peloton crosses the border between Spain and France, passing through Puigcerdà (Catalonia, Spain).
This is a joint initiative of the European Commission (representations in Barcelona and Paris) and stakeholders on the ground (the Youth Assembly of the Euroregion Pyrenees Mediterranean, the Europe Direct centers of Pyrénées and Girona, and the mayors of Puigcerdà and Bourg-Madame). About twenty children from the area will also participate in this initiative.
The reason for this initiative lies in the fact that the Tour de France is much more than a sporting competition. For over a century, this historical event has connected territories, brought cultures closer, and gathered millions of people around shared values through sport.
In a matter of seconds, the cyclists will cross the border. A crossing today without controls or border posts. What seems obvious was not always the case and is an exception in contemporary political geography.
The display of this giant flag near the border aims to highlight not only the cross-border dimension of the Tour de France but also the European values that sport embodies, among others: solidarity, inclusion, integrity, resilience, team spirit, excellence, promotion of a healthy lifestyle, and preservation of our natural heritage.
This European dimension has been part of the history of the Tour for decades. In 1987, the Grand Départ was from West Berlin, when the wall was still standing. In 1992, the Tour started from San Sebastián and crossed seven European countries to celebrate the signing of the Maastricht Treaty as the founding treaty of the European Union (which replaced the European Communities).
This initiative on the southern side of the Pyrenees also coincides with a very symbolic year: in 2026, it will be 40 years since Spain joined the European Union.
The chosen location for the flag display is Puigcerdà, at km 153 of the stage, at the start of a mountain race, a few hundred meters from the border between Spain and France, very close to the cross-border hospital of Cerdanya. It is the first and only cross-border hospital in Europe, a concrete example of European cooperation. It provides healthcare to residents on both sides of the Pyrenees thanks to multinational medical staff and illustrates how European projects concretely improve the daily lives of people.
The flag display will take place at 16:05 during today’s stage, the third of the Tour de France, as it passes through the Catalan town of Puigcerdà, at kilometer 1 of the national road 154 (N-154).