L'Etape Cunha by Tour de France

With a reformulated route and new challenges for participants, the main race started at 6 AM, marking the beginning of Brazil’s premier amateur road cycling competition.

Participants have adapted their training to the new course layout, which retains its 110 km distance but now features 2,400 meters of elevation gain. The shorter route was also been modified, reducing from 59 km with 1,300 meters of elevation to 53 km with 700 meters.

L'Étape Cunha course is fully closed to traffic, ensuring a safe and immersive cycling experience. Roads, highways, and city streets are exclusively designated for the race, allowing cyclists to push their limits under optimal conditions.

The event aims to maintain its competitive edge while enhancing safety.

“We anticipate a slightly faster race this year. The course modifications have changed the dynamics of the event, making it 5% to 10% faster for the top competitors. However, the intensity and effort required will remain high, with plenty of climbing,” explains Fernando Cheles, race director of L'Étape Brasil by Tour de France presented by Nubank.

The course now stretches to the Rocinha district junction before returning to Cunha’s Matriz Church, where riders were crossed the finish line at the city's central high point. This change introduces new technical and physiological dynamics to the race.

In the past two weekends, the event organizers held two promotional blitzes, offering discounted registrations, track familiarization, and official merchandise sales. Around 300 cyclists participated across four days.

"It’s great to see athletes engaging with these pre-race events, fully immersed in the competition and boosting the local economy," says Cheles.

A Loyal Competitor's Perspective

One cyclist eager to tackle the new course is Nelson Lucena, a Fidèle participant (having competed in every edition) of L'Étape Brasil. A native of Itu, nearly 350 km from Cunha, he welcomes the changes for the 2025 race.

Nelson received his first bike at age 14 and once owned 14 bicycles simultaneously. Now, at 66, he has eight—two for riding and six as collectibles.

“The new course is faster due to the terrain. I like it. I had to adjust my training because there are more climbs now. The challenge was to achieve my best time. The safety improvements are great, and the scenery remains stunning. I divide my year into three parts—March, June, and September—when the L'Étape Brasil races take place in Cunha, Rio de Janeiro, and Campos do Jordão. There’s no way I wouldn’t stay committed,” says Nelson.

Key Course Details

The main start remains in Cunha, following the SP-171 highway to the Rocinha district junction before returning to the city. The first half of the 50 km course runs on a wider, well-marked road, ensuring better flow and safety for cyclists and support crews.

Steeper climbs like the "Lavandário" and "Morro Grande" have been removed, replaced with longer but more gradual ascents. This adjustment reduces risks on descents and allows for a more controlled race pace.

The full course maintains its 110 km distance with 2,400 meters of elevation gain—a slight reduction from last year’s 2,900 meters. The short course, covering 50 km, offers a broader, well-marked highway for added comfort and safety.

The event village opens on Friday (28), showcasing top cycling exhibitors and official race sponsors.

2025 Race Calendar

In addition to Cunha (SP), L'Étape Brasil will continue with its two others stages:

Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro) – June 29th
Campos do Jordão (São Paulo) – September 28th

L'Étape Brasil is part of the global L'Etape Series by Tour de France circuit, which includes 30 events across the world such as France, Las Vegas, Turkiye, Slovenia and Mexico. Inspired by the world’s most prestigious road cycling race, the event provides amateur athletes with a professional-level experience.