2027 Tour de France will NOT have Montmartre - Cobbled climb in Paris finale reportedly set to be removed after just two years
Cycling
The Montmartre climb on the final stage of the 2025 and 2026 editions of the Tour de France already went down a treat with cycling fans. However, after just two years in the race, organisers are reportedly set to revert to the classic Champs Elysees finish in 2027.
The Côte de la Butte Montmartre - 1,1 kilometres at 5.9 percent saw riders pass the legendary Moulin Rouge and do battle up the picturesque cobbled streets before passing the cathedral at its peak, with repetitions of the climb proving exciting over the past two summers.
The climb has been a hit with fans as it produced two memorable finishes with Wout van Aert's solo move in 2025 followed by Mathieu van der Poel's resilient win to hold off the chasers.
Despite both stages leaving room for sprinters to still upset the puncheurs, regional newspaper Le Progrès reports that organisers ASO have opted for the usual finish that includes laps of the Champs-Elysees with views of the Arc de Triomph and Louvre.
No reason has been listed for the change, and despite fan praise of the re-imagination of the traditional Paris finish, organisers have seemingly reverted back to the stage format that often leads to a bunch sprint on Paris' iconic avenue.
Mathieu van der Poel beat Tadej Pogacar and the sprinters in Paris
Opportunity for other riders
On both occasions, the general classification was neutralised in some way before the final ascent of the climb, leading to Tadej Pogacar going all-out on both editions to feature the climb. however, the yellow jersey missed out as he was dropped by van Aert and beaten by van der Poel in a sprint to the line.
The difficulty of the Montmartre climbs made it possible for puncheurs and climbers to attempt for victory in the Tour, which has traditionally been out of reach due to its formerly flat nature resulting in a bunch sprint. One of those who capitalised was Mathieu van der Poel.
The 31-year-old has celebrated more than one beautiful victories during his career; after all he became road world champion (and cyclocross world champion 7x), won Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders three times both, or Milano-Sanremo twice. And yet, there remains something unique about triumph on Paris' main boulevard.
Read also
Van der Poel on Tour victory
"Definitely top five, maybe," Van der Poel ranked his most recent Tour de France victory. "Maybe even top three. I think it is one of my most beautiful victories."
The presence of Pogacar at the front was crucial to his victory as the Slovenian never stopped pushing and believing in his own victory. Van der Poel described the Tour winner as "maybe the best rider ever" and praised his commitment.
"That is also the champion Tadej is," Van der Poel said. "He kept riding fully until the end. I think that is how we race, and he showed that again."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- maybe this is something else they can protest in the streets of France.mij04-11-2026
- his Roubaix win was amazing. not to take anything away from him - arguably one of MVDP's wins was at the expense of a WVA flat - but so many things need to line up to get one of these. He had a perfect race with fewer bike issues on an attritional course. And crazy strong as usual. Glad he got this done.mij04-11-2026
- Orts was a super smart signing with the new rules regarding cross and UCI pointsmij04-11-2026
- yeah... you're right...PogiSloFans04-11-2026
- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
- A mindset that reminds me of Tim Declerq. I loved watching that guy just pound away the kilometers, hours at the front, holding an entire breakaway in check on his own. Bjerg seems like a similar guy. Curling, the team sport.RidesHills04-11-2026
- He will be lol, but he can still win on the climbs hahaawp04-11-2026
- I would love to have his inconsistency. How many wins this year? 2 TdF stages, a WC, a Euro championship, San Sebastian, multiple wins early year. Monument podiums. I'd take it. I don't think he has a chance in the TdF, but he is still amazing.mij04-11-2026
- He's not going to win the TdF. Maybe if they make every single stage a TT he could win. But I still believe Tadej would just sharpen his TT skills and win.mij04-11-2026
- You beat me to it. Should he make a full recovery (likely) and go light early in the year. One, two, three. Don't ask me, I don't give a damn. Should he be on a Feel-Like-He's-Fixin'-to-Die High.Yepperoni04-11-2026
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