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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- Great to see him finish strongmij15-10-2026
- I guess not since it is happening all of the timemij15-10-2026
- Like any of them could beat Pogi! As if!Lozza15-10-2026
- Perhaps the ITA need to employ people who have some humanity. So the family didn't complain at the time but surely on being told of the death the official should have passed on their condolences and gone away.Andy12315-10-2026
- Absolutely notbruins3015-10-2026
- what would the organizers loose if they pay men and women the same prize money? it is a shame that the unfairness is preserved even on a level where it would be so easy to change with nothing but positive consequences ... heck, they could even claim to promote equal rights ...Ketterechts15-10-2026
- is this crazy?Ketterechts15-10-2026
- WTF? What should I apologize for? Did you understand what I wrote?MajorPayne15-10-2026
- Could we give Seixas time to be Seixas and not make comparisons too soon? Maybe it’s my age speaking, but he’s a mere 20, barely started. Sure, a phenom, but so young. Will he win 8 Monuments like van der Poel so far, will he win 4 grand tours like Vingegaard? Those have been the two seconds to Pogačar’s first, since covid. Yes, there’s an eventual changing of the guard, but Seixas will need time to build the palmares to make his case. Might we please give him that time (while we enjoy the hell out of his riding)?RidesHills15-10-2026
- You've been dropped multiuple times from this site LOL !frieders315-10-2026
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