The long-standing tradition of a serene final day parade
into Paris for the Tour de France is about to be turned on its head. According
to Le Parisien, the 2025 edition of the race will take a bold new route
through the heart of the capital, including three ascents of the iconic
Montmartre hill.
Following last year's Olympic road race, which used the same
spectacular route and saw explosive attacks from Mathieu van der Poel and Wout
van Aert before Remco Evenepoel surged to gold, the Tour looks set to embrace
the same setting, this time, as a dramatic closing stage.
Originally considered unlikely due to logistical
complications, the Montmartre finale has now become a reality thanks in part to
high-level political backing. French President Emmanuel Macron is said to have
supported the organisers' request behind the scenes, helping smooth the path
with city officials and law enforcement.
ASO was reportedly cautious about appearing too forceful
with their proposal, but quiet negotiations have paid off. Now, the July 27th
finale promises to offer far more tension than the usual ceremonial cruise
toward a bunch sprint on the Champs-Élysées.
Unlike previous editions, where the final day was more about
celebration than competition, this reimagined conclusion could genuinely impact
the general classification. With three climbs of Montmartre, the racing is
expected to be intense, and far from the traditional sprinter-friendly finish.
Had the peloton been asked to tackle Montmartre just once,
it may have felt like a nod to tradition. But three times up the cobbled ascent
will ensure a race, not a parade. For the sprinters, this spells bad news, the
certainty of a gallop down the Champs is gone. And for the yellow jersey
contenders, it means staying on high alert right until the end.
This change is part of a broader push by Tour organisers to
innovate and reimagine the race’s iconic moments. In 2024, with Paris
unavailable due to the Olympic Games, the race concluded in Nice with a
thrilling individual time trial. The absence of a traditional bunch sprint was
hardly missed, and instead, the finale was widely praised for its
unpredictability.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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