DISCUSSION Tour de France Stage 21 | Should the Tour stick with the Montmartre finale or return to tradition?

The Tour de France came to an end today, closing the curtain on one of the most memorable editions in recent history. Tadej Pogacar sealed his fourth overall victory, further cementing his place among the sport’s greats. But this Tour was about much more than just the yellow jersey. We witnessed fierce battles from breakaways, thrilling duels for the polka dot and green jerseys, and the emergence of unexpected riders who lit up the race with stunning performances. It was a celebration of cycling in all its forms, unpredictable, emotional, and unforgettable.

Today’s stage broke with tradition. The riders had to complete two different circuits. The first of them was the ‘traditional’ course in the Champs-Élysées. After that, they started the ‘Olympic’ version, which featured three ascents to Montmartre.

It was a chaotic stage marked by relentless rain throughout the entire route in Paris. Despite the treacherous conditions, several riders chose to take risks, aiming for the stage win. A reduced group, including both Tadej Pogacar and Wout van Aert, broke away during one of the climbs up Montmartre. In the end, it was the Belgian who claimed the victory, his tenth stage win at the Tour de France and arguably one of the most prestigious of his career.

Once the stage finished, we asked some of our writers to share their thoughts and main takeaways about what happened today.

I must admit I was a Wout non-believer and I certainly did not expect him to be the only man to drop Tadej Pogacar at this Tour. A deserved win for the Belgian, although the "excitement" about this stage felt a bit forced upon us, viewers.

I respect the decision of organizers to neutralize this stage - it was necessary in the conditions - but it felt strange to cheer on a group of 30 riders battling it out. As a concept, I like this stage design and cycling peloton should certainly return to Montmartre at some point in the future. Should it be Tour de France peloton? I don't know. For stage 21, I might still prefer the good old Champs-Elysees sprint...

Maybe it would be interesting to have a one-day race at some point, centered around Montmartre. Or if there was ever the idea to have a Grand Départ in Paris, this could be an interesting way to do so. We have to thank Tadej Pogacar for lighting up the race even on the last day of the race, even when he didn't have to. And with pictures of Pogacar attacking Montmartre in my head, it's a pleasant way to conclude the race.  

I understand the cyclists (especially the more pure sprinters) who didn't like the change of route. As a cycling fan, I loved it. It felt more like a classic than the last stage of a Grand Tour and the most prestigious race in the world.

I was convinced that Tadej Pogacar would go for the stage win, although his last week left me in doubt. What I didn't expect was that he would do it from so early on and that he would accelerate the pace on each and every climb to Montmartre.

What I also didn't expect was that Wout van Aert would be at this level. Yesterday he said he would go for the stage win and hoped Pogacar wouldn't interfere. Well even with Pogacar's interference he's outclassed him by forces. He was the best on the day and proved it by releasing the best of the race. Congratulations and chapeau to one of the riders whose record does not do him justice in the history of cycling.

The stages that cycling fans love are often the ones riders fear the most, and today’s stage was a perfect example. After 20 grueling days of racing, many in the peloton were simply hoping to make it to the finish line and finally rest. But the Tour had one last challenge in store.

The final route through Montmartre was tense from start to finish. The rain added a layer of danger, increasing nerves in the bunch, and the constant threat of crashes loomed over the stage. For many riders, that was enough reason to opt out of contesting the victory.

But there is a select group of riders who never seem to be intimidated by these conditions, and always fight for the win. Pogacar and Van Aert clearly belong to that group. The Slovenian wanted to get the iconic picture of winning on the Champs-Élysées while wearing yellow, and he fought for it since the beginning. But he clearly does not have the same legs as at the beginning of the Tour, and Van Aert took advantage of it.

The Belgian superstar had saved a bit of fuel in the tank for today, and it showed. He delivered a brilliant performance, one that echoed the very best version of himself.

For the upcoming edition, I am wondering if this format of the final stage will continue in the race. On the one hand, it is way more exciting for the regular fan to see the riders go up Montmartre, a short but exigent climb, instead of waiting for the last 500 meters to see a regular bunch sprint.

On the other hand, many riders have expressed their concerns regarding this new format. It is true that it entails more danger, and we could eventually see a situation where one rider loses a spot in the GC because the stage was too demanding for him.

If that is truly a problem (I don’t think it is; every stage should be competitive), the race organizers could simply choose to take times in one of the crossings of the finish line (as they did today).

One possible solution that comes to mind is alternating between the two circuits each year. One year, the final stage could follow the Montmartre route, better suited for climbers and puncheurs, while the next year it could return to the traditional Champs-Élysées finish, favoring pure sprinters. This way, the Tour would maintain its tradition while keeping things fresh for both riders and fans.