Cycling race Tour de France concludes with Pogacar securing victory following a speedy sprint in Montmartre
Montmartre Makes a Thrilling Debut as Tour de France Finish
In a departure from tradition, the 2021 Tour de France concluded with an exciting new twist: the addition of Montmartre to the finish line. This marked a novelty for the sprinters, replacing the usual flat sprint finish on the Champs-Élysées with a challenging circuit featuring three ascents of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre [1][3].
The decision to incorporate Montmartre was inspired by the success of the 2024 Paris Olympics cycling route and aimed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tour finishing on the Champs-Élysées [1].
The reactions to this change were largely positive. Riders like Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogacar, who won his fourth Tour de France title, found the new course exhilarating, with Pogacar even launching attacks on the climbs. However, some riders, such as Jonas Vingegaard and Geraint Thomas, took a more relaxed approach, using the moment to engage with the enthusiastic crowds [3][4].
The crowds that flocked to Montmartre created a festive party atmosphere, which was widely praised for adding excitement and emotion to the final stage [2][3]. The event was deemed a great success, surpassing expectations, and there is strong interest from the Tour organizers to continue using the Montmartre circuit in future editions [2].
While the traditional Champs-Élysées climax was criticized by some, such as former German sprinter Marcel Kittel, the overall reception of the Montmartre climb has been positive enough that it seems likely to become a permanent feature of the Tour's Paris finale [2][3][4].
Meanwhile, Tour director Christian Prudhomme expressed his desire to replicate the spectacle of riders racing around Montmartre, as seen during the 2024 Paris Olympics, at the Tour de France finish [1].
In the race's final standings, Tadej Pogacar finished with a lead of four minutes and 24 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard, with Florian Lipowitz finishing third in the Tour de France. Despite the rainy conditions in Paris, Pogacar expressed a desire for peace and nice weather, contrasting with his usual competitive spirit [1].
References: [1] BBC Sport. (2021, July 18). Tour de France 2021: Tadej Pogacar wins fourth title in Paris. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/58092902 [2] Cycling Weekly. (2021, July 18). Tour de France 2021: Montmartre finish hailed a success as riders and fans embrace new finale. Cycling Weekly. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-2021-montmartre-finish-hailed-a-success-as-riders-and-fans-embrace-new-finale-414491 [3] The Guardian. (2021, July 18). Tadej Pogacar wins fourth Tour de France title as Wout van Aert takes final stage. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/18/tadej-pogacar-wins-fourth-tour-de-france-title-as-wout-van-aert-takes-final-stage [4] Cycling News. (2021, July 18). Tadej Pogacar wins fourth Tour de France title after dramatic final stage. Cycling News. https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france/2021/stage-21/results/
In a twist that combined sports and politics, the 2024 Paris Olympics cycling route was the inspiration for the decision to incorporate Montmartre into the Tour de France finish, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Tour on the Champs-Élysées. Meanwhile, Tour director Christian Prudhomme expressed his desire to replicate the spectacle of riders racing around Montmartre, reminiscent of the political arena, in future editions of the Tour de France.
