Cycling's prestigious Tour de France event should persist in concluding at Montmartre, Paris, symbolizing the race's forward progression.
The Evolution of the Tour de France Finale: A New Era for the Champs-Élysées
Welcome to another edition of The Leadout newsletter series, brought to you by our website and Cyclingnews. This week, we delve into the exciting changes that have transformed the Tour de France finale, with a particular focus on the inclusion of Montmartre in the 2023 and 2025 editions.
The Tour de France has been synonymous with the Champs-Élysées since 1975, a tradition established by Félix Lévitan and journalist Yves Mourousi. The final stage, usually a ceremonial parade for the general classification leader, would often end in a sprinter’s victory after several laps on the avenue. However, in 2023, a circuit around Montmartre was introduced, marking a significant departure from the usual format.
In 2025, the Tour de France celebrated its 50th anniversary of the Champs-Élysées finish with an even more dramatic change. The final stage route introduced three steep and cobbled climbs through Montmartre before reaching the Champs-Élysées finish, making the stage more challenging and technical. This departure from the usual sprint-friendly finale was inspired, in part, by the Montmartre circuit used in the previous year’s Olympic road race.
The author believes that this new lived experience of the Champs-Élysées, including the inclusion of Montmartre, should be here to stay. The Tour de France, under the direction of Christian Prudhomme and Thierry Gouvenou, has evolved into a collection of one-day Classics in miniature. The author expresses delight at the possibility of Montmartre becoming a regular fixture in the Tour de France, adding more competition and difficulty to the finale.
The 2021 final day of the Tour de France was an epic event, due in part to the inclusion of a circuit around Montmartre. Wout van Aert won the Tour de France stage that included the Butte Montmartre climb, dropping Tadej Pogacar. The author expresses a desire to rewrite an essay about the new experience of the Champs-Élysees, with a hope that the Tour de France might be won on the Côte de la Butte Montmartre, with a sprint finish at the last.
As we look towards the future, ASO is exploring the idea of rotating the final stage locations, including Montmartre, Bordeaux, and Mont Ventoux. Subscribing to The Leadout newsletter series will deliver the latest race content, interviews, features, reviews, and expert buying guides directly to your inbox. Adam Becket, our author, brings his weekly opinion on the goings-on at the upper echelons of cycling in this newsletter series. If you have any suggestions or topics, feel free to reach out to Adam at [email protected].
Tadej Pogacar, a true race all-rounder, was at the front of the race in Paris, deserving of a fourth Tour de France win. Christian Prudhomme has hinted that the Tour might not always finish in Paris, adding to the excitement and anticipation for the future of this iconic race.
The exciting changes in the Tour de France finale, such as incorporating Montmartre, have significantly altered the traditional format, moving away from the usual sprint-friendly finishes on the Champs-Élysées.
In the future, Montmartre may become a regular feature in the Tour de France finale, offering more competition and technical challenges, as demonstrated by the 2021 stage won by Wout van Aert on the Butte Montmartre climb.
