Major bike companies express dissatisfaction over an exciting closing event of a cycling tour
The 2024 Tour de France is set to shake up tradition with the inclusion of a gruelling climb through Montmartre in the final stage, a move that has sparked controversy within the cycling community.
This hilly, narrow, and cobbled area in Paris presents a significant departure from the traditional final stage, which is usually a more relaxed, parade-like finish on flat roads leading to the Champs-Élysées. The climb to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica raises concerns about increased risk for crashes and rider fatigue after three gruelling weeks of racing.
The idea for this route change was inspired by the Olympic Games road race of 2024, which saw large crowds and excitement in Montmartre. However, the move has been met with criticism due to the break from tradition of the last day being a mostly ceremonial stage rather than a serious sporting challenge.
The final stage will now feature three ascents of Montmartre before the sprint finale, deviating from the traditional mass sprint on the Champs-Élysées. This change introduces a tough obstacle right at the end of the race, making the final stage more demanding and potentially impacting the outcome or tactics in a way not seen before.
Remco Evenepoel, the winner of the Olympic road race in 2024, believes that the inclusion of Montmartre takes away the sprinters' biggest day in the Tour de France. He, along with other cycling stars, has expressed concern that the addition of Montmartre makes the Tour de France unnecessarily complicated and causes additional exhaustion and stress after three hard weeks.
The race will start in Lille with a seemingly calm beginning, but the double Mur de Bretagne (7th stage) presents a nasty surprise. The second week of the race gets tough, with challenges such as the Puy-de-Dôme in the Massif Central (10th stage), mountain climbs and a time trial in the Pyrenees (12th to 14th), the first stage finish on Mont Ventoux in nine years (16th), and two brutal Alpine days (18th/19th).
The skepticism about potential attacks on Montmartre if defending champion Tadej Pogacar and challenger Jonas Vingegaard are close together arises from the fact that the final stage of the Tour de France, traditionally a Tour d'honneur, has not been known for attacking the yellow jersey.
Thierry Gouvenou, the course chief, believes that the three crossings of Montmartre could alter the final 6.1 kilometers before the finish. The possibility of unprecedented attacks by favourites on the final day of the Tour de France due to the inclusion of Montmartre is a topic of debate.
While some believe that the idea of livening up the final stage of the Tour de France is debatable, as the 20 stages before offer plenty of spectacle, the change is expected to make the race more exciting and unpredictable. The Tour de France's final stage may deviate from the traditional mass sprint on the Champs-Élysées due to the inclusion of Montmartre, adding a new chapter to the history of this iconic race.
Other sports are following the example set by the 2024 Tour de France, as they too are introducing challenging final stages to create more excitement.Cycling, as a sport, is moving away from the traditional ceremonial final stages, instead opting for more demanding events that could significantly impact the race's outcome.
