Chicago – Jue 15, 2025
The 2025 Tour de France is set to break with a 50-year-old tradition by including three climbs of the Montmartre hill in Paris during the final stage, This move that has sparked safety concerns and divided opinions in the cycling world.
Traditionally, the last stage is largely ceremonial, ending with a sprint on the Champs-Élysées. However, this year’s route, inspired by the 2024 Olympic road race, will feature the steep, narrow, cobblestone ascent of Montmartre less than 7 km from the finish line, potentially reshaping the race’s dynamics and even affecting the overall classification.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme explained that the change aims to recapture the vibrant atmosphere witnessed during the Olympics. The organizers are coordinating closely with Paris officials and deploying thousands of security forces to manage the narrow, maze-like streets and ensure rider and spectator safety.
Despite the excitement, prominent riders like two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard have expressed concerns about the risks of a crowded peloton tackling. The final route details will be officially unveiled in a press conference, but the inclusion of Montmartre marks a dramatic and controversial shift in the Tour’s grand finale tradition5.
