The final stage of this year’s Tour de France may undergo a significant change, potentially incorporating three ascents of the Butte de Montmartre, a cobbled climb in Paris. The modification could bring the race closer to the route of the 2024 Paris Olympics road races, while maintaining its traditional finish on the Champs-Élysées.
After last year’s Tour concluded in Nice due to the Olympics in the French capital, the race is set to return to Paris in 2025. According to Le Parisien, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), which oversees the event, is considering adapting the final stage to include multiple climbs of the Butte de Montmartre. This climb was featured in both Olympic road race events held last year.
The proposed adjustment is reportedly intended to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the first-ever Tour finish on the Champs-Élysées. However, such a change would require substantial logistical preparation. ASO has submitted a proposal to the Paris Police Prefecture, outlining the planned alterations.
Unlike the Olympic road races, which ended in the Trocadéro, the Tour de France’s final stage would still conclude on the Champs-Élysées, following three ascents of Montmartre. This steep, cobbled climb played a pivotal role in the 2024 Olympics when Remco Evenepoel launched his successful gold medal bid there, before sprinting to victory in Trocadéro.
The proposed change could make the final stage more accessible to a variety of riders, shifting away from its traditional role as a sprint finale. However, the logistical challenges involved in closing key roads in central Paris are significant. Le Parisien reports that the Paris Police Prefecture has raised concerns, particularly regarding the need for ten mobile brigades to set up barriers and the potential closure of Montmartre to traffic for up to three days.
The 2025 Tour de France is scheduled to start in Lille on 5 July. ASO has yet to comment on the reported changes to the route.
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