Last summer, the Olympic spotlight shone on Paris, offering cycling fans some truly iconic moments — not least Mathieu van der Poel’s explosive climb up Montmartre, cheered on by thousands lining the streets. The Tour de France organizers clearly took note. They’re now moving ahead with plans to include that exact cobbled ascent in the race’s final stage.
Following last year’s Olympic-adjusted conclusion — a mountain time trial in Nice — the Tour is set to return to its classic Parisian finish. Riders will once again loop through the city, but with a notable twist: they may first confront the same tough climb that defined the Olympic road race. That’s according to reports from the French daily Le Parisien.
ASO’s ambitious proposal faces pushback
Tour organizer ASO recently submitted a proposal to Parisian authorities, detailing their plan: “The peloton would tackle the Olympic route three times, taking in Rue Lepic and circling Butte Montmartre, entering Paris via the Quai d’Issy as usual. After crossing the Seine at Concorde, riders would loop through the 18th arrondissement before descending Rue Royale to finish on the Champs-Élysées.”
However, the proposal has been met with skepticism by French police. “There are significant logistical and safety concerns,” they noted, “along with high costs.” Even Olympic gold medalist Remco Evenepoel isn’t on board. “Let’s not complicate things,” he said. “Stick to the regular circuit. The first week is already stressful enough. We’ll be exhausted by the final day.”
DS Steels and Museeuw support Evenepoel’s stance
Tom Steels, sports director at Soudal Quick-Step, agrees with his rider’s concerns. “I understand where he’s coming from,” he said. “After three weeks of hard racing, throwing in a technical climb at the end adds unnecessary pressure, especially for GC contenders. If you run into trouble on Montmartre, with the team cars lagging and the pace high up front, there’s no room for recovery like there is on the Champs-Élysées.”
Former champion Johan Museeuw echoed the sentiment. “Cavendish retired just in time,” he told Het Nieuwsblad. “For a pure sprinter, this change is tough. It’s disappointing. Race organizers keep trying to make routes tougher. But a clean, high-speed bunch sprint with all the top sprinters is beautiful in its own right. It’s sad to see the Tour break from tradition.”
Zonneveld embraces the Montmartre twist
Not everyone is critical. Thijs Zonneveld voiced his enthusiasm on In de Waaier. “At first, I assumed the climb would be added just once, far from the finish, for visual flair. But when I looked deeper and saw the rumors, I got really excited. There’s a real chance for time gaps in the final stage — that could be incredible.”
The plan would see the riders ascend Montmartre three times, with the final climb just four kilometers from the finish — a setup seemingly made for Mathieu van der Poel. “This ending screams his name. He destroyed that climb during the Olympics. It’s tailor-made for him. We could witness a breathtaking finale to the Tour.”
More clarity coming May 21
Despite the debates and uncertainties, Tour organizers issued a clear message on May 14: “A fan favorite — Montmartre — and the Champs-Élysées: a one-of-a-kind setting for the Tour’s Paris finish. Stay tuned for full details on May 21.”
