Tour de France 2025 route rumours and announcements

[houtdffan]

So the finish line is in the traditonal location.

wait....maybe not ....dammit

looks to be

 

[Oldman]

That picture looks unbelievably bad

AI at work. The stage can be incredible or a farce. Think of the jam of riders that allowed Remco freedom in the Olympic race where only a few chasers could get clear. Think of how butt hurt every GC guy will be if they don't make it past that choke point and flush 20 stages of effort down the drain.
It likely won't be for the faint of heart.

 

[Oldman]

Has anyone been to watch the final stage before? I'm going this year (not just the final stage, some of the others too). Someone told me the Tuileries is a good place to watch, but now I don't know whether to try for a spot on Montmartre. Looks like it would be jam packed though.

Almost any viewpoint from Montmartre will be fleeting. Not enough high spots to view from watching the Oly RR. It'll also be jam packed of very excited and alcohol reinforced Belgians if Remco and Wout are still riding it. MvP would be a serious contender if he targets it. I love the idea and might have enjoyed racing it but not after 20 previous stages.
I can see a consortium of top GC teams conspiring to jam the tight transitions with their riders getting clear to equalize the risk.

 

[sam6]

Pogi will win on the Champs-Élysées solo in the yellow jersey in front of a charging peloton. It's the last stage, so he doesn't have to save energy, and we all know he won't be able to resist. Could also be exciting if he is 20 seconds down on Vingegaard and he can plausibly take this time back, it would be a very exciting finish

 

[YellowSocks]

Has anyone been to watch the final stage before? I'm going this year (not just the final stage, some of the others too). Someone told me the Tuileries is a good place to watch, but now I don't know whether to try for a spot on Montmartre. Looks like it would be jam packed though.

I only attended the Tour final stage outside Paris, so I can't comment on the Tuileries situation.

On the other hand, I attended the Olympics road race in Montmartre, and yes it was packed, some people were already there early in the morning. I wouldn't say "very excited and alcohol reinforced Belgians", in fact everybody was funny and friendly, and of course noisy, but that's the point (hearing this really big noise coming up to you from the bottom of the rue Lepic was something I won't forget). There were also families and bystanders, it was a very joyfull atmosphere (and a pretty festive evening afterwards, which the Montmartre neighborhood is not afraid of). About one hour before the riders were schedulded to pass by, it was getting difficult to move around in certain areas. And of course unless you were there early, you are prone to escalade buildings or you can bring a stool, you can't see much of the race (but if one wants to follow the race, they stay in front of TV, no?). Add that the rue Lepic being mainly curved, in any case the field of view is limited.

I must say I am a little worried it could be tricky this time. During the Olympics there were no usual tourists in Paris, only the ones that came to attend Olympics events, very few Parisian people, as we were strongly suggested to leave the town during these two weeks and many companies forced their employees to take time off during this period, and there also was a lot of other sports events to watch on TV - I guess many people chose to watch tennis instead of going to Montmartre. That was not normal end of July Paris. Now the ORR images have been seen all around the world, I don't know what to expect in terms of crowds. For sure Montmartre's narrow sidewalks can't host much more people than during the ORR.

The Paris parcours is quite lengthy, with multiple laps in multiple places, so the crowd might also be diluted. Remember that during the ORR, some race moves happened in much less crowded parts of the circuit, offering a much better view of the race.

BTW, I would expect Airbnb rentals along the parcours, if one is willing to pay the price.

 

[Finn84]

Has anyone been to watch the final stage before? I'm going this year (not just the final stage, some of the others too). Someone told me the Tuileries is a good place to watch, but now I don't know whether to try for a spot on Montmartre. Looks like it would be jam packed though.

I was in 2017, I was in the area where I was able to see riders going in two directions. Standing in the area where Avenue George V meets Champs-Elysées. Also a view to the intermediate sprint but there wasn't true sprint that year.

 

[Oldman]

I was in 2017, I was in the area where I was able to see riders going in two directions. Standing in the area where Avenue George V meets Champs-Elysées. Also a view to the intermediate sprint but there wasn't true sprint that year.

If you can get an elevated hotel view near the Joan of Arc statue you have a nice place to chill and watch the straightaways. And get a drink but alot of those places are booked by tour groups. TV is the best.

 

[Potomac]

Has anyone been to watch the final stage before? I'm going this year (not just the final stage, some of the others too). Someone told me the Tuileries is a good place to watch, but now I don't know whether to try for a spot on Montmartre. Looks like it would be jam packed though.

I've seen two final stages.

Once along the Champs Elyesees, near George V as well. Crowds were quite deep.

The other time at the Orangerie and I could look down on the riders as they sped along the quai Tuileries.

If it was me this year, I would be in Montmartre , but not on the uphill sections as I hate crowds. I think I would find a much calmer downhill spot along the route.

 

[HashRouge]

If you can get an elevated hotel view near the Joan of Arc statue you have a nice place to chill and watch the straightaways. And get a drink but alot of those places are booked by tour groups. TV is the best.

I am absolutely certain this is true. However, we've never been before and really wanted to go at least once, as we're such big fans. Our actual focus is seeing stages 12, 13 and 14, but it's sort of worked out that we'll be in Paris on the final stage, so we thought why not. We'll either love it and end up going every year, or decide it's not worth the fuss and better to watch on TV, but we won't know if we don't go at least once.

 

[Peyroteo94]

What a fantastic decision to change the last stage. Now we have 21 stages and not 20 plus a procession.
And if someday they try to do give us a Roubaix Paris, I would be delighted.
Sorry to say but who is against Montmartre, is not a fan of cycling.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Sorry to say but who is against Montmartre, is not a fan of cycling.

Which explains why Jonas '10 race days in the first half of the season' Vingegaard is opposed.

 

[Oldman]

I am absolutely certain this is true. However, we've never been before and really wanted to go at least once, as we're such big fans. Our actual focus is seeing stages 12, 13 and 14, but it's sort of worked out that we'll be in Paris on the final stage, so we thought why not. We'll either love it and end up going every year, or decide it's not worth the fuss and better to watch on TV, but we won't know if we don't go at least once.

Get up above the Champs and you'll see more! Congratulations on the trip and enjoy those stages.

 

[Oldman]

Pogi will win on the Champs-Élysées solo in the yellow jersey in front of a charging peloton. It's the last stage, so he doesn't have to save energy, and we all know he won't be able to resist. Could also be exciting if he is 20 seconds down on Vingegaard and he can plausibly take this time back, it would be a very exciting finish

He's normally capable but the Oly RR was a logjam that allowed Remco some space. Any team that has a potential GC or stage candidate will start the hammering 10km from the first slight climb. It'll be risky and if Pogi is sitting on a big lead and his UAE train doesn't get him there it'd be doubtful he'd risk crashing and losing a ton of time. I can't see a large group getting away but there will be a fat/middle of the field gutter to gutter after the contenders get a gap.
It'll be really interesting if there is any part of this stage that has the photo promenade and piano pace. It could be balls deep the whole stage!

 

[Potomac]

The only thing to do is have yellow and 5 minutes before the final stage. Just to be safe.

 

[Bolder]

I am absolutely certain this is true. However, we've never been before and really wanted to go at least once, as we're such big fans. Our actual focus is seeing stages 12, 13 and 14, but it's sort of worked out that we'll be in Paris on the final stage, so we thought why not. We'll either love it and end up going every year, or decide it's not worth the fuss and better to watch on TV, but we won't know if we don't go at least once.

I live in Paris and have been a few times. I like the views as they come around the arc back onto the champs. It’s down hill so you get the sensation of speed. Only problem is it can be brutally hot, even in the early evening. If you go take plenty of water.

 

[Cycling111]

A TDF is 21 days. Last year it was a time trial, and previously they were contested stages.
I don't think that's a bad thing. The winner has to win the race from day 1 to day 21.

By de way, Visma tried to take advantage today. I think that's fine; these are racing situations. That's why I don't agree when they complain about everything. They're quite hypocritical. If they had been left behind today, they'd be talking about fair play.

After this, they can no longer oppose the final stage of the Tour.

 

[yaco]

A TDF is 21 days. Last year it was a time trial, and previously they were contested stages.
I don't think that's a bad thing. The winner has to win the race from day 1 to day 21.

By de way, Visma tried to take advantage today. I think that's fine; these are racing situations. That's why I don't agree when they complain about everything. They're quite hypocritical. If they had been left behind today, they'd be talking about fair play.

After this, they can no longer oppose the final stage of the Tour.

The problem with the final stage of the TDF is that you will have 150+ entering Montrematre. At the Olympic Games you only had 50 or 60 riders.

 

[Rackham]

So are they going to keep the rule about freezing GC times if it rains or not? Usually when we get the traditional Champs-Élysées finish, if there's even the slightest bit of rain they literally freeze GC upon entering the final circuit.

Has anyone thought of that scenario here before making this change? What if it's raining? Does the peloton still hit the cobbles at full speed with GC in play? It would seem like a real departure from "safety" to "let's hope there's GC chaos at all costs".

 

[Valv.Piti]

Very good. The less pure sprint stages, the better

 

[TrekCyclist]

Sorry, this Monmartre is just a farce. If you want make the final stage hard, fine, choose a proper route. Hilly stage, or Mountain stage, all possible if you want it (not finishing in Paris then).
But this is Mickey Mouse stuff.

 

[Rackham]

Sorry, this Monmartre is just a farce. If you want make the final stage hard, fine, choose a proper route. Hilly stage, or Mountain stage, all possible if you want it (not finishing in Paris then).
But this is Mickey Mouse stuff.

We just saw in the Giro what they're looking for. Crash, chase, mechanical, drama, whatever. And I'm really not happy being cynical but it really boils down to this: TV viewing numbers and the % of viewers on France 2 on the Sunday afternoon tuning in and watching it.

 

[sam6]

He's normally capable but the Oly RR was a logjam that allowed Remco some space. Any team that has a potential GC or stage candidate will start the hammering 10km from the first slight climb. It'll be risky and if Pogi is sitting on a big lead and his UAE train doesn't get him there it'd be doubtful he'd risk crashing and losing a ton of time. I can't see a large group getting away but there will be a fat/middle of the field gutter to gutter after the contenders get a gap.
It'll be really interesting if there is any part of this stage that has the photo promenade and piano pace. It could be balls deep the whole stage!

The safest place he could be is at the front of the race though, if he is attacking then he won't stuck behind a crash. We saw this last year in a Giro stage where he attacked on a tiny climb on a sprint stage, and everyone criticised him for wasting energy and he said he did it to avoid the chaos of the sprint. Also, when has Pogi ever played it safe to avoid a crash? Look at stage 21 in the Tour last year when he descended Col d'Eze crazily to win the stage needlessly. He showed up at Paris Roubaix despite his own team telling him it was too risky. Winning on the Champs-Élysées would really add to his mythology and I don't think he could resist

 

[CyclistAbi]

Stage 21 was traditionally mostly about celebrating the GC winner, celebrating all day long, and after for sprinters to muscle it out. So in both this regards it was about showing some respect. Turning it into another racing day hence does two things, involves much less celebrating in regards to the overall winner, around 10 minutes at the end, and what i do imagine will happen is a lot of sprinters to simply abandon this race and focus on other things, before the race ends. As why would you spend effort on it, for nothing in return, to show some respect?

But it is what it is, not like there is a choice involved for the GC riders, participating in circus circuit.