Tour de France Tour de France 2025 Stage 21: Mantes-la-Ville – Paris (132.3k)

[Sciatic]

I also didn't really know what to expect – I think ASO wanted a more active race, maybe dreaming of a tight GC for the podium or win, but seems that riders didn't want that at all and preferred the parade stage. Sort of makes sense, given the gaps in GC and fatigue, but it's a shame.

I really don't see what's so different--action always started once the peloton reached the circuit.

 

[Unchained]

Again, that is the usual setup, I have never seen a break go before entering the Paris lap

Correct, but added that many of the roads used for Olympics were described as too narrow and dangerous.. Covid and Olympics and politics, civil engineering have a big bus lane and additional road furniture on traditional route..a couple of podcasts said that bike lanes have been added to surrounding streets, in effect making the roads for race route more narrow.
When you are training a dog, he or she craps on rug, rubbing their nose in it days or weeks later is thought to be ineffective. Glad riders and teams have decided to rub ASO plan teams nose in it today, by riding in the long accepted style for final stage..

Good shot of Pogacar giving Alpecin rider some space to say hello to his folks!!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Jonas attacking.

No... not that one.
Not that one either.

This Jonas was punished for being too aggressive earlier in the race.

 

[dgodave]

Gustave Eiffel was not the designer of the Eiffel Tower, as it turns out.

Sooo..... who designed it?

 

[Brullnux]

I really don't see what's so different--action always started once the peloton reached the circuit.

I guess it's the odd marriage of stage with genuine potential for time gaps and criterium feel. The difference is the design creates the potential of a full on race, but it is still just a parade stage.

 

[MotorRouleur]

It's drying up, Montmarte looks good.

TT final in rain? On urban cobbles? Look at Menchov in 2009 Giro.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Sooo..... who designed it?

A couple of designers in his company.

It was not universally beloved by artists in Paris when it was constructed. There's a funny anecdote on Wikipedia about how Guy de Maupassant always dined at the Eiffel Tower because it was the only place in Paris where he didn't have to look at it.

 

[Sciatic]

I guess it's the odd marriage of stage with genuine potential for time gaps and criterium feel. The difference is the design creates the potential of a full on race, but it is still just a parade stage.

For sure. What information did you read that said it would be otherwise? I think most of assumed this is exactly what we would get.

 

[E_F_]

For sure. What information did you read that said it would be otherwise? I think most of assumed this is exactly what we would get.

I think the announcement with an AI image of Pogacar sending it up Montmartre in yellow kinda implied that.

 

[Sciatic]

A couple of designers in his company.

It was not universally beloved by artists in Paris when it was constructed. There's a funny anecdote on Wikipedia about how Guy de Maupassant always dined at the Eiffel Tower because it was the only place in Paris where he didn't have to look at it.

That's like the joke about the Montparnasse tower. It's considered the best view of Paris from the top of it . . . because you can't see the Montparnasse Tower from there

 

[Didinho]

Stage win: other/Vino G

 

[E_F_]

A couple of designers in his company.

It was not universally beloved by artists in Paris when it was constructed. There's a funny anecdote on Wikipedia about how Guy de Maupassant always dined at the Eiffel Tower because it was the only place in Paris where he didn't have to look at it.

It was also meant to be taken down straight after the Exhibition, but I guess everyone might know that.

 

[Lequack]

What kind of Pog fashion is this?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

It‘s funny how they made the decision to neutralise just as the rain was about to end and now it looks like it will be dry during the actual race.

 

[E_F_]

Where does Gustave de Montparnasse dine then?

 

[Sciatic]

I think the announcement with an AI image of Pogacar sending it up Montmartre in yellow kinda implied that.

I don't know about you, but I never assume promotional posters are indicators of reality

 

[Brullnux]

For sure. What information did you read that said it would be otherwise? I think most of assumed this is exactly what we would get.

'I expect chaos' - what does the Tour de France peloton really think of the new final stage in Paris?

A hilly finale will replace the usual procession of the 21st stage. Tom Davidson asks riders if it’s what they really want

www.cyclingweekly.com

This article has some good quotes, among many others, from designersn and riders hoping for (or fearing) something different from the usual procession

 

[dgodave]

Pyramidal road furniture!

 

[E_F_]

I don't know about you, but I never assume promotional posters are indicators of reality

I expect them to hint at some intent.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Hari Seldon would have approved of the Louvre design.

 

[Brullnux]

I don't know about you, but I never assume promotional posters are indicators of reality

No, but they're an indication of a desire from the race organisers.

 

[Rou]

Pogacar looks like the Winter Soldier with that black sleeve.

 

[Sciatic]

'I expect chaos' - what does the Tour de France peloton really think of the new final stage in Paris?

A hilly finale will replace the usual procession of the 21st stage. Tom Davidson asks riders if it’s what they really want

www.cyclingweekly.com

This article has some good quotes, among many others, from designersn and riders hoping for (or fearing) something different from the usual procession

Okay, that's helpful.

 

[nilfen]

eagerly anticipation the poll for the verdict of this year's TdF, so I can vote "most boring in many, many years!"

 

[Sciatic]

I expect them to hint at some intent.

Fair enough