Tour de France 2025: Montmartre Climbs Into the Spotlight for the First Time

For the first time in its long history, the Tour de France 2025 will ride through the steep, cobbled streets of Montmartre during its final stage. Set for July 27, 2025, the change marks a rare break from tradition. Instead of heading straight for the usual loops around the Champs-Élysées, riders will climb Montmartre not once, but three times, before finishing in central Paris.

A New Ending for an Old Tradition

Since 1975, Paris has hosted the final day of the Tour, with the race nearly always concluding with a sprint on the Champs-Élysées. That changed temporarily in 2024 when the race wrapped up in Nice due to the Paris Olympics. Now, Montmartre is taking center stage.

Riders will start the last stage in Mantes-la-Ville. From there, they will head into Paris, weaving their way toward the north side of the city. The peloton will then take on the Côte de la Butte Montmartre climb three times.

It is only 1.1 kilometers, but the average gradient of nearly 6 percent and the tight cobbled roads will add an unexpected challenge. After Montmartre, riders will head to the Champs-Élysées for four final laps.

Quick Tour de France Stage 21 Stats

• Stage Date: July 27, 2025
• Start: Mantes-la-Ville
• Total distance: Approximately 120 kilometers
• Montmartre climb: Côte de la Butte Montmartre
• Climb distance: 1.1 kilometers
• Gradient: 5.9 percent average
• Climbed: 3 times
• Final circuits: 4 loops of the Champs-Élysées

Why Montmartre and Why Now

Bringing the Tour through Montmartre is partly a response to the success of the 2024 Olympic road races, which also passed through the neighborhood. An estimated half a million people turned up to watch the athletes race up the hill. The crowds, the setting, and the spectacle left an impression.

Tour director Christian Prudhomme said the change aims to add “a little suspense and spectacle” to what is often a ceremonial stage. President Emmanuel Macron reportedly pushed for the inclusion of Montmartre after witnessing the excitement during the Olympics. For the organizers, the goal is to give the final day more energy while preserving the traditional Paris finish.

Not Everyone Is On Board

Some riders have been less enthusiastic about the change. Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel has questioned the decision, saying the climb could disrupt the usual sprint and create unnecessary chaos. Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard also raised concerns, noting that the narrow streets might create stress in what is usually a more relaxed day in the saddle.

There is also the issue of safety. Montmartre’s cobbles are known to be slippery, and the roads are tight with little room for error. That said, organizers have reassured teams that extensive planning has gone into managing the route. Police and crowd control will follow a similar approach to what worked during the Olympics.

For some, the route adds an exciting unpredictability. For others, it puts the usual pageantry of the final stage at risk.

What This Means for the Race

The Tour’s final stage is rarely decisive for the overall winner. Since 1989, when Greg LeMond stole victory from Laurent Fignon in a time trial, the last day has mostly belonged to sprinters. With Montmartre added to the route, there is a real possibility that could change.

The climb could create a gap or allow a breakaway rider to take a chance. For puncheurs, this might be their moment. For sprinters, it means surviving the climb and still having enough left in the legs for the Champs-Élysées circuit.

The result might still be a traditional sprint finish. Or it might not.

What Makes Montmartre Different

Montmartre has never been part of the Tour de France finale, though it once hosted a hill climb in 1941. It is better known for its artists, cafés, and the white-domed Sacré-Cœur that sits at the top of the hill.

It is one of those places in Paris that feels like its own little world. Walk a few streets in from the Boulevard de Clichy and you are suddenly on uneven pavement, looking down over rooftops and staircases. Rue Lepic, one of the key roads in the stage, is lined with old shops and boulangeries. It is busy with both tourists and locals, but rarely with cyclists racing at full speed.

The climb will bring the riders into a much more intimate setting. Fans will be only a few feet from the action. The noise will echo off the narrow buildings. The atmosphere will be completely different from the wide open boulevard of the Champs-Élysées.

Tour de France Final Stage Timeline

• 1975: The Tour ends on the Champs-Élysées for the first time
• 1989: Greg LeMond wins the Tour on the final day
• 2024: The finish moves to Nice due to the Paris Olympics
• 2025: Montmartre is included for the first time in Tour history

How to Watch It in Person

If you happen to be in Paris on race day, Montmartre will be a prime spot to watch the event. The climb is short, so it is likely to be crowded early. The best places to watch will be along Rue Lepic or near Place du Tertre. There may be viewing areas set up around the base and summit of the climb, but details closer to the time will be essential.

After the third ascent, the riders will make their way toward the Seine and then finish the day with four circuits of the Champs-Élysées. Spectators looking for the traditional Paris finish can still line up near the Arc de Triomphe or Place de la Concorde.

A One-Off or a New Tradition?

Tour organizers have not said whether this change will be permanent. For now, it appears to be a one-off, a way to mark the return of the Tour to Paris after the Olympic break. But if it goes well, it could open the door to more experimental final stages.

There is something symbolic about ending the race where artists once painted in the open air and writers found inspiration in wine bars. Whether you see it as progress or disruption, it will be a stage that draws attention.

Montmartre has always stood apart in Paris. Now, it is becoming part of cycling history too.