The Tour de France is expected to include the iconic Montmartre circuit in its final stage for years to come after this year’s successful change to the traditional sprint stage on the Champs-Élysées. The addition brought huge crowds and a party atmosphere, with riders competing at varying paces.
Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) opted for aggressive racing, while Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), and Primož Roglič took a more relaxed approach. The circuit’s success exceeded expectations, with the ASO planning to include it in future years.
Deputy race director Pierre-Yves Thouault expressed enthusiasm for retaining the route, citing its “success beyond our expectations” and desire to make the change a long-term success. Improvements may be made, such as increased public accessibility, but overall, the event was deemed a huge success by both riders and spectators.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s approval of the new stage has encouraged authorities to include it in future years. The 2026 Tour de France route is expected to confirm Montmartre’s inclusion soon, pending a September approval from the Paris prefecture.
Source: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-montmartre-circuit-set-to-stay-after-big-name-attacks-and-huge-crowds-shake-up-final-stage-in-paris