Montmartre shines: Is the Tour de France eyeing Mathieu van der Poel with cobblestone climb?

Last summer, Paris took center stage with the Olympic Games, and cycling fans were treated to some truly unforgettable moments, including Mathieu van der Poel’s attack on Montmartre, cheered on by thousands of fans packed along the route. The Tour de France organizers clearly haven’t forgotten either. They’re now exploring the idea of including that very cobblestone climb in the final stage of the Tour.

After last year’s Olympic-altered finale — a mountain time trial in Nice — the Tour de France will return to its traditional finish in Paris this year. Riders will once again loop through the city, but there’s a twist: before hitting the familiar circuits, they might take on the challenging climb that became the centerpiece of last summer’s Olympics. At least, that's what's being reported by the French newspaper Le Parisien.

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ASO has big plans, but obstacles lie ahead

The ASO, the Tour’s organizing body, submitted a proposal detailing their vision to Paris police a few weeks ago: "The peloton would tackle the Olympic route three times, passing the famous Rue Lepic and circling around the Butte Montmartre, after entering Paris via the Quai d’Issy, as has been tradition for years. After crossing the Seine at Concorde, the riders would do laps in the 18th arrondissement before descending via Rue Royale to the Champs-Élysées for the finish."

French police have considered the application, but so far are not very hopeful about the plan. "There are numerous logistical and safety constraints that explain the authorities' reluctance, not to mention the associated costs." If the ASO can clear these hurdles, the result would be a thrilling final stage where not only sprinters but also Classics specialists could shine on one of the most iconic and beautiful finishing stretches in the world: the Champs-Élysées.

Read more below the photo.

Evenepoel crowned himself Olympic champion in Paris

Could the Champs-Élysées sprint tradition be at risk?

If Montmartre makes it onto the route, it could shake up the traditional outcome. Paris has long been the domain of sprinters, who race for glory in a bunch sprint on the cobblestones of the Champs-Élysées. Last year’s finish in Nice didn’t sit well with them. The last rider to win in Paris was Jordi Meeus in 2023.

The ASO’s plans hint at a revamped city loop, where the Champs-Élysées might serve only as the final stretch. The classic long straight with its U-turn could see a fresh twist. Riders like Van der Poel and Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, who thrived on Montmartre last summer, would likely embrace the change. With fans lining the route in droves, it’s sure to create an electric atmosphere.

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