Butte Montmartre to be climbed three times in final Tour stage
PARIS, May 21 (Reuters) - The final stage of this year's Tour de France promises to be a competitive affair as the traditional procession towards the Champs Elysees has been replaced with a demanding route.
The 21st stage will set off from Mantes-la-Ville before going up the Butte Montmartre three times - the hill that decided the fate of the Olympics road race last year - and finishing on the Champs Elysees.
Authorities are expecting a huge turnout for the stage, but Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said it did not represent any "specific (security) challenge as we demonstrated during the Olympics.
"The mayor (Anne Hidalgo), the president (Emmanuel Macron)were enthusiastic about the idea," Nunez added.
"There will be a few thousand police officers (in Paris) on the final day."
The Tour has finished on the Champs Elysees every year since 1975, with the exception of 2024 when it ended in Nice.
The Champs Elysees stage is usually a festive ride to the avenue, where only the final sprint is contested, but this year's route is likely to break that scenario, although the sprinters still stand a chance.
"Climbing up the Butte Montmartre three times does not exclude the sprint specialists," Tour director Christian Prudhomme told a press conference.
"It's the glorious uncertainty of sport."
"It will add stress," said Jonas Vingegaard, the 2022 and 2023 Tour champion, said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Man United should KEEP Antony, insists club legend - despite £86m flop revealing he hit 'rock bottom' at Old Trafford
Manchester United legend Edwin Van der Sar has called on the club to offer flop Antony another chance at life at Old Trafford. The 25-year-old struggled at United and failed to live up to the £86million fee the Red Devils paid Ajax for his services in 2022, providing just 12 goals and five assists in 96 games. He also endured a torrid time on a personal level and even revealed that he considered retirement while at the club. Antony is contracted until 2027 but was unable to fit in under either Erik ten Hag or Ruben Amorim and was duly sent out on loan in January. However, at Real Betis the Brazilian was rejuvenated, and went on to become one of the club's stars of the second half of the season. He scored 14 times in 26 games in just five months with Betis and earned rave reviews from fans and players alike as he earned a recall to the Brazil national team. Van der Sar, who won four Premier League titles and the Champions League in his six-year stint at Old Trafford, believes his former side should give the winger a second chance at proving himself. 'They're on the right track by signing a more experienced striker, maybe with another one on the way,' he told The Sun. 'The two players they signed in the winter break were good, so they should be fine if they give faith to the manager. 'Maybe [Alejandro] Garnacho's going to go, I would say bring Antony back, but I'm not sure if that's realistic.' Antony's performances at Betis even led club legend Joaquin to joke that he would kidnap the forward to keep him at the club. Despite Van der Sar's suggestion, a return to United appears unlikely for Antony. After returning to the Brazil squad, he admitted he 'hit rock' bottom at United. 'I started to doubt, even in myself,' he said. 'But, my family always told me to stay calm, because the process is painful and people must accept it. Today, I understand it better after everything I went through. I am grateful for that experience. 'I was hitting rock bottom without any hope, despite continuing to do my part for the club. Antony has been widely tipped to leave the club this summer, having joined in Ten Hag's first transfer window for £86m, and has so far failed to deliver on that price tag.
Daily Mail
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Aston Villa make contact with Real Betis over deal for Spain U-21 winger Jesus Rodriguez - who has also attracted interest from Chelsea
Aston Villa have made contact with Real Betis over a deal for winger Jesus Rodriguez who has attracted attention from Chelsea. Unai Emery is looking to improve his options out wide this summer and Villa have registered their interest in Rodriguez, the promising 19-year-old. Rodriguez is currently on international duty with Spain at the U-21 European Championships and comes into the tournament off the back of his breakout season. He scored three goals in his 32 senior appearances across all competitions during the last campaign, and he is a product of Betis' youth system. A winger who predominantly plays on the left, Rodriguez was brought on as a second-half substitute in Betis' Conference League final defeat to Chelsea. Villa must balance their books before the Profit and Sustainability Rules deadline on June 30 and may therefore have to offload players. However, the club are also working on incomings and Rodriguez is a potential target. Villa recently missed out on the signing of Rosenborg midfielder Sverre Nypan after he agreed to join Manchester City in a deal worth £12.5million. Emery may be braced to lose several of his senior first-teamers. Chelsea and Arsenal admire Morgan Rogers, but it would take a sizeable bid for Villa to consider selling.
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
GB's Westley wins canoe slalom gold in Pau
Great Britain's Ryan Westley claimed his first career canoe slalom World Cup gold with victory in the men's C1 in Pau, 31-year-old's run of 97.74s was just enough to hold off France's Yohann Senechault and Spain's Miquel Trave who finished second and third respectively."I saw what those lads were putting down, listened to the commentary and I didn't really think I had it in me so it left me no option to just go for it," Westley said."I crossed the finish line and didn't expect to see green. I'm buzzing."It is his first World Cup gold having previously won two silvers and three Olympic champion Jessica Fox won the 35th gold of her career in the women's C1 victory for Westley comes after compatriot Lois Leaver earned bronze in the women's K1 on was a second successive medal for Leaver after she won bronze in kayak cross at the first World Cup leg of the season in La Seu d'Urgell in Spain last weekend.
