2025 Tour De France Adds Montmartre Suspense To Final Stage
The Tour de France will make three circuits of the historic Paris district of Montmartre on its last stage this year in what organisers said Wednesday would add a competitive finale to the world's greatest bike race.
The new format of the final stage on July 27 introduces an outside possibility that the leading contender could crash out, adding suspense to what had traditionally become a procession into the French capital.
The riders will for the first time on a Tour de France race a total of 16.8km in Montmartre before the peloton heads to the Champs-Elysees where it will complete three circuits, instead of the previous eight.
The change prolongs the suspense because a breakaway on the narrow, cobbled streets of Montmartre could tempt a few adventurous riders to join and force the big guns to follow them.
Around half a million spectators lined the route when the road races at the 2024 Paris Olympics passed through Montmartre, sparking a clamour for the Tour to include the popular tourist spot in its final stage.
The circuit will climb Rue Lepic in Montmartre, where much of the action in the hit 2001 movie "Amelie" takes place, before the steep ascent to the domed Sacre Coeur Basilica.
"It was kind of now or never," Paris' assistant mayor Pierre Rabadan told AFP. "The goal wasn't to change the finish location, especially for the 50th anniversary of the first finish on the Champs-Elysees, but to make the final stage more competitive and more popular."
The Paris police originally told Tour organisers ASO they were opposed to allowing the race to pass through Montmartre because of security reasons.
"The area is heavily populated and there are many cafe terraces and shops making it a tricky security dimension, involving a more substantial security system," Paris police chief Laurent Nunez told AFP ahead of the announcement, explaining his original reluctance.
The situation was only resolved after the intervention of President Emmanuel Macron, who was the "driving force" behind the decision, the French president's office told AFP.
For the Tour de France, this change to the final stage represents a revolution in sporting terms.
The designer of the route, former cyclist Thierry Gouvenou, said Wednesday the new format adds real tension and competitive edge.
"We put all this together for the sporting interest. It's not just a parade or a tourist visit to Montmartre," Gouvenou said.
"We're almost certain the riders will compete. But I don't really believe it will turn the Tour around. We shouldn't expect huge gaps. But it will energise the stage," Gouvenou added.
The 2025 edition of the Tour de France marks the 50th anniversary of its first finale on the Champs-Elysees, traditionally considered Paris's most chic shopping road, in 1975.
The 117th edition of the race itself begins on July 5 in the northern French city of Lille after three consecutive money-spinning foreign 'Grand Departs' in Copenhagen, Bilbao and Florence.
The gruelling race covers 3,320km over the three weeks and will be contested by 184 riders this year.
At the 2024 Olympics there were just 90 riders but after 20 days of racing the Tour peloton will likely be reduced to around 150 due to riders dropping out through sickness and injury.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
11 hours ago
- DW
Berlin pays tribute to Christo's iconic 'Wrapped Reichstag' – DW – 06/06/2025
Thirty years ago, Germany's parliament building "disappeared" under silver fabric for two weeks. The work of art by Christo and Jeanne-Claude is now celebrated with a light installation. Anyone who was in Berlin in the summer of 1995 will probably remember it for the rest of their lives: how the Reichstag — the seat of the German parliament — disappeared. Not blown up, not demolished, but completely wrapped in silver fabric and tied up with thick ropes, almost like a gift. A crazy idea? Perhaps. But also one that made history. Behind this spectacular action was a pair of artists who have repeatedly surprised the world with their ephemeral mega works of art: Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Their vision of a wrapped Reichstag was big, bold — and took 23 years to plan. 2025: A special anniversary year 2025 is a real anniversary year for fans of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Not only is Berlin marking the 30th anniversary of the "Wrapped Reichstag" with a light installation projected onto the west façade of the Reichstag building from June 9 to 22, but other cities around the world are also paying tribute to the couple's works: Paris commemorates the wrapping of its Pont Neuf that happened 40 years ago, while New York marked the 20th anniversary of "The Gates," an installation in Central Park featuring thousands of gates on which fabric panels fluttered. And above all, both artists would have turned 90 this year: They were born on the same day, on June 13, 1935. Christo was born in Bulgaria and later fled from the communist East to Western Europe, first to Prague, then to Vienna, Geneva and finally Paris. There he met Jeanne-Claude in 1958 — she was French with roots in Morocco. The two became an unbeatable team. Christo was the artist, Jeanne-Claude the organizer — whereby both saw themselves as equal partners and later officially signed all projects together. After 23 years of planning, Christo and Jeanne-Claude's dream became a reality Image: 1995 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, Photo: Wolfgang Volz Their specialty was huge, spectacular art installations in public spaces. They wrapped bridges, buildings or entire coastal strips, stretched gigantic curtains through valleys or erected kilometer-long fabric installations. None of it permanent, all self-financed, without advertisers or sponsors; the money for the projects was only generated through the sale of drawings, collages and designs. 'Wrapped Reichstag': A long wait for approval The idea of wrapping the Reichstag in Berlin was born back in 1971 — in the middle of the Cold War. At the time, the Reichstag stood right next to the Berlin Wall. It was a symbolic building, but was not actually used. The seat of government of the then Federal Republic of Germany was still in Bonn, and the Bundestag (the German parliament) only moved into the Reichstag building with its characteristic glass dome, remodeled by architect Norman Foster, in 1999. In 1978, Christo presented the model of the wrapped Reichstag at an exhibition in Zurich Image: Niklaus Stauss/akg/picture-alliance Christo and Jeanne-Claude were nevertheless fascinated by the building's symbolism and historical role. Time and again, this place has been the scene of significant moments in Germany's history, during the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, the Nazis' "Third Reich" and the Second World War, the division of Germany after the war and its eventual reunification. Christo and Jeanne-Claude wanted to make this building visible again by concealing it for a brief period. But a work of art like this required permission — and that took a long time coming. It was not until 1994, after more than 20 years of discussion, that the Bundestag finally gave its approval, following vigorous debate. And this paved the way to one of the most impressive art projects of the century. The then President of the Bundestag, Rita Süssmuth, supported the project Image: Jockel Finck/AP Photo/picture alliance Summer 1995: A silver dream in the middle of Berlin Finally, in June 1995, the Reichstag was completely wrapped in over 100,000 square meters of silver fabric and 16 kilometers of rope. The wrapping lasted several days and was followed around the world. The wrapped Reichstag appeared soft, shimmering, mysterious, like a work of art amid clouds. From June 24 to July 7, 1995, over 5 million people came to Berlin to witness this spectacle with their own eyes. It was like a huge public festival: People were lying on the grass, having picnics, taking photos and discussing it. Many people who experienced the work later said that they had never viewed the Reichstag as intensely as during these two weeks. A tourist magnet in the summer of 1995 Image: 1995 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, Photo: Wolfgang Volz Why wrap it at all? Christo and Jeanne-Claude didn't set out to hide a building — quite the opposite. They wanted to give it a new experience. The wrapping removed everything superficial. You could no longer see the details, only the shape, the silhouette, the volume. And most importantly, this work of art was also ephemeral. After two weeks, the magic was over, the fabric was dismantled, and no trace remained. Only memories. For the artist couple, this ephemerality was a central part of their work. "The beauty lies in transience," they often said. You should enjoy the moment because you know it will soon be over. Although the Reichstag is a political symbol, the artwork itself was not intended to be political. Christo and Jeanne-Claude did not want to dictate an opinion. They wanted their art to be an open space for thoughts, feelings and interpretations. Nevertheless, many people saw the wrapping as a strong political symbol: for change, for reconciliation, for a new beginning. This had a special effect, especially in reunified Germany. From June 9 to 20, 2025 the artwork will be projected onto the west façade of the Reichstag in the evening Image: Jens Kalaene/dpa/picture alliance Jeanne-Claude died in 2009,Christo in 2020, but their art lives on — in photos, memories, exhibitions and now also in a special anniversary year. The wrapping of the Reichstag was not only a masterpiece of logistics and aesthetics, it was also a moment of collective fascination. It showed what art can achieve in public spaces. It can surprise, connect, challenge. And it can simply amaze people. Or, as Christo once said: "Our works belong to no one — and at the same time to everyone." This article was originally written in German.
DW
2 days ago
- DW
India: 11 dead after cricket stadium stampede – DW – 06/04/2025
A top official in the Indian state of Kerala says eleven people died after a stampede at a stadium in the city of Bengaluru. Fans had been celebrating their side's win in the Indian Premier League final. At least 11 people were killed in a stampede on Wednesday outside a cricket stadium in Bengaluru, the capital of India's southern Karnataka state. The incident took place as thousands of fans gathered outside to celebrate the victory of their home cricket team, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in the Indian Premier League final. What do we know about the tragedy? Karnataka state's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who only uses one name, said the crowd had tried to break the stadium's gates to join celebrations inside. Eleven people were killed, Siddaramaiah said, adding that 33 had been injured. He said they were stable and receiving treatment in hospitals. "At a time of celebration, this unfortunate event should not have happened. We are saddened by this," he told reporters. "No one expected this crowd." Deputy chief minister of Karnataka state, D.K. Shivakumar, told the AFP news agency that police had found crowd control "very difficult." "I apologise to the people of Karnataka and Bengaluru," he said. "We wanted to take a procession, but the crowd was very uncontrollable... the crowd was so much." Local TV channels broadcast footage of police moving injured people to nearby ambulances. Fatal stampedes in India Overcrowding and stampedes of people are frequently reported at mass gatherings in India, often at religious events, where millions of devotees come together for a special event. In February, at least 18 people were killed and over 10 were injured in a stampede at a railway station in New Delhi, as crowds rushed to catch trains to the world's largest religious congregation, the Maha Kumbh Mela. In July last year, over 100 people were crushed to death in a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in Mughalghari village in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. This is a developing story. More to follow…
Local Germany
5 days ago
- Local Germany
'The country I know no longer exists': Are German tourists shunning the US?
The German Travel Association (DRV) recently revealed that the number of Germans going to the United States dropped by 28 percent in March, but then bounced back by 14 percent in April. Torsten Schaefer, a spokesperson for the association, said that the figures might have been affected by Easter falling later this year than in 2024. 'We've had practically no requests in recent months to change or cancel reservations,' observed Schaefer, although he added that there has been 'a rise in queries about entry requirements into the United States'. At the end of March, Germany was one of several European countries which urged their citizens to review their travel documents for the United States, following several widely publicised cases of Europeans being held on arrival and then deported. Anecdotally, there are signs of Germans choosing not to visit Trump's America. 'The country I knew no longer exists,' said Raphael Gruber, a 60-year-old German doctor who has been taking his family to Cape Cod in Massachusetts every summer since 2018. 'Before, when you told the immigration officer you were there for whale-watching, that was a good reason to come. But now, they are afraid of everything that comes from outside,' he told AFP. Advertisement Referring to invasive electronic checks at the US borders, he added: 'I don't want to buy a 'burner' phone just to keep my privacy'. Muriel Wagner – currently planning a trip to visit a friend at Harvard – takes a different view. 'I've been asked if the political situation and trade war with the US has affected our trip,' said the 34-year-old PhD student said in Frankfurt. 'You can't let yourself be intimidated", she said, adding that she was keen to discuss the tensions with Americans on their home turf. Similar conversations are taking place in other countries around Europe. Advertisement In Britain, Matt Reay, a 35-year-old history teacher from Northamptonshire, said he had scratched the United States off his list, preferring to go to South America, where his "money would probably be better spent". Reay said he felt "insulted" by both Trump's tariffs on British exports to the United States and comments by Trump's vice president, JD Vance, about Britain as "a random country". Trump's public belittling of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a White House visit in February was also "outrageous", he said. According to the US tourism office, however, the number of British visitors to the United States in April rose 15 percent year-on-year, after a 14 percent drop in March. A body representing much of the French travel sector, Entreprises du Voyage, said the number of French visitors to America dropped eight percent in March, and a further 12 percent in April. It estimated that summer departures to the United States would drop by 11 percent. Didier Arino, head of the French travel consultancy Protourisme, estimated that the "Trump effect" would cut the number of French tourists going to the United States this year by a quarter. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, covering major tourism operators, the US tourism sector – already reeling from Canadians and Mexicans staying away – could lose $12.5 billion in spending by foreign visitors this year.
