How to watch the Tour de France climax in Paris

Local France

2 days ago

The final stage of the 2025 Tour de France – the first to be wholly contained in France since 2010 – is a 132.3km run from Mantes-la-Ville in Yvelines to the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It takes place on Sunday, July 27th.
Here's the final stage route.
Image: Tour de France / ASO
The caravan starts wending its way along the generally flat route at 2.10pm, with the race proper beginning at 4.10pm.
Depending on the amount of celebrating and levels of end-of-race leisureliness, riders are due to reach the Côte de Bazemont at around 4.40pm, and the Château de Versailles at 5.20pm.
Advertisement
Paris then hoves into view shortly after 5.30pm, and the riders hit the Champs-Élysées for the first time around 5.50pm.
The first climb of Côte de la Butte Montmartre - which takes them in front of Sacre Coeur cathedral - is due from 6.30pm, and the big finish is expected shortly before 7.30pm.
Image: Tour de France / ASO
There's usually a bit of a party atmosphere among the riders early on in this closing stage – who can blame them at the end of three weeks of racing? – so, if you're watching on TV, expect to see riders sipping champagne and taking it relatively easily (for an elite athlete value of 'relatively easily') along the mostly flat route.
Image: Tour de France / ASO
The extra ride through Montmarte was added in an echo of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic cycle races, which attracted tens of thousands of spectators to line the route.
The peloton will tackle the climb three times, after a triple lap of the Champs-Élysées, before racing to the finish back on the famous street to mark the 50th anniversary of the grand old race's first-ever finish there.
We really recommend heading down if you are in Paris this weekend - even if you have little to no interest in cycling, the atmosphere is likely to be incredible.
READ ALSO
:
7 reasons to watch the Tour de France (even if you have no interest in cycling)✎
But what's in store for fans lining the route?
The caravan
Since 1930, la Caravane pulicitaire has been a key part of the day's racing. It's a festive and creative parade that follows the route of the stage a couple of hours before the racers arrive.
It takes 30 minutes or so for 10km long la Caravane to pass a particular point. Floats representing 30 different brands, as well as information cars, pass by flinging promotional gifts and treats to roadside fans - expect everything from snacks to hats.
Security
Some 3,000 police will be on duty in Paris on the day, with a high-security perimeter in place from 7am along the Champs-Élysées and in the Madeleine district. There will be no public access to several streets, including rue Puget and rue Coustou, while some Metro stations will be closed.
As well as national police and gendarmes, security will be provided by race organisers ASO, and additional municipal officers will also be on duty.
Advertisement
Road closures
Traffic restrictions will be in place around the perimeter of the Champs-Élysées – police headquarters is urging road users to avoid the area.
From Saturday, parking will be prohibited on the route taken by the riders throughout the Yvelines département, while parking will be prohibited on the Paris section of the route and all roads crossing the Avenue des Champs-Élysées from 2pm on the day of the final stage.
In the capital, traffic will be prohibited from 9.30am until 11pm on rue de Presbourg, rue de Tilsit, avenue de Friedland, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, rue Saint-Honoré, rue de l'Echelle, rue de Rivol, place du Carrousel, quai des Tuileries, pont Royal, quai Anatole France, quai d'Orsay, pont des Invalides, place du Canada, rue François 1er, avenue George V, and rue Vernet.
And the lower part of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées will also be closed to vehicles between the Place de la Concorde and Place Clemenceau.
Advertisement
Public transport
The City of Paris and the capital's public transport operator RATP have announced the closure of several Metro stations in the capital on Sunday.
Stations closed all day:
Tuileries Station (line 1); Concorde (lines 1, 8 and 12); Champs Élysées Clemenceau (lines 1 and 13); Franklin D Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9); George V (line 1); Charles de Gaulle-Étoile (lines 1, 2 and 6, RER A); Argentine (line 1); Madeleine (lines 8, 12 and 14).
Stations closed from 1pm: Villiers (lines 2 and 3); Rome (line 2); Place de Clichy (lines 2 and 13); Blanche (line 2)
The above Metro lines will still run, they just won't stop at those stations.
The Montmartre funicular will also be out of action on the day, due to the triple ascent of the Butte Montmartre.
It's summer – what about cafe terraces?
Outdoor cafés in Montmartre can remain open until 3pm – but then all outdoor terraces along the route must be removed, and cafés and restaurants closed.
TV
If you can't make it to Paris, the Tour will of course be shown on French TV - France 2 and France 3 will have rolling coverage of the final stages.
And what about the women's race?
The Women's Tour de France gets under way in Brittany on Saturday, July 26th, and finishes with a 124.1km mountain stage from Praz-sur-Arly to Châtel, in Haute-Savoie, on Sunday, August 3rd. That's worth your support, too.