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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
2025 Tour de France adds Montmartre suspense to final stage
France's Valentin Madouas cycling during the men's cycling road race during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on Aug 3, 2024. PHOTO: AFP – The Tour de France will make three circuits of the historic Paris district of Montmartre on its last stage in 2025 in what organisers said on May 21 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. 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,' Paris' assistant mayor Pierre Rabadan told AFP. 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 resolved only 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 on May 21 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,' he added. The 2025 edition of the Tour de France marks the 50th anniversary of its first finale on the Champs-Elysees, traditionally considered Paris' most chic shopping road, in 1975. The 112th 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 (Denmark), Bilbao (Spain) and Florence (Italy). The gruelling race covers 3,320km over the three weeks and will be contested by 184 riders in 2025. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Kuwait Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Tour de France adds Montmartre suspense to final stage
PARIS: (FILES) The pack of riders (peloton) cycles in the ascent of Montmartre during the men's cycling road race during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on August 3, 2024. The final stage of the Tour de France will make three circuits of the historic district of Montmartre on its final stage, organisers of the world's greatest bike race confirmed on May 21, 2025. – AFP PARIS: The 2025 Tour de France will make three circuits of the historic Paris district of Montmartre on its last stage in what organizers said Wednesday would add a competitive finale to the world's greatest bike race. The new format of the final stage on July 27 is unlikely to decide who wins the 21-day race, but it adds a new edge to the traditional parade-like ending. The riders will 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, and end with a mass sprint in the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe. Around half a million spectators gathered last year for the 2024 Paris Olympics road races, sparking a clamor for the Tour to include Montmartre in its route. The circuit climbs 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 organizers 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 energize 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. It is the 117th edition of the race itself and it begins July 5 in the northern French city of Lille after three consecutive money-spinning foreign 'Grand Departs' at 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 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. – AFP
Daily Tribune
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
2025 Tour de France adds Montmartre suspense to final stage
AFP | Paris The 2025 Tour de France will make three circuits of the historic Paris district of Montmartre on its last stage in what organisers said yesterday would add a competitive finale to the world's greatest bike race. The new format of the final stage on July 27 is unlikely to decide who wins the 21-day race, but it adds a new edge to the traditional parade-like ending. The riders will 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, and end with a mass sprint in the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe. Around half a million spectators gathered last year for the 2024 Paris Olympics road races, sparking a clamour for the Tour to include Montmartre in its route. The circuit climbs 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.'
Express Tribune
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
2025 Tour de France adds Montmartre 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.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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. - A revolution - Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. dmc/gj
