Tour de France Stage 21 Preview: Montmartre Returns With a Twist

Update: Stage 21 has been shortened in order to redirect safety resources to help combat wildfires. It will now start in Paris from the finish line with an extra lap of the Champs Élysées. Full details here.

Thoiry to Paris Champs-Élysées: 133km/1000m

The Tour de France ends with the climbing circuit that turned last year’s finale on its head.

The spectacular, controversial ascent of Montmartre is back for a second year, bringing the race up the crowd-packed Rue Lepic and beneath the Sacré-Cœur before the traditional finish on the Champs-Élysées.

Not everyone loved it, but fans certainly did.

Last year, Wout van Aert delivered one of the most emotional victories of his career, attacking clear on the final passage of Montmartre while Pogačar wisely chose caution over risk on the rain-slick cobbles rather than gamble his Tour victory on the final day.

Organizers brought back Montmartre, but they’ve added a new twist for 2026.

This time there will be nearly 15km between the final ascent of Montmartre and the finish line, perhaps giving hope for the sprinters to chase back any high-octane attacks to set up a wild final gallop down France’s most famous boulevard at the Champs-Élysées.

After three weeks of racing, nobody will have much left in the tank.

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