TdF Stage 21 2025

[Dorset Boy]

ASO have announced the detail for the final stage of this year's Tour. 4 laps of the traditional Champs circuit and then 3 times up a Montmartre loop that takes them back to the Champs each time.
Sprinters might not be overjoyed!

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Wout van Aert seems unimpressed - he thinks it will be too hectic and dangerous - and he's exactly the rider it should benefit.
I know a lot of people complain about the standard sprint stage to finish the Tour, but I quite like it.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Assuming that the jerseys are pretty much decided then it will still just be a procession

so making it a procession with hills does seem a bit pointless

If the climbers jersey is not decided then....
but at the end of the day it pretty much always goes to one of the top 3 in GC so what is the point??

which is another point - why not make the climber's jersey more for climbers and change it so the GC riders are not always winning it?
maybe remove summit finishes or something??

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Pog will be licking his lips, Cav will be shouting at clouds!

 

[T4tomo]

Assuming that the jerseys are pretty much decided then it will still just be a procession

so making it a procession with hills does seem a bit pointless

If the climbers jersey is not decided then....
but at the end of the day it pretty much always goes to one of the top 3 in GC so what is the point??

which is another point - why not make the climber's jersey more for climbers and change it so the GC riders are not always winning it?
maybe remove summit finishes or something??

nothing to do with the climbers jersey, its likely to make it less of a pure sprinters sprint as classic specialists etc will attack the sprinters up the small climbs.

All the pure sprinters want to win on the Champs and this makes it less likely. Recent tradition dictates its a procession / celebration for the yellow jersey team, with a properly contested sprint at the end, of course it wasn't always that way.

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

Is there a link to the full route and roadbook yet?

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Is there a link to the full route and roadbook yet?

Not seen a roadbook yet but there's a press kit knocking about
https://mega.nz/folder/jUsnHa5a#Pwq8Rkwq7_OKBnKNXty4Sw

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

nothing to do with the climbers jersey, its likely to make it less of a pure sprinters sprint as classic specialists etc will attack the sprinters up the small climbs.

All the pure sprinters want to win on the Champs and this makes it less likely. Recent tradition dictates its a procession / celebration for the yellow jersey team, with a properly contested sprint at the end, of course it wasn't always that way.

WHen I first started watching it there was always a sprint to be the first onto the Champs

that seems to have stopped

 

[No Ta Doctor]

WHen I first started watching it there was always a sprint to be the first onto the Champs

that seems to have stopped

Leading the peloton onto the Champs now seems to be reserved for a senior rider that's retiring, as an "honour"

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Wout van Aert seems unimpressed - he thinks it will be too hectic and dangerous - and he's exactly the rider it should benefit.
I know a lot of people complain about the standard sprint stage to finish the Tour, but I quite like it.

He’s just echoing his master’s voice. Jonas is not amused at the prospect for exactly the reason WVA mentioned.

I have to say that I have never been a fan of the 21st stage being the triumphant procession.
Either a Grand Tour is 21 stages or it ain’t.

So I for one, am glad they are mixing things up a bit.
If it’s a dud, they can always revert, next year.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

He’s just echoing his master’s voice. Jonas is not amused at the prospect for exactly the reason WVA mentioned.

I have to say that I have never been a fan of the 21st stage being the triumphant procession.
Either a Grand Tour is 21 stages or it ain’t.

So I for one, am glad they are mixing things up a bit.
If it’s a dud, they can always revert, next year.

The issue is less whether it's going to be a dud, and more whether it's going to be absolute carnage, as wide boulevards narrow to little cobbled streets and every sprint team, GC team and classics rider wants to be at the front. There's a real risk of losing a jersey wearer or podium placed rider on the final stage, which I'm sure some will find entertaining.

Personally, I think the sprinters who've dragged their heavy arses over the mountains deserve to keep their "sprinters world champs" and the early stage drinks and photos serve as the Tour's closing ceremony. The peloton has fought for three weeks to get here and to determine the yellow jersey, it's fine they take a moment to reflect and pose for the cameras. It's fun to see the Danes (or Belgians, or Brits) gather across teams for a photo. And yes, it's still a proper stage - as much as any other non-GC stage - competition-wise it's no different to 230km into a boulevard sprint in Bordeaux with three riders (one from Cofidis) in the break.

 

[stage hunter]

The issue is less whether it's going to be a dud, and more whether it's going to be absolute carnage, as wide boulevards narrow to little cobbled streets and every sprint team, GC team and classics rider wants to be at the front. There's a real risk of losing a jersey wearer or podium placed rider on the final stage, which I'm sure some will find entertaining.

Personally, I think the sprinters who've dragged their heavy arses over the mountains deserve to keep their "sprinters world champs" and the early stage drinks and photos serve as the Tour's closing ceremony. The peloton has fought for three weeks to get here and to determine the yellow jersey, it's fine they take a moment to reflect and pose for the cameras. It's fun to see the Danes (or Belgians, or Brits) gather across teams for a photo. And yes, it's still a proper stage - as much as any other non-GC stage - competition-wise it's no different to 230km into a boulevard sprint in Bordeaux with three riders (one from Cofidis) in the break.

In exceptional circumstances you could even get a change of yellow jersey on the final day. Unlikely, but possible if the gap was less than 30 seconds. Indeed, this may be Jonas’ issue.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

In exceptional circumstances you could even get a change of yellow jersey on the final day. Unlikely, but possible if the gap was less than 30 seconds. Indeed, this may be Jonas’ issue.

I think the issue is quite clearly that he could have ten minutes on second place and still get taken out as the entire peloton fights to get into a tiny sidestreet.

 

[Dorset Boy]

I think the issue is quite clearly that he could have ten minutes on second place and still get taken out as the entire peloton fights to get into a tiny sidestreet.

It was fine for the Olympics. I think Jonas and Visma like to whinge too much.
I like the addition, and if it's a dud, well as said above, next year they can change it again.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

The main risk is if a major player gets knocked out or looses masses of time due to a crash

but that is true of any stage - even when they finished with a time trial it was always possible that someobe could loose it on a corner or get a bike failure or whatever

probably worth a try - and let the experts work out the best way to do it

(not like them to cock it up after all!)