Tour de France 2025 concluded with a thrilling stage 21 as the final stage broke from tradition, introducing the Côte de la Butte Montmartre, a cobbled climb of 1.1 km at 5.9%, tackled three times in the closing laps, adding a dramatic twist to the usually processional sprint finish.
The stage saw aggressive racing, with rain-soaked conditions challenging the peloton. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) delivered a masterclass, launching a decisive attack on the final Montmartre climb, just 6.4 km from the finish. Dropping a six-man breakaway that included yellow jersey holder Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), van Aert soloed to a memorable victory, crossing the line 19 seconds ahead to claim his 10th Tour stage win and second on the Champs-Élysées.
Pogacar, who animated the finale with multiple attacks, finished fourth but secured his fourth Tour de France title, finishing the race 4 minutes 24 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the general classification. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) took third overall and the white jersey for the best young rider.
Despite the rain prompting organizers to freeze general classification times after four laps for safety, the Montmartre climb lived up to its billing, inspired by its role in the 2024 Olympic road race. The stage celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Tour’s first Champs-Élysées finish in 1975, blending tradition with a fresh, attacking dynamic.
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) claimed the green jersey for the points classification, while Pogacar also secured his third King of the Mountains title.
Wout at his very, very best vs Pogačar 🚀
In front of huge crowds on the Côte de Butte Montmartre in Paris, Wout van Aert produced a devastating attack to pull clear of his rivals and win Stage 21 of the Tour de France solo.
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🇫🇷 #TDF2025 pic.twitter.com/NWM01ronvM— Velon CC (@VelonCC) July 27, 2025
