The riders are set to do three circuits of the historic Paris district of Montmartre on its last stage this year in what organizers said Wednesday would add a competitive finale to the world's greatest bike race.
The riders will for the first time in the Tour de France history race a total of 16.8 kilometers in Montmartre before the peloton heads to the Champs-Elysees, where it will complete three circuits, instead of the previous eight.
The circuit will climb Rue Lepic in Montmartre, where much of the action 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."
Jonas Vingegaard says he is not a big of the change:
"To be honest, I don't really think it's a good idea. It seemed to work well (during the Olympics, ed.), and there were a lot of people and a really good atmosphere. But there were only 50 riders left in the peloton when they got to Montmartre."
"When we do it for the Tour, there will be 150 riders fighting for position on a very narrow climb, so it will be very interesting. The change may end up causing more stress than they really want", says Vingegaard at a press conference.
The 2025 edition of the Tour de France marks the 50th anniversary of its first finale on the Champs-Elysees in 1975.