Wout Van Aert won the final stage of the 2025 Tour de France after a day as spectacular as it was improbable. The finish, judged as every year on the Champs-Élysées, was this time contested in apocalyptic weather conditions, with pouring rain transforming the traditional royal sprint into a clash of punchers. The final route, unprecedented, included three climbs up Montmartre (1,1 km at 5,9%), creating fertile ground for attacks and race moves.
The Belgian from the Visma-Lease a Bike team, who had remained silent on the Tour de France for three years, read the race perfectly. He was able to launch a decisive attack on the final climb of Montmartre, six kilometers from the finish. Neither Davide Ballerini, nor Matej Mohoric, nor even Tadej pogacar, present in the leading group, were unable to match his power. Van Aert appeared alone on the cobblestones of the Champs-Élysées, thus securing his tenth stage victory in the Tour de France. This victory rewards a difficult campaign for the Belgian rider, who had not raised his arms in this edition until now.
One last demonstration for Pogacar
Already assured of overall victory before the start of this 21st stage, Tadej Pogacar didn't take the easy way out. The Slovenian, leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, decided to actively participate in the race's action. Part of the group of six riders that broke away in the soggy streets of Paris, he attempted to add another stage victory to his tally. But during the final passage through the Butte Montmartre, he gave in to Van Aert's acceleration, unable to keep up with the Belgian's pace. Pogacar finished in fourth place, just off the stage podium.
This result, however, did not change the essentials: Pogacar won his fourth Tour de France, following his triumphs in 2020, 2021, and 2024. At just 26 years old, he joins the cycling legends who have won the Tour de France four times, and he seems far from having reached his limits. The gap in the general classification is clear: more than four minutes ahead of Jonas Vingegaard, second, and nearly six minutes ahead of Florian Lipowitz, third.
An unprecedented final stage
This finale of the 2025 Tour will be remembered as one of the most original. The addition of the Montmartre climbs, unusual for a final stage often frozen in time, dynamited the race. The organizers had anticipated the risks: due to torrential rain, times were neutralized 50 kilometers from the finish to prevent any changes to the general classification on a slippery road. This decision freed the riders, transforming the stage into a true urban classic.
This scenario allowed some usually discreet figures on the Champs-Élysées to shine, starting with Van Aert, whose qualities as a classics rider were fully expressed. Pogacar, for his part, proved that he is not only a Grand Tour rider, but also an insatiable competitor, even when the yellow jersey is already secured.
A Tour dominated from start to finish
Tadej Pogacar will have left his mark on this 2025 edition. With several stage victories in the Alps and the Pyrenees, he quickly took control of the general classification and never relinquished it. His superiority, tainted nonetheless by suspicion, was expressed both in the mountains and in the time trial, in a demonstration of consistency and power. Only Jonas Vingegaard attempted to challenge his authority, without ever managing to worry him for long...
