Tour de Montmartre in 2025 Tour de France 

By Louise Peloquin

Tour de France fans have been following the thrilling étapes, or stages, of the road race since the July 5th blast-off. On July 27th, the last étape will celebrate 50 years of arrival at l’Avenue des Champs Élysées with an unprecedented passage. For the cyclists, it will be a nod to the 2024 Olympics.

In a May 21st Paris City Hall meeting, the ASO (1), Mayor Annie Hidalgo and Police Prefect Laurent Nuñes presented the details of this last étape which will leave from Mantes-la-Ville in Yvelines.

ASO PHOTO of the Montmartre étape

The peloton will not only complete its victory laps on Champs Élysées but will also climb La Butte Montmartre – Montmartre Hill – three times before descending towards the famous avenue. This run, unique in the history of the Tour de France, is sure to spice up the 21st étape which is usually predominated by sprinters.

The 2024 Olympics spectators still remember how the Rue Lepic ascent and the passage in front of Sacré Coeur basilica electrified them. Consequently, the Tour organizers decided to integrate this demanding and spectacular étape into this year’s final route. The 68th and last ranked ascent of the 2025 Tour could potentially offer an ideal launch to the two-wheeled adventurers who aim at outstripping the peloton.

With its cobblestones, its tight turns and the popular ambiance we can only imagine up on top of La Butte Montmartre, this passage could transform a traditionally-established finale into a real Parisian classic, enough to upend the dominance of the favorites.

Instead of the usual eight runs on Champs Élysées, this year the cyclists will only do 3 before tackling the 16.8 kilometres through Rue Lepic to Montmartre. At the third passage at the top of the Butte, 6 kilometres will remain until the final Champs Élysées arrival.

The 21st étape itinerary is not exactly the same as that of the 2024 Olympics which ran through narrower streets and looped out into eastern of Paris. However, Rue Lepic is included and will lead the peloton to the Sacré Coeur as the race did during last year’s Olympics. The cyclists will then take wider streets to head towards the Place de la Concorde by Rue Royale. For the 50th consecutive year, the Tour de France will end at “the most beautiful avenue in the world”, Champs Élysées.

Our own photos provide a peek preview of the July 27th Montmartre itinerary.

boulevard Clichy

Place Blanche and the Moulin Rouge

rue Puget

rue Coustou

rue Lepic’s renovated cobblestones

rue Lepic curving up to La Butte Montmartre

moving up rue Lepic passing Le Moulin de la Galette (made famous by Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s 1876 painting)

Place du Tertre and its artists at the top of La Butte

Sacré Coeur basilica on top of La Butte

rue Lamarck

rue Lamarck sidewalk café-restaurant

rue Caulincourt

Place Clichy

     Tour de France cyclists need to keep their eyes on the road, especially on such a tricky étape. However, anyone who reconnoiters the itinerary will smile at the multicolored hearts painted on the rue Lepic pavement.

pavement hearts

     Café-restaurant owners, souvenir shop managers and tour operators look forward to the 21st étape because it is sure to boost business. Montmartre residents, however, are not so pleased with the expected crowds and all of the nuisances linked to prepping for the Tour. Posters such as these are popping up in many old Parisian streets: “Let us protect Montmartre from the forced (construction and renovation) works!” We can understand their yearning for peace and quiet on their own select Butte. We also know that living on top of one of the planet’s most famous hills is a privilege with a price tag. One of the prices to pay is welcoming visitors from the world over.

poster on a rue Lepic residence

     The Tour de Montmartre is sure to thrill all spectators be they among the dense crowd or sitting in front of home entertainment centers in air-conditioned living rooms. Bon Tour à tous! (Have a good Tour everyone!) (2) 

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1. Amaury Sport Organization. A French company that organizes major sporting events, most notably the Tour de France.
2. Louise Peloquin’s photos.