Over the next century, the luminous evenings of France’s capital, as well as its status as one of the centres of the Age of Enlightenment, would earn it the nickname La Ville Lumière, the City of Light. Inspired by the success of last year’s Olympic road race, the Tour organisers tweaked the usual Paris procession for their race’s final stage, including for the first time ever three ascents of the Butte Montmartre, before the classic finish on the Champs-Élysées. And it paid off spectacularly, the tight, cobbled climb splitting the race to bits (helped by the decision to neutralise GC times in the filthy conditions with 50km to go), and culminating in a titanic tussle between Pogačar and Van Aert on the final lap, which the Belgian won, forcing his way clear for his only victory of this year’s Tour.
Author: Ryan Mallon
Published at: 2025-07-27 22:04:39
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