Tour de France GC times to be taken before Montmartre circuit
The final stage of the Tour de France has had its traditional processional opening, and the finale over the climb to Montmartre will have no impact on GC. Due to the rain conditions, the organisation has decreed that the GC clock will stop before the race hits the three laps around Montmartre.
The three ascents of Montmartre will have no impact on the general classification of the 2025 Tour de France, and not only because Tadej Pogacar holds an unbridgeable lead atop the overall standings.
With rain forecast for Sunday evening in Paris, the commissaires have taken the decision to take the time for the final general classification with 50.3km remaining, when the peloton passes the finish line on the Champs-Élysées for the fourth time and before it hits the first of three laps over the ascent of Montmartre.
“Due to the weather conditions, the general classification times will be taken at the 4th crossing of the finish line, 50.3 km from the finish,” the Tour organisation said in a statement during the opening phase of stage 21.
The new configuration of the final stage of the Tour has engendered much debate since it was confirmed earlier this year, though ASO’s dream scenario of the yellow jersey battle going down to the final day was thwarted by Pogacar’s dominance in the mountains.
Pogacar leads Jonas Vingegaard by 4:24 and will seal his fourth Tour victory on Sunday evening.
The punchy finale of the Tour, inspired by the use of Montmartre in the road races at the Paris 2024 Olympics, will mark a break from the traditional sprint finale on the Champs-Élysées.
