‘What about the other 20 days?’ – Geraint Thomas questions Tour organisers over Paris finale

For the second consecutive year, the Tour de France ended with the general classification effectively settled before the riders reached the final circuits around Montmartre. In 2025, rain prompted organisers to freeze the GC times with just over 50 kilometres remaining. The same measure was introduced in 2026, this time following a request from the riders, despite the absence of a similar rain threat.

Thomas is not convinced that stopping the clock early is the right approach, particularly now that the final stage in Paris offers more opportunities for attacks.

The subject came up as he and Laurens De Plus discussed the newly unveiled 2027 Tour route. The Belgian was surprised to see stage 20 apparently favouring the sprinters, a departure from the recent tendency to settle the general classification in the mountains on the penultimate day.

"I haven't seen a Grand Tour with stage 20, like, a sprint day," De Plus said, suggesting the overall winner could effectively be known before the peloton reaches Paris.

That prompted Thomas to question whether the Tour should once again neutralise general classification times during the final stage in Paris, as it has done in the previous two editions. He believes the battle for the overall standings should remain open until the finish line. Riders were reluctant to risk losing their GC results on the very last stage of the Tour.  

“Well, not unless they leave the GC open, which I think they should,” Thomas said. 

He went on to question why the Tour should treat the final stage differently from the other 20 days of racing.

“Explain this to me, right? You race over cobbles, you do crazy stuff all through the race. They never stop the time yet,” Thomas said.

“Why do you need to stop the time with three laps to go? Just because it's Paris?”

When De Plus suggested that safety might be behind the decision, Thomas remained unconvinced.

“Safety, mate. Like, what about the other 20 days?”

Thomas argued that if the organisers want to create an exciting finale, the general classification should remain part of the contest.

“If you're gonna put that stage on, leave the GC on. It's no different to any other stage, in my mind.”

No decision has yet been confirmed on whether general classification times will be neutralised in the final stage of the 2027 Tour. Any such decision could also depend on conditions on the day, particularly the weather and potential safety concerns.

Beyond the debate over the Paris finale, Thomas and De Plus were broadly positive about the 2027 route, particularly the return of significant amount of time trialing.

With individual time trials of 38 and 33 kilometres, De Plus described the route as a return to the traditional Grand Tour format.

“Back to the roots,” he said.

The amount of time trialling has inevitably raised questions about which riders stand to benefit most.

De Plus noted that some early reactions had described the course as “almost like an anti-Pog route”, a suggestion he could understand given the opportunities it presents to riders such as Remco Evenepoel.

Thomas, though, was reluctant to read too much into that interpretation.

“I still think Pog's still the out-and-out favorite,” he said, expecting Pogačar to place greater emphasis on his time trial preparation ahead of July.

Evenepoel, meanwhile, could find himself in an ideal position after the opening week. Thomas suggested the Belgian might take yellow in the first time trial on stage seven, before the race reaches its first major mountain test on the Grand Colombier two days later.

“I think it's great for Remco. He can take the jersey on stage seven, and then he can, you know, go into that first big test on stage nine in yellow.”

Despite the traditional elements, Thomas expects an aggressive race, with fewer summit finishes potentially encouraging attacks on stages that might otherwise have been considered opportunities for breakaways.

Away from the Tour route, Thomas and De Plus also discussed Filippo Ganna's move from Netcompany-Ineos to Lidl-Trek, with Thomas admitting that he was disappointed to see his former teammate leave.

“I was sad to see him go,” Thomas said, recalling the Grand Tours they had raced together. “A great guy and sad to see him go.”

But he also acknowledged the difficult decisions facing Netcompany as the team looks to strengthen its Grand Tour ambitions.

With both Ganna and Josh Tarling on the roster, Thomas suggested that keeping two riders with similar strengths was becoming increasingly difficult to justify financially.

“Money's not a bottomless pit anymore,” he said.

According to Thomas, Ganna's opportunity to move presented a situation in which the team did not want to stand in his way, particularly with the Italian approaching what could be the final major contract of his career.

Tarling's age and developing role within the team were also important factors.

“Josh is obviously a lot younger and kinda going into that road captain role as well. Both are great time trialists. Both have strengths and weaknesses, very similar.”

Thomas then concluded by putting the decision into simple terms.

“Can you afford to keep them both in the team? Ultimately, no.”