Tour de France final stage route modified, Montmartre passages retained

Organizers of the Tour de France have altered the route of the final stage, scheduled for Sunday, July 26, 2026, to support emergency services currently deployed in the Gironde region. The decision aims to alleviate the strain on security forces and emergency responders dealing with ongoing wildfires.

The 21st and final stage will now take place entirely within Paris, significantly shortening the route from the originally planned 133 kilometers to 89 kilometers. The start, initially set for Thoiry in the Yvelines, has been moved to Paris. While the rider presentation will still occur in Thoiry around 3:40 PM, the cyclists will travel by bus to Paris for a revised start at 5:50 PM near the finish line.

Despite the modifications, the route will still feature three laps of the final circuit, including passages through Montmartre via the famous rue Lepic. This iconic climb will be tackled three times before the riders reach the Champs-Élysées for the traditional finish around 7:45 PM. The organizers and the Prefect of Police expressed their solidarity with those affected by the fires and thanked all involved parties for their understanding regarding these exceptional measures.