Tour de France stage 21: Pogacar seals overall victory for fourth time, Van Aert masters Montmartre, why was race neutralized?

New York Times

3 hours ago

Wout van Aert soloed to victory in stage 21 of the 2025 Tour de France on Sunday — dropping Tadej Pogacar on the final ascent of the newly-added Montmartre climb. The Belgian star proved the strongest as torrential rain swept through Paris and turned the final day into a dramatic battle of attrition.
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The irrepressible Pogacar — who sparked much of the drama in the stage — crossed the line in fourth place to seal his fourth overall Tour de France title, at the age of 26.
There were the usual final-day pleasantries in the first half of the stage: group photos, friendly chats and a pace that any amateur could happily match. While that was going on news emerged that, due to the wet weather expected in the French capital, general classification times would be taken on the fourth crossing of the finish line. In other words, before the three ascents and descents of the atmospheric but perilously-cobbled Côte de la Butte Montmartre.
The first crossing of the finish line saw the UAE-Emirates team of Tadej Pogacar cross the line together in front of the peloton. Then the race began in earnest.
An early break of Quinn Simmons in the US national champions jersey and white jersey winner Florian Lipowitz was caught before the first ascent of Montmartre, a moment that saw Pogacar follow Julian Alaphilippe. By the time they had descended down the other side the race was split in two — 27 one-day classics specialists (which includes Pogacar, of course) at the front; the tired and the nervous in the second group.
The forecast rain then arrived, and made the second visit to the climb even more treacherous. Another Pogacar acceleration reduced the front group to six riders — the yellow jersey, Matteo Jorgenson, Wout van Aert, Matej Mohoric, Matteo Trentin and Davide Ballerini.
The third and final ascent began as expected, with the yellow jersey stringing out the group on the early slopes, but as they reached the steep section near the top, Van Aert did what his team leader Jonas Vingegaard could not do all race; he dropped Pogacar.
🔥🔥🔥 @WoutvanAert DROPS @TamauPogi in the last climb up Montmartre ! 🔥🔥🔥
🔥🔥🔥 WOUT VAN AERT DISTANCE POGACAR 🔥🔥🔥#TDF2025 pic.twitter.com/Dl7Z4acN5Q
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 27, 2025
Van Aert's biggest challenge in the final run-in was staying upright on the drenched Parisian streets. He did so adroitly, taking a popular and iconic win alone, the 10th stage win of his Tour de France career but the first since 2022.
Pogacar, who took on the challenge of this stage in a manner that surely no yellow jersey since Bernard Hinault would have done, deserves huge praise too for his contribution to what was a sensational finale to this year's race.
Jacob Whitehead and Duncan Alexander break down the key moments from an epic stage.
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Wout van Aert has won on the Champs-Élysées before, but that has about the relevance of saying he once won a two-wheeled race.
Sunday's finish was a totally different proposition — but if anything more suited to his rare skillset. In riding away from Pogacar on Montmartre, the Belgian underscored why he is still one of the best racers in the world.
This has not been a vintage Tour for Van Aert. Visma Lease-a-Bike were roundly beaten in the GC battle, while his best result was second in a sprint finish. For some time, it didn't seem as if he would ever be back here.
2023 and 2024 were nightmare years with injuries. His right knee is cross-stitched with scars that tell the story of suffering, for one thing, but also the hard work needed to come back.
His win in Siena at the Giro showed his enduring class, but another Tour appeared to be slipping by. In the end, he surged away, outpowering Pogacar at the top of Montmartre before using his time trialling power to stay clear.
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'It was a special day out,' Van Aert said after the stage. 'Really special to win here on the Champs-Élysées once again, and on the first occasion where we also climbed Montmartre. The rain made it quite sketchy but I managed to stay upright and had the full support of my teammates, I really have to thank them for still believing in me as I tried over and over again. Without them I couldn't control this race, go to the last climb and leave it all out there. That was our plan and it worked.'
Standing on his pedals in the Paris rain, Van Aert smiled the smile of a man who had taken none of this for granted, but banged his handlebars with the conviction of a man who always believed that, one day, he would be back.
🔥 Take a bow 🔥
🔥 MONSIEUR @WoutvanAert 🔥#TDF2025 | @Continental_fr pic.twitter.com/dkM8cwXhIk
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 27, 2025
Jacob Whitehead
There was palpable excitement as the peloton approached the Côte de la Butte Montmartre for the first time, and not just among the huge crowds that had gathered, ten-deep, on the banks of the hill. In one of the cleverest Tour de France routes for several years, here was stage 21 offering something different and very thrilling.
The locals roared as Julian Alaphilippe attacked the first ascent like a man who knows how to work a (sizeable) crowd. And who was that easing his way effortlessly behind him? It was Tadej Pogacar, of course, clad all in yellow and enthused by the chance to race properly on the final day.
By the time the race reached Montmartre for a second time the heavens had opened but Pogacar's approach remained the same: full effort, major carnage. Only Jorgenson, van Aert, Trentin and Ballerini could keep up; only a rider as skilled as Mohoric could descend at speed on soaking wet cobbles to bridge the gap and make it a front six.
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And if the first two ascents had not convinced everyone, then the sight of Wout van Aert rolling back the years and pulling clear of the valiant Pogacar on the third ascent surely sealed the deal. The crowd — most of whom had been locked into their positions for hours — howled even louder. This was cycling drama at its purest, and dampest.
There will be understandable calls from fans for this new route to become the standard template for the Tour's final stage. It will be highly tempting for the organizers too, once they sit down and review the drama that unfolded today. The sprinters, though, are getting fewer and fewer crumbs to fight over at the Tour, and permanently removing their opportunity race for victory on the Champs-Élysées would be a shame.
Perhaps the answer is to opt for the Montmartre route every two or three years. Rare enough to keep it special, but regular enough to enjoy scenes like today's.
Duncan Alexander
There was light drizzle in Paris, and with that, one of the Tour's great debates was ended.
After the success of the Paris Olympics last summer, race organisers were intrigued by the notion of featuring Montmartre as part of the final stage — announcing plans to loop the 1.1km climb (5.9 per cent) three times, before ending with the traditional sprint on the Champs-Élysées.
'In our dreams, or in the dreams of our president, Mr Prudhomme, there was a desire to change the last stage a little bit,' route designer Thierry Gouvenou told The Athletic earlier this month.. 'It is true that we were in a bit of a comfort zone, especially in the city of Paris, where we used to do the Champs-Élysées circuit.
'But then came the Olympics. That stage at Montmartre struck us all, that was the turning point. We knew it could not be done in the same conditions. On the way, the road is narrow and it's on cobbles, but we do that in Flanders — it's not an issue. But it was necessary to find descents that were much safer than the Olympics. That was the challenge.'
It was because of this safety issue that several teams and riders were frustrated. Typically, the 21st stage is processional, where teams soft-pedal before the sprint favourites come to the fore in the final 20km. There is no risk for the GC favourites.
Here, with slopes suddenly on the agenda — cobbled slopes no less — it suddenly appeared as there may be efforts to create time gaps on GC. For many, it was one change too many.
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'I think the GC guys' worst fear is losing their place because of that final,' Remco Evenepoel said at the Tour's outset. 'Imagine you're in the yellow jersey or second place with a small margin, you just want to keep your place. That's something that nobody really likes for the last 20km of a Grand Tour. We'll probably have to race it and see how it goes.'
However, come Sunday, there were no small time gaps in the top five. It meant any serious time gaps were unlikely — and rather than bringing excitement, Montmartre only offered the opportunity of a fall on the greasy cobbles.
The decision was made to neutralise the stage before the first ascent of Montmartre. It meant Tadej Pogacar, in a sense, won the Tour de France with 50km remaining — though he still needed to complete the stage.
Jacob Whitehead
The Tour de France promises nothing to anybody. Perhaps it made sense that it ended in pouring rain, with slick cobbles and tight bends.
This has been a Tour which has at times been light on drama, but which may be remembered as the cornerstone of Pogacar's legacy. This was the month he went toe-to-toe with his greatest rival, both in perfect condition — and was a resounding champion.
We've had cattle herds and crosswinds, the Mur and Mont Ventoux, and been witness to stage wins and crushing disappointment.
The Tour is a cross-section of this sport's rich tapestry. Thanks so much for your support and comments as we covered the race as The Athletic for the first time. There will be few more post-race articles to come over the next couple of days, so look out for those.
We'll also have further coverage of the Femmes over the next week from my colleague Jess Hopkins — we hope you stick with us.
Jacob Whitehead
💪 The #TDF2025 Super combative : 🇮🇪 Ben Healy
💪 Le Super combatif du #TDF2025 : 🇮🇪 Ben Healy
👋 @century21fr pic.twitter.com/ycV2AhUIo2
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 27, 2025
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