Credits: Gavin Anderson from Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Australia / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 2.0.
Under a pounding rain, the final stage of the 2025 Tour de France delivered a legendary showdown. Indeed, this race was worthy of the greatest legends of cycling. This Sunday, July 27, Paris was electrified by Wout van Aert’s masterful victory on the Champs-Élysées, while Tadej Pogacar firmly entered history by winning his fourth Tour. A look back at an unforgettable day.
A Thrilling Finish On The Paris Cobbles
The peloton, having set off from Mantes-la-Ville, first experienced a festive parade of laughter and champagne. Yet as Paris drew closer, the weather changed everything. Thus, the organizers froze the times at 50 km from the finish, securing the general classification while leaving the door wide open for a spectacular finale to today’s stage.
Van Aert And Pogacar, An Unprecedented Duel On Montmartre
The final stage innovated by including three ascents of the Butte Montmartre. An ideal terrain for puncheurs and attackers. Julian Alaphilippe was the first to blow the race apart. But it was the duel between Tadej Pogacar and Wout van Aert that made the biggest impression.
On the final climb, Van Aert dropped Pogacar in the rain, soloing to his tenth Tour stage win. Four years after his first Paris victory, the Belgian delivers a long-awaited win for Visma-Lease a Bike, a team hit by abandons on the Pyrenean stages and around Toulouse.
Tadej Pogacar Firmly Enters Legend
With this fourth Tour de France title, Tadej Pogacar joins Christopher Froome in the record books. The Slovenian is closing in on the mythical Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain, and Eddy Merckx.
Thus, Pogacar triumphs by 4 min 24 sec ahead of Dane Jonas Vingegaard. German Florian Lipowitz completes the podium, also taking the white jersey for best young rider. Pogacar also claims the polka-dot jersey, confirming exceptional versatility.
The Slovenian winner said after the finish: “This Tour has a special flavor. The whole team worked tirelessly. That atmosphere carried me all the way to Paris.”
The French Shine, Paris Celebrates Its Heroes
Two French riders finish in the top 10 of the general classification. Kévin Vauquelin (7th) and Jordan Jegat (10th) rekindled popular enthusiasm. Despite the rain, the thousands of spectators packed into Rue Lepic and along the cobblestones experienced today’s stage intensely.
This final day, with a profile worthy of a spring classic, left a strong impression with its dramatic intensity. American Quinn Simmons, proposing to his girlfriend on the Champs-Élysées, added a memorable human touch to this exceptional day.
Unprecedented Route, Record Broken
The 21st stage of the 2025 Tour marked a break with tradition. Three laps of the Champs-Élysées alternated with three loops toward Montmartre. This strategic innovation avoided the traditional bunch sprint.
Moreover, Pogacar set a record, completing the Tour at an average speed of 42.849 km/h, surpassing Jonas Vingegaard’s mark set in 2022.
Standings And Honors
In the final standings, Pogacar finishes ahead of Vingegaard and Lipowitz. Italian Jonathan Milan wins the green jersey. Team Visma-Lease a Bike takes the team classification, despite a hectic Tour marked notably by the difficult stages near Caen and during stage 8.
Finally, Irishman Ben Healy is crowned super combative, rewarded for his audacity and relentless attacks.
Pogacar: What’s Next For The Champion?
Will Tadej Pogacar return in 2026 to match the Tour legends? He leaves the question open while mentioning new challenges, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 112th edition of the Tour de France will be remembered for courage, renewal, and emotion. Riders and fans experienced an unforgettable sporting adventure together, now etched into legend.