As it happened: Incredible solo move on Montmartre to win final stage of the Tour de France

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage for the final stage of the 2025 Tour de France from Mantes-la-Ville to the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Here's a look at the profile of today's stage. Some undulating terrain as they head through Yvelines before reaching Paris. There will be four laps of the Champs-Élysées before another three slightly different laps that feature a detour to the Côte de la Butte Montmartre.

'This year was on another level' - Tadej Pogačar takes yellow jersey to Paris at end of relentlessly tough Tour de France

Barring any incident or accident on the roads of Paris, Tadej Pogačar will be crowned Tour de France champion for the fourth time. With an advantage of four minutes and 24 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard, the Slovenian has dominated the race from start to finish, but still believes that it is the hardest edition of the race he has ever done.

The final stage of this year's Tour de France will get underway with the neutralised start in around half an hour at 16:10 local time.

Will the sprinters have their day on the Champs-Élysées? Or will an attack on the final ascent of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre see an opportunistic move go all the way to the line?

In case you missed it, here are the results from yesterday's stage to Pontarlier, as Kaden Groves took his first Tour de France stage win after going solo in the finale. Could the versatile Australian sprinter also feature in the sprint for the win today?

Geraint Thomas says goodbye to the Tour de France today, as he is set to retire at the end of the season. The Welshman won the maillot jaune in 2018 and finished on the final podium on a further two occasions in 2019 and 2022.

Ben Healy rewarded for relentless efforts with super combativity prize at 2025 Tour de France

An incredible Tour de France from Ben Healy will see him stand on the podium in Paris, as the Irishman has been voted the most combative rider of the race. Could we see him launch one final move off the front on today's stage?

The final stage of the 2025 Tour de France is underway, as the riders have just rolled out for the neutralised start in Mantes-la-Ville.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG have a special jersey for today's stage to celebrate Tadej Pogačar's maillot jaune.

Tour de France Femmes stage 2: Mavi García holds on solo ahead of charging bunch for biggest victory of career at 41

If you missed the Tour de France Femmes today, you can catch up on everything that happened on stage 2 with our full race report.

The flag has dropped for the official start and UAE Team Emirates-XRG are currently lining up in front of the peloton for a photograph. It is fair to say that we will not see any attacks at the start of today's stage, with all of the action set to come when the race enters Paris later on.

Yesterday's stage winner Kaden Groves is currently lining up alongside a group of other Australian riders for photo with all of his compatriots at the back of the peloton.

The Italians are now at it, with Jonathan Milan in the maillot vert lining up alongside all of his fellow countrymen at the front of the bunch.

Gracious in defeat, Jonas Vingegaard congratulated Tadej Pogačar at the start today.

Tim Merlier and Wout van Aert in conversation as the peloton rolls along at the start. Will we see the two Belgians sprinting for the stage victory later on?

All of the teams are now lining up to get their photographs taken in the peloton. Arkéa-B&B Hotels the current team at the front of the bunch. With all of their ongoing sponsorship issues, could it be the last time we see the Breton outfit at the Tour de France?

The peloton are now approaching the summit of the category four climb of the Côte de Bazemont, with riders from Cofidis, TotalEnergies and Arkéa-B&B Hotels having a small contest for the sole point on offer.

The weather forecast for later in the stage indicates that we could have some rain once the race reaches Paris. There have already been reports of rain on Montmartre, which could make for an interesting finish on wet cobblestones.

Mark Cavendish holds the record for the most wins on the Champs-Élysées, with four consecutive victories on the final stage of the Tour de France from 2009 to 2012. Will we see a sprinter triumph in Paris today?

All of the team photographs have now been taken and UAE Team Emirates-XRG are now setting a steady pace at the front of the peloton, but we are still unlikely to see any moves off the front until the riders reach Paris.

An update from the race organisers states that general classification times will be taken with around 50km to go on the fourth crossing of the finish line due to weather conditions in Paris.

Tour de France Stage 21 - 100km to go

There is just 100km left of this year's Tour de France and the riders are gradually making their way into Paris, as they are currently passing through Versailles.

With wet conditions on the cobbled streets of Montmartre and the Champs-Élysées, some riders may be unwilling to take as many risks as others, which could make it difficult for teams to control in the finale.

The riders are now onto the category four climb of the Côte du Pavé des Gardes (0.7km at 9.7%), which will be followed by a short descent and the entrance into Paris.

Jonas Rickaert is currently leading the peloton down a short descent with a small gap over the peloton, but he does not appear to be pressing on. The Belgian rider could be key in positioning Kaden Groves in the finale later on, as Alpecin-Deceuninck look to add another stage win to their current tally of three victories.

Tour de France Stage 21 - 75km to go

The race has now entered Paris and the riders are heading along the River Seine with the Eiffel Tower in sight. It won't be long until they reach the Champs-Élysées.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG have led the peloton through the grounds of the Musée du Louvre and onto the Rue de Rivoli.

The race is now passing through the finish line for the first time to begin four laps of the Champs-Élysées, before three longer laps that will take in the ascent of Montmartre.

As the race heads onto the Champs-Élysées, the racing has now begun with the first attack of the day, as riders are attempting to get themselves up the road.

The riders have passed through the tunnel under the Jardin des Tuileries for the first time and Alexis Renard currently has a small gap over the peloton. Uno-X Mobility are keen to get a rider up the road along with a number of other teams.

The Patrouille de France has just passed over the Champs-Élysées and a small group of riders is currently going clear at the front of the peloton as they swing around the Arc de Triomphe.

Eduardo Affini has brought back that move, as Visma-Lease a Bike seem keen to control the stage for Wout van Aert.

Two incidents for Australian riders, as Michael Storer and Ben O'Connor have both suffered punctures.

Santiago Buitrago, Magnus Cort and Neilson Powless are currently off the front with Jonas Vingegaard himself chasing down the breakaway.

The intermediate sprint is coming up as the riders pass through the finish line for the third time.

Jonathan Milan takes maximum points at the intermediate sprint, with his maillot vert now more than sealed.

Quinn Simmons has launched a move off the front with the maillot blanc Florian Lipowitz following him. It's attack after attack at the moment.

Tour de France Stage 21 - 50km to go

Simmons and Lipowitz still have narrow advantage over the peloton as they pass through the finish line for the fourth time. GC times have now been taken, so as long as he finishes the stage, Tadej Pogačar has won the 2025 Tour de France.

The next lap will be the first of the longer laps, which will feature an ascent of Montmartre.

A mechanical issue for Jordi Meeus at the worst possible time, as the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe is now off the back of the peloton as they approach the first ascent of Montmartre. The Belgian is the last rider to win a stage of the Tour de France in Paris, as he won the sprint on the Champs-Élysées in 2023.

The two-man breakaway has now been caught with Alpecin-Deceuninck coming to the front of the main bunch, as they look to position Kaden Groves before the first ascent of Montmartre.

Tudor Pro Cycling and Visma-Lease a Bike have now moved to the front of the peloton.

Tour de France Stage 21 - 40km to go

The riders at the front are now on the climb of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre as they head up to the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur.

Julian Alaphilippe has attacked with Arnaud De Lie in the wheel. Tadej Pogačar and Wout van Aert have also followed the move and it is the maillot jaune leading the group of eight riders down the descent.

If there was ever any doubt, Tadej Pogačar has now made his intentions clear, as he clearly wants to win on the Champs-Élysées.

A few more riders have joined the front of the race, with the rest of the peloton chasing on behind as they head back on to the Champs-Élysées.

Bastien Tronchon has attacked from the leading group as they pass through the finish with two laps to go.

Dark clouds are looming ominously above Paris and the rain has begun to fall on the cobbles of the Champs-Élysées.

Tronchon has now been caught by the group, with Neilson Powless leading them around the Arc de Triomphe with Tadej Pogačar in the wheel.

The leading group is formed of 28 riders with Matej Mohorič at the front taking them through these wet corners.

The leading group are now onto the second ascent of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre and Tadej Pogačar is on the front once again.

Tadej Pogačar has drawn a group of six riders clear, with Davide Ballerini, Wout van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson, Matej Mohorič and Matteo Trentin following him over the top of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre and onto the descent.

The six riders at the head of the race has gap of 15 seconds over the chasing group behind them, with Van Aert currently pulling on the front to extend their advantage.

The leading group has passed through the finish line to take the bell and they are now onto the final lap.

The leaders have extended their gap to 25 seconds over the chasers as they head around the Arc de Triomphe for the final time.

The front group are working well together, with everyone pulling turns to extend the gap over those chasing behind.

Matteo Jorgenson has attacked the leading group with Matej Mohorič following the move. Tadej Pogačar is staying the wheels for now, as he waits for the final ascent of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre, which is coming up shortly.

The six riders up the road are now beginning to look at each other a bit more, but they are still pressing on.

Van Aert lets the wheel go to Jorgenson on the front of the group through a corner and Mohorič sprints to close the gap, which forces Pogačar into action. It's still all together as they begin the final ascent of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre.

Tadej Pogačar accelerates on the climb, but Wout van Aert counterattacks to go solo over the top of the climb. Pogačar is distanced on a climb for the first time at this year's Tour de France.

Tour de France Stage 21 - 5km to go

Pogačar is trying to bring back Van Aert, but he cannot close the gap. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider is time trialling his way to victory as things stand.

Pogačar has now been joined by Jorgenson, Mohorič and Ballerini, but they will not bring back Van Aert now.

Tadej Pogačar has now been dropped from the chasing group. The maillot jaune simply has nothing left in the tank and he will roll into the finish.

Tour de France Stage 21 - Wout van Aert wins

Wout van Aert wins the final stage of the 2025 Tour de France with an incredible solo move, dropping Tadej Pogačar on the Côte de la Butte Montmartre before time trialling his way to the finish. An incredible victory for the Visma-Lease a Bike rider.

Davide Ballerini outsprints Matej Mohorič to take second place on the stage, with Tadej Pogačar rolling across the line in fourth place.

Jonathan Milan and Florian Lipowitz have finished the stage to secure the maillot vert and maillot blanc respectively, with Geraint Thomas leading their group across the line to conclude his Tour de France career.

Jonas Vingegaard and Oscar Onley have crossed the line in a group around seven and a half minutes behind Wout van Aert, but it will have no impact on the general classification, as times were taken with 50km to go.

Tour de France Stage 21 - Results

Wout van Aert post-race interview

Speaking in his post-race interview after the stage, Van Aert said "it was a special day out. Really special to win here on the Champs-Élysées once again and, of course, on the first occasion where we climb to Montmartre."

On how the weather conditions affected the race, he went on to say "the rain made it quite sketchy, but I managed to stay upright. I had the full support of my teammates. I really have to thank them to keep believing in me and to try over and over again. Even today, they were still there to support me, so without them I couldn't control this race. To go into the last climb and leave it all out there was our plan and it worked."

Reflecting on his race as a whole, the Belgian stated "to be honest, I also wanted to win the twenty stages before today. I came close a few times, but also was quite far off on several occasions. Even yesterday, I didn't feel good enough to make the breakaway, so the hardest thing for me was to keep the belief. Because people around me kept believing in me, I was able to do it."

On Visma-Lease a Bike's team performance across the entire race, he said "we came to this Tour with the ambition to win the yellow jersey, but the strongest rider in the race and the biggest cyclist in the world won it. Tadej Pogačar was the strongest. We tried to give him some competition and I have to say I'm proud of how we raced as a team, how we kept trying every day, but for sure we don't go home without prizes. We won two stages, we had Jonas second in the GC, we had a really great group and we won the teams classification, so we should be proud."

Tadej Pogačar post-race interview

Speaking in his post-race interview, Tadej Pogačar said "in the end, it was a nice race, great from the organisers to neutralise the GC times so nobody had to risk anything, and it was quite fair play in the end."

On Wout van Aert's winning move on Montmartre, he stated "I gave it a go because I was in the front, but Wout was incredibly strong today. He did an amazing attack on the top of the climb, and he deserved this big, big win."

Reflecting on the race as a whole, he went on to say "in the end, I'm super happy that it's over, but I must say that I really enjoyed the whole Tour. For sure, I will maybe already miss it next week, but it was a pleasure to be here, wear this yellow jersey, ride with my teammates, and ride against all the opponents. It was a great, great Tour."

Some photos from the final podium of the 2025 Tour de France...

Image 1 of 9

Tour de France stage 21: Tadej Pogačar claims fourth overall victory as Wout van Aert solos to victory over new Montmartre climb in Paris finale

If you missed any of today's action, catch up with our full race report for stage 21.

Tour de France 2025

Thank you for following our live coverage of the 2025 Tour de France! Make sure to join us again next week for the remaining stages of the Tour de France Femmes.