Sunday’s final stage of the Tour de France has been rerouted due to “exceptional circumstances” surrounding the wildfires affecting the south-west of France.Though stage 21 will conclude with the traditional passage down Paris’ Champs-Élysées, via a finishing circuit on the iconic Montmartre, emergency service personnel have been redeployed to manage the ongoing crisis, which has forced 200,000 people to evacuate.The stage has now been shortened from 133 kilometers to 89km and will take place fully within Paris’ city limits — beginning at 5.50pm local time (11.50 ET) — with two extra circuits of the Champs-Élysées before the Montmartre finishing loop. The stage is now scheduled to finish at 7.45pm (1.45pm ET).“As numerous wildfires are currently affecting France, particularly the Gironde region, emergency services are fully mobilized to combat the blazes, while internal security forces are working to secure the affected areas and protect the population,” read a statement from the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the race’s organisers.
“In light of this, the Ministry of Interior has decided to redeploy a portion of the internal security forces initially mobilized to ensure security for the final stage of the Tour de France, in order to reinforce the response efforts in the areas affected by the wildfires.“In the spirit of national solidarity with the affected regions and populations, it has been decided to adjust the route of the final stage between Thoiry and Paris on Sunday, July 26, 2026.”This is the second stage at this Tour to be affected by wildfires, with fans encouraged not to attend the final 40km of stage three, on the Spanish border, due to the need to diminish pressure on emergency services in the region.Traditionally, the Tour’s final stage was ceremonial rather than raced — but the introduction of the Montmartre climb, moving it away from a pure sprint stage, has added to its complexity.Yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar finished second on the Champs-Élysées last year after being dropped by Wout van Aert on the final ascent of Montmartre. This year, that climb comes 12km from the finish line, instead of six, to increase the likelihood of an opportunity for the sprinters.
