Tour de France 2026 Favourites stage 21: Heroes of the Elysian Fields

fotobureau Cor VosEvery rider who reaches the Champs-Élysées is a hero, but two earn a special place in history: the overall winner and the rider who triumphs in the final stage after the cobbled battle on Montmartre. Mathieu van der Poel, how about following in Wout van Aert's footsteps? (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 2 July

Champs-Élysées is French for Elysian Fields, a reference to the Elysium of Greek mythology – the final resting place of heroic souls. What a fitting finish for the world's greatest cycling race!

For years, the finale in Paris followed a familiar script, but the introduction of three finishing laps featuring the cobbled climb to Montmartre gave the final stage a new dimension last year. The hero of the day was Wout van Aert. He dropped Tadej Pogacar on the Côte de la Butte Montmartre before riding solo to victory. There will be no repeat this year, however, as the Belgian is unfortunately absent from the Tour.

The Côte de la Butte Montmartre climbs for 1.1 kilometres at an average gradient of 5.9%. The ascent is tackled three times in total, with the final passage coming 10.3 kilometres from the finish. From there, it is a straightforward run-in to the finish on the Champs-Élysées.

Favourites 21st stage - 2026 Tour de France

*** Mathieu van der Poel, Mads Pedersen, Tadej Pogacar
** Tom Pidcock, Jasper Philipsen, Maxim Van Gils, Mathias Vacek
* Magnus Cort, Jasper Stuyven, Arnaud De Lie, Paul Seixas, Matej Mohoric

Another interesting read: route 21st stage 2026 Tour de France.

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