The final fortnight of the Tour de France is where the yellow jersey is won or lost. After the early skirmishes in the Massif Central and Pyrenees, the real pressure builds across four crucial stages that will shape the final GC standings. From high mountain time trials to legendary summit finishes, these are the stages that could define the 2025 Tour.
Stage 13 – Loudenvielle to Peyragudes (ITT, 10.9km)
A short time trial, but with brutal consequences. Unlike the earlier flat test in Caen, this 10.9km effort finishes atop the steep slopes of Peyragudes. Itโs one of the most demanding finishes of the race, with double-digit gradients in the final kilometre and pitches hitting 16%. Riders who arenโt in top condition will be quickly exposed, especially after a punishing stage the day before featuring the Col de Soulor and Hautacam.
Back in 2023, a similarly short uphill TT to Combloux saw Tadej Pogaฤar concede over a minute and a half to Jonas Vingegaard. With this yearโs course again offering no hiding places, and coming deep into the second week, the margins here could be decisive.
Stage 16 – Montpellier to Mont Ventoux (171.5km)
Any stage finishing on Mont Ventoux automatically becomes a headline act. The Giant of Provence towers over the race – both literally and metaphorically – and this yearโs run-in to the summit comes straight after the second rest day. That timing matters, as riders often struggle to restart at full power after a day off. Teams will manage that carefully, but legs can still surprise riders in the wrong way.
The first 150km are flat and offer no indication of the pain to come. From Bedoin, however, the road tilts up – 15.7km at an average of 8.8%, gaining more than 1,800 metres in vertical altitude. Itโs one of the Tourโs most iconic ascents, and in 2025, it has the potential to rip apart the GC with less than a week remaining.
Stage 19 – Albertville to La Plagne (129.9km)
The final proper mountain test comes in the form of a relentless Alpine stage that squeezes five categorised climbs into less than 130km. Among them, two hors-catรฉgorie efforts, with the final summit finish at La Plagne. The climb hasnโt been used since 2002 but remains steeped in Tour folklore, not least for Stephen Rocheโs unforgettable comeback in the fog of 1987.
La Plagne runs for 17.3km at 7.2%, a long and draining ascent where the best climbers will have to go all-in. If gaps between the top GC contenders are still tight at this point, this is where one last uphill attack might win the Tour – or unravel a campaign entirely.
Stage 21 – Mantes-la-Ville to Paris (132.3km)
Traditionally a champagne-soaked procession to the Champs-รlysรฉes, this yearโs finale has a twist. The 2025 edition celebrates 50 years of finishes in Paris with a special circuit that includes three ascents of the Cรดte de la Butte Montmartre – the same climb used during the Olympic Games.
That changes the tone of the final stage. While itโs still expected to end in a sprint, the triple climb adds enough sting to catch out fatigued legs or make team control more difficult. Some riders have voiced concern about the extra stress so late in the race, and while a GC shake-up is unlikely, the risk of late drama is higher than usual. Expect one of the most animated final stages in recent memory.
