Van Aert wins 2025 Tour de France Stage 21 on the Champs Élysées; Pogacar seals fourth Tour title in dramatic Paris finale

Mathew Mitchell

Published on July 27, 2025
in Men's Cycling

The final stage of the 2025 Tour de France delivered far more than a celebratory parade into Paris, with an attacking masterclass on the cobbled climbs of Montmartre culminating in a brilliant solo win for Wout van Aert. Behind him, Tadej Pogacar rolled over the line to confirm his fourth overall title, having lit up the stage with a series of bold moves that typified his Tour.

From the moment the race entered central Paris, it was clear that this would not be a typical final day procession. Rain had started to fall across the capital and with reports of slick cobbles on Montmartre and the Champs-Élysées, race organisers announced that GC times would be taken at the fourth crossing of the finish line, around 50 kilometres from the finish. From that point on, the yellow jersey was secure, and the racing became purely about the stage win.

The early laps were animated by constant attacks. Quinn Simmons and Florian Lipowitz were among the first to try their luck, but any early breakaway was quickly neutralised by a nervous bunch. As the race hit the Côte de la Butte Montmartre for the first time, the tension ramped up. Julian Alaphilippe and Arnaud De Lie launched a spirited move that immediately forced a reaction from Van Aert and Pogacar, who were already hovering near the front.

That group expanded over the top of the climb, with Matteo Trentin, Davide Ballerini, Matej Mohorič, Matteo Jorgenson and others bridging across. With around 40 kilometres to go, and the road slick with rain, Pogacar pressed on at the front of the group as they descended past the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. The break was now properly formed, and the gap to the peloton quickly ballooned to over 20 seconds.

Pogacar goes all in

Despite having the race win sewn up, Pogacar was determined to put on a show. As the group crested Montmartre a second time, he hit the front and rode clear with Van Aert, Mohorič, Ballerini, Jorgenson and Trentin. The yellow jersey was doing more than just defending honour – he was attacking at every opportunity, dragging the group clear of the bunch.

On the descent, Jorgenson tested the legs of the group with a dig, but Pogacar brought him back. Trentin and Mohorič tried too, and again it was Pogacar who shut it down. But on the third and final climb of Montmartre, it was Van Aert who made the decisive move. With just over five kilometres to go, he surged past Pogacar near the summit. The Slovenian initially tried to respond, but the Belgian had opened a gap and was already onto the descent.

Van Aert time trialled away with typical power and fluency, quickly gaining 10 seconds, then 15, then 20. Behind, Pogacar faded and was joined by Mohorič, Jorgenson and Ballerini, but none of them could bring back the Visma-Lease a Bike rider.

Final lap glory

As Van Aert rode under the flamme rouge for the final kilometre, he looked over his shoulder and saw only empty road. For the first time since 2022, he was about to win a stage at the Tour de France. Behind, Ballerini led home the chasers for second, just ahead of Mohorič, with Pogacar crossing the line in fourth – still smiling, still in yellow.

Further back, Jonas Vingegaard finished safely alongside Oscar Onley. The Dane secured second overall, an impressive result after a truncated build-up following his crash earlier in the season. For Onley, the fourth-place finish marked a historic achievement – the youngest Brit ever to finish in the top 10 of the Tour.

Geraint Thomas, riding his final Tour stage, crossed the line in the main bunch to complete his 14th and final participation in cycling’s greatest race. Smiling and waving to the crowds, the Welshman was greeted with respect from riders and fans alike on his final trip down the Champs-Élysées.

What should have been a ceremonial day turned into a true race – attacks, tactics, and a show of strength from the man in yellow, even on the final day. In the end, it was Van Aert who stole the spotlight in Paris, but Pogacar walked away with his place in history sealed once again.