Tour de France Finale Starts on Champs-Élysées
The 2026 Tour de France will start in Paris. The route was changed due to wildfires and police shortages. The race will finish on the Champs-Élysées.
The Tour de France’s 21st stage was altered because of a requisition order. This order led to extra laps around the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The race was shortened to 89 kilometers due to forest fires in southwestern France. Police were needed to help with the fires, so there were not enough officers for the full race. The stage included a climb up Montmartre, which was repeated three times.
Summarized from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
Highlights
Start Location Changed
The 2026 Tour de France will begin on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Route Modification Due to Police
A police shortage caused by forest fires led to a shortened route.
Extra Champs-Élysées Laps
The 21st stage included two extra laps around the Champs-Élysées.
Montmartre Climb Included
The final stage featured a challenging climb up Montmartre.
Shortened Race Distance
Only 89 kilometers of the planned 133 kilometers were ridden.
Perspectives
- The 2026 Tour de France will start in Paris.
- The final stage will finish on the Champs-Élysées.
- The route was changed due to wildfires.
- The race was shortened to 89 kilometers.
RTBF and La Repubblica state the change is due to a requisition order and wildfires.
RTBF, la Repubblica
New states the change is due to a police shortage caused by wildfires.
New