Tour de France 2025: Pogacar Claims Yellow, Van Aert Wins Emotional Final Stage in Paris
The 2025 Tour de France came to a thrilling conclusion on Sunday, as Wout van Aert (Visma Lease a Bike) delivered a solo victory in the 21st and final stage, held in Paris under pouring rain. Meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) secured his fourth career Yellow Jersey, confirming his dominance in modern cycling.
Unlike traditional processional finales, this year’s last stage, from Mantes-la-Ville to the Champs-Élysées, was full of aggression, tactics and raw emotion.
Montmartre Madness: Final Stage With a Twist
This year’s final route featured a historic twist: three climbs up the iconic Butte Montmartre, a nod to Paris’s role as host of the 2024 Olympic Games. With slick cobblestones and sharp climbs, the race became a true showdown rather than a ceremonial ride.
A breakaway formed early, including Wout van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson, Matteo Trentin, Davide Ballerini, and Tadej Pogacar himself. But it was Van Aert who made the decisive move, attacking with just 6 km to go, dropping Pogacar and riding solo to the line.
The Belgian star crossed the finish in 3h07’30”, overwhelmed with emotion. «It means everything,» he said, after beating Ballerini and Mohoric, who finished second and third respectively.
General Classification Frozen Amid Rain
Due to treacherous conditions, race officials froze the general classification during the fourth pass on the Champs-Élysées—50.3 km from the finish—ensuring the safety of riders and preserving the established standings.
Pogacar, who had already dominated mountain stages, finished comfortably in the group behind the solo winner, securing the Maillot Jaune once again. His final time: 76h00’32”.
Final General Classification – Tour de France 2025:
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) – 76h00’32”
- Jonas Vingegaard (Visma Lease a Bike) – +4’24”
- Florian Lipowitz (RedBull – BORA-hansgrohe) – +11’00”
- Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) – +12’12”
- Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) – +17’12”
Street Parade and Social Buzz
While the front group raced for glory, much of the peloton took a different approach. Riders like Jonathan Milan, who clinched the Green Jersey, and Primoz Roglic, possibly riding his final Tour, eased off after the GC was frozen and took time to enjoy the atmosphere.
Crowds lining Rue Lepic and the Montmartre slopes cheered as riders interacted with fans, posed for photos, and soaked in the moment. Sprinter Arnaud Démare even encouraged spectators to cheer louder as he passed, while Roglic received standing ovations on his solo cruise through the Parisian streets.
«It was extraordinary,» said Milan at the finish. «After a brutal three weeks, this was the perfect ending.»
Stage 21 – Top 5 Results:
- Wout van Aert (Visma Lease a Bike) – 3h07’30’’
- Davide Ballerini (XDS Astana) – +19’’
- Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) – +19’’
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) – +19’’
- Matteo Jorgenson (Visma Lease a Bike) – +26’’
A Tour to Remember
The 2025 Tour de France delivered everything: historic climbs, wet cobblestones, bold attacks, and emotional moments. Tadej Pogacar’s fourth overall victory cements his place among the legends of the sport, while Wout van Aert’s stunning final-stage win will be remembered as one of the great closing acts in Tour history.
From the Alps to Montmartre, and under the shadows of Paris’s monuments, this year’s race wasn’t just about who was fastest, it was about who dared most.
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