Will the Tour de France finish in the United States instead of Paris in the coming years?

In an interview with the New York Times, Gouvenou stated that a finish on the U.S. East Coast seems more realistic to him than a Grand Départ. "Personally, I prefer that idea. The time difference is significant, and it's better for the riders to travel to the U.S. at the end, rather than starting there and having to come back to Europe."

This season, the A.S.O. already added a special twist to the race finale by including Montmartre in the final stage. "In our dreams - or those of our boss, Prudhomme - we felt the need to shake up the last stage. There was a sort of comfort zone around finishing in Paris, always doing laps around the Champs-Élysées," Gouvenou said.

Then came the Olympic Games, where we were blown away by the battle on Montmartre. For us, that was a turning point,” said Gouvenou. “The road is narrow and there are cobblestones, but if we can do that in Flanders, it’s not an issue here either. The main challenge was finding a descent that’s safer than the one used during the Olympics. We don’t know yet if it’s going to become a keeper, but who knows, maybe we’ll return from time to time.”

Gouvenou also unveiled some details of the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ, which will take place in the United Kingdom, starting in Edinburgh, Scotland. Next year, the race begins with a team time trial in Barcelona, but the Frenchman hinted that the 2027 start will also offer something for the GC contenders. “Every time we organize a Grand Départ, we want to open with a beautiful stage.”

“We like to give the GC riders an early test, and that’s a principle we’ll continue to follow,” he explained. “So in the UK, we’ll include a climb in the route that will force the top contenders to show their cards early. It’s going to be an incredible and very popular stage,” said Gouvenou, who declined to reveal which climb it will be.