Prudhomme responds to criticism from Evenepoel, Van Aert and Vingegaard: 'Montmartre only adds to the Tour legend'

“What is good for the Tour is good for the champions of the Tour,” said the Frenchman. “This will only enhance the image of the Tour across the world. It allows cycling to build on its legend. It will bring back the glorious unpredictability of the sport.”

And if it’s up to Prudhomme, he already knows who should win the final stage. He hopes the yellow jersey wearer will take the victory on the Champs-Élysées. “I have a wild dream. The only rider who has ever won a stage while wearing yellow is Bernard Hinault, in 1979 and 1982. This route opens that door again.”

As for the riders’ criticism? He’s not too bothered. “When we included the gravel stage in last year’s Tour, the riders weren’t thrilled either. Same when we brought back the cobblestones. And when the Tourmalet and the Pyrenees were added to the Tour in 1910, there was heavy criticism too. Now they’re part of Tour legend.”

But from the Belgian camp, the riders are getting some support. Former pros Jurgen Van den Broeck and Gert Steegmans view the new route with mixed emotions. “It surprises me that they’re doing this,” said Steegmans, a former stage winner in Paris, speaking to Sporza. “Cycling is still a pretty conservative sport. But I’m always in favor of trying something new. We should give it a chance. Afterwards we can say whether it was brilliant or a flop.”

Van den Broeck agrees, but mainly expects high stress levels in the peloton. “That pressure is the worst part, especially since the final day used to be a chance to ride a bit more relaxed. Not much could happen anymore. You can question whether this really belongs in the race, just like the gravel stages. But cycling has evolved.”

Will it deliver the kind of spectacle seen at the Olympics? “It could still end up looking like a glorified training ride,” said Steegmans. “The riders might just agree among themselves not to take risks and ride up calmly.” But whether that actually happens remains to be seen.

Van den Broeck doesn’t think so. “As a GC rider, you could potentially lose the Tour here, especially if the top three are still close going into the stage. Although I do wonder if they can really drop each other on a fourth-category climb.” One thing is certain: we’re in for a very different finale than what we’ve seen over the past fifty years.