Van Aert 'not quite fan' of new Tour finale, Philipsen also bemoans: "But doesn't mean a sprinter can't win anymore"

“I’m not the biggest fan,” Wout van Aert said cautiously at the start of stage 11 of the Giro, speaking to Sporza. “I think it’s going to be a risky stage.” The final of the Tour includes three laps over Montmartre, the punchy climb also featured in the Olympic road race course. The finish line remains on the Champs-Élysées, but the lead-in is far from traditional.

Van Aert had mixed feelings after the route reveal. “The course definitely suits me, especially with that final climb coming just six kilometers from the line. That opens up opportunities for classics riders like myself. But people forget that during the Olympics we arrived there with a group of about fifty. This time it’ll be the full Tour peloton, with GC riders still defending their position.”

Having raced the Olympic test event in Paris, Van Aert knows the roads well. “If they use the same narrow streets leading into the climb, I expect chaos,” he warned. “That’s why I find it disappointing that we’re deliberately heading into that kind of situation.”

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Van Aert famously took the win on the Champs-Élysées in 2021, with Jasper Philipsen following suit a year later. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider also has his doubts about the revamped Tour finale. “One major factor in this last stage is the general classification and the time gaps between GC riders,” Philipsen told Dernières Heures. “No one wants to lose a single second, and for some, it’s the final chance to fight their way into the top ten and gain valuable time.”

While the traditional Paris sprint finish is still in place, the triple ascent of Montmartre changes the dynamics. Philipsen agrees: “It’s become a much tougher stage for sprinters, simply because there are more riders now who can win. But that doesn’t mean a sprinter can’t still do it. As a sprinter, I’m obviously a bit disappointed. It had become a great tradition.”

For Philipsen, the change wasn’t necessary. “Personally, I don’t see a clear reason to alter it, but I trust ASO had valid and well-thought-out motives. That said, I won’t be too negative. It all depends on how you feel after three tough weeks. In the end, it’s your legs that decide whether you still have a shot.”

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Despite his criticism, Van Aert does understand why Tour de France organizer ASO made the change. “I get that the organizers thought, ‘This looks cool, we should try to use it.’” During the Olympic road race, thousands of fans lined the streets, especially near the Sacré-Coeur.

Still, the Visma | Lease a Bike leader sees the other side too. “In recent years, rider safety has become more and more of a talking point, and with this choice for Montmartre, that concern is being overlooked.”

Earlier, Remco Evenepoel expressed his criticism of the Tour de France's choice.