A wind of change swept across the 1975 Tour de France. When the organizers introduced several innovations, they had no idea how lasting they would be. But time has proven them right. Three of those changes are now celebrating their 50th anniversary: the polka-dot jersey for the best climber, the white jersey for the best young rider, and the iconic finish of the final stage on the Champs-Élysées. These bold moves were part of an exceptional edition, which saw Bernard Thévenet become the first rider to defeat Eddy Merckx in the Tour. The official Tour website looks back at five decades of this history, in a four-part series.
Avenue of Champs (III/IV)
When it comes to blending the aesthetic beauty of a setting with the excitement of sporting drama, the Tour de France works wonders. And in this realm, the finish on the Champs-Élysées is the ultimate arena, especially for sprinters chasing glory. On this 600-meter stretch of cobblestones, with a slight uphill grade, they unleash every last ounce of energy, all hoping to etch their name into legend on this iconic avenue, which serves each year as the unofficial world championship for speedsters. The tradition is all the richer because it's occasionally defied by bold attackers -like Bernard Hinault (1979–82) or Eddy Seigneur (1994). This year’s route tweak, sending riders three times up Montmartre Hill, could open the door for new daredevils to make history.
