Today, we want to tell you about a tradition of the most prestigious cycling races in the world: the Tour de France. Enthusiasts know it well: during the final stage of the Tour, the winner of the general classification, the rider wearing the yellow jersey, raises a toast while still in the saddle, surrounded by his teammates.

A surprising gesture, because it doesn't take place at the end of the stage, as one might expect, but during the race, in its early moments. Essentially, the leader of the general classification celebrates before crossing the final finish line. Curious, isn’t it?

Below, we’ll explore why cyclists at the Tour de France toast while riding during the final stage and how this unique ritual began.

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Why does the winner of the Tour de France toast during the final stage?

Obviously, the toast is a way to celebrate. But the real question is: why not wait until the end of the stage to celebrate the victory, perhaps behind the scenes or directly on the podium? Why choose to toast during the race itself, still on the bike?

To understand the origin of this tradition, we need to take a small step back into the history of the Tour de France.

1975 was a revolutionary year for the event: for the first time, the final stage finished on the iconic Champs‑Élysées. It was a major change that gave the race a unique and spectacular setting in the heart of the French capital.

The idea was proposed in 1974 by well-known television journalist Yves Mourousi, who recognized the media potential of such a grand finale. Mourousi even contacted the President of the Republic at the time, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, to present the idea. The proposal was well received by the Tour organizers, who quickly moved to make it a reality. In fact, the very next year, in 1975, the final stage finished for the first time in the heart of Paris.

From that moment on, the final stage of the Tour de France became a grand celebration, not only for the winning cyclist and his team, but also for Paris and all of France. It turned into a true showcase designed to highlight the beauty of the French capital in front of millions of viewers around the world.

And the toast? As the event took on an increasingly spectacular tone, the toast naturally became the perfect symbolic ritual to seal the celebration. But why during the stage itself?

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The final stage of the Tour de France and the tradition of toasting on the bike

We’ve seen how the final stage of the Tour de France became a true celebration with the introduction of the Paris finish line. From that moment on, the last stage took on very specific characteristics. In most cases, it’s a flat stage that ends in a sprint finish or with an attack in the final kilometers..

Over the years, an unwritten rule has been established during this stage, respected by all riders:

• in the final stage, no one attacks the leader of the general classification, unless the gap between first and second place is extremely small, which happens very rarely.

In fact, before the last stage, the time difference between the first and second in the general classification is usually several minutes, making it practically impossible to overturn the situation on a flat or mostly flat stage.

Thus, the first part of the stage turned into a true victory parade for the winner and his team, while in the second half the competition heated up, leaving room for sprinters and their teams to take action. In short, because of the stage’s layout, the early part of the race became the perfect symbolic moment to celebrate the winner… even with a toast.

According to some sources, already in the years immediately following 1975, some riders began to propose the toast during the early part of the final stage, although there are no definite records about this. What is certain is that this ritual became established between the 1990s and early 2000s, turning into a tradition of the Tour de France.

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How does the toasting ritual take place during the final stage of the Tour de France?

The toasting ritual during the final stage of the Tour de France involves:

• the yellow jersey, that is, the leader of the general classification, takes position at the front of the group, flanked by his teammates. Together, they form a compact line with the winner in the center;

• the team’s support car approaches to hand out the glasses, strictly plastic ones, clearly for safety reasons, an exception even tolerated by the Wine Etiquette. Inside, of course, sparkling wine ready to celebrate the victory;

• the toast begins, a moment of celebration before the race officially resumes. Cameras and video crews don’t miss the opportunity: the moment is captured, taking on strong symbolic value. It’s not uncommon for other riders on the podium or the winners of other specialty classifications to join the toast, sealing a gesture of shared respect and sportsmanship;

• the other riders follow behind at a steady pace, to ensure the toast takes place safely.

Often, the toast takes place in the very first kilometers of the stage, during the phase between the neutralized start and the official start. In this section, the group moves at a controlled speed, led by the race organization’s lead car: it is not yet possible to attack or gain advantages and the relaxed pace also serves to greet the crowd and safely pass through urban areas.

In short, the bicycle toast has become an integral part of the spectacle of the final stage of the Tour de France.

Now you know its origins and how it has established itself over time. We hope we have shared something curious and interesting with you.