Hi everyone, I suddenly realized that Wikimania Paris this year ends at the last weekend of July, and that weekend traditionally also is the finish of the Tour De France <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Tour_de_France> in Paris. The Tour the France is one of three yearly multi-day road cycling tours in Europe, and the final day attracts thousands of cycle enthusiasts to the capital city. The final stage on 26 July will include a (most probably) *mass sprint on the Champs-Élysées in the afternoon*, but during the day they will also ride along the Butte Montmartre, in the proximity of the Sacré-Cœu, the Louvre, and the Place de la Concorde, among other city sites.
Because of the big crowd the event attracts, and the hundreds of people involved in the organisation, I wanted to make you aware that you might want to expect safety measures in the city centre, and also plan your travel accordingly. This is a translation of what a Dutch cycling blog <https://www.sortiraparis.com/nl/hobbys/sport-en-welzijn/articles/54458-aankomst-van-de-tour-de-france-op-de-champs-elysees-in-parijs> tells me about what to expect in Paris at Sunday 26 July: *== Traffic Restrictions and Practical Tips ==* As is the case every year, extensive security measures will be put in place. Traffic restrictions will be implemented gradually starting Saturday evening. On Sunday, July 26, roads will be closed on the *Champs-Élysées* on the *Étoile side* starting at 6 a.m., and near the Concorde and Madeleine starting at 9 a.m. Starting at 1 p.m., the *Montmartre* and *Grand Boulevards* neighborhoods will no longer be accessible to motor vehicles. *Parking* will be prohibited along the entire route starting at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening. Vehicles that remain parked will be systematically towed. Please note: these restrictions also apply to bicycles. As for public transportation, several *metro stations will be closed*: Tuileries, Concorde, Clémenceau, Franklin Roosevelt, George V, Charles de Gaulle-Étoile, and Madeleine will remain closed all day. Starting at 1:00 p.m., the Villiers, Rome, Place de Clichy, and Blanche stations, as well as the Montmartre funicular, will be closed to the public. *To enter the SILT zone* (security zone), you must pass through checkpoints and undergo a security search. Pedestrians can move freely in most areas, except for three streets in Montmartre that will be closed during the race: Rue Norvins, Rue Puget, and Rue Coustou. Traffic restrictions will not be lifted until after 8:30 p.m. *<end of deepl translated quote>* Personally, I think this is a great event to attend and enjoy, and the Tour de France in general is three weeks of crazy all through the country - can you imagine cycling 3,333 km (2,071 mi) in three weeks time, with only 2 days of rest inbetween?! But I also realized that when you want (need!) to travel home after Wikimania, it might be nice to have a heads up about the event, so here you are. 🙂 (Of course, I might have missed prior communication, or jumped ahead on preparations by the COT - happy to have anyone add important information that I may have missed.) Best, Ciell ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *If you're born a lion, don't bother trying to act tame *
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