The southern French city had initially been reported as the likely host for the conclusion of the 111^th edition of the Tour de France, moving away from the Champs-Élysée which has held it since 1975.

The general classification leader is usually unchallenged on the final day of the Tour de France, with a time trial not held on the Champs-Élysée since 1989.

However, organisers believe that the race "could remain undecided until the last few kilometres" with the return of a time-trial final stage.

In 1989, the United States' Greg LeMond clawed back a 50-second deficit to win the Tour de France at the expense of French rider Laurent Fignon.

Stage 21 of the 2024 Tour de France is scheduled for July 21, five days prior to the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

Nice has previously hosted the Grand Départ in 1981 and 2020.

Tour de France general director Christian Prudhomme told L'Équipe that hosting the final stage in Paris in 2023 was "completely possible", and that the Côte d'Azur would provide "an exceptional setting from an aesthetic point of view, the place best known by foreigners in France after Paris".

He added that the distance of the time trial in Nice had yet to be decided, and that there had been interest from "another very large city", but "we didn't go any further".

Other major sporting events usually held in Paris have been moved in 2024 to avoid a clash with the Olympics scheduled for July 26 to August 11 and Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.

Marseille's Stade Vélodrome is due to host the Top 14 final in rugby union for the 2023-2024 season, with the Stade de France unavailable as it is being used for Paris 2024.