diff --git a/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py b/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index f202c2282..f2c936f68
--- a/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py
+++ b/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/bin/env python3
+
 import itertools
 import os
 import re
diff --git a/cookiecutter/ci/{{ cookiecutter.__project_slug }}/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py b/cookiecutter/ci/{{ cookiecutter.__project_slug }}/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py
index 3565db456..f2c936f68 100755
--- a/cookiecutter/ci/{{ cookiecutter.__project_slug }}/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py	
+++ b/cookiecutter/ci/{{ cookiecutter.__project_slug }}/.ci/scripts/collect_changes.py	
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/bin/env python3
+
 import itertools
 import os
 import re
@@ -21,8 +23,12 @@
 TITLE_FORMAT = tc_settings.get("title_format", "{name} {version} ({project_date})")
 
 
+# Build a regex to find the header of a changelog section.
+# It must have a single capture group to single out the version.
+# see help(re.split) for more info.
 NAME_REGEX = r".*"
-VERSION_REGEX = r"([0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9][0-9ab]*)"
+VERSION_REGEX = r"[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9][0-9ab]*"
+VERSION_CAPTURE_REGEX = rf"({VERSION_REGEX})"
 DATE_REGEX = r"[0-9]{4}-[0-9]{2}-[0-9]{2}"
 TITLE_REGEX = (
     "("
@@ -30,6 +36,7 @@
         TITLE_FORMAT.format(name="NAME_REGEX", version="VERSION_REGEX", project_date="DATE_REGEX")
     )
     .replace("NAME_REGEX", NAME_REGEX)
+    .replace("VERSION_REGEX", VERSION_CAPTURE_REGEX, 1)
     .replace("VERSION_REGEX", VERSION_REGEX)
     .replace("DATE_REGEX", DATE_REGEX)
     + ")"