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Tour de France 2008

Date range:
July 5-27, 2008
  • Tour de France, France, GT
  • Stages. Expand the race menu

    • Stage 1

      Distance:
      197.5km
      Start location:
      Brest
      End location:
      Plumelec

    • Stage 2

      Distance:
      164.5km
      Start location:
      Auray
      End location:
      Saint Brieuc

    • Stage 3

      Distance:
      208km
      Start location:
      Saint-Malo
      End location:
      Nantes

    • Stage 4

      Distance:
      29.5km
      Start location:
      Cholet
      End location:
      Cholet (ITT)

    • Stage 5

      Distance:
      232km
      Start location:
      Cholet
      End location:
      Châteauroux

    • Stage 6

      Distance:
      195.5km
      Start location:
      Aigurande
      End location:
      Super Besse

    • Stage 7

      Distance:
      159km
      Start location:
      Brioude
      End location:
      Aurillac

    • Stage 8

      Distance:
      172.5km
      Start location:
      Figeac
      End location:
      Toulouse

    • Stage 9

      Distance:
      224km
      Start location:
      Toulouse
      End location:
      Bagnères de Bigorre

    • Stage 10

      Distance:
      156km
      Start location:
      Pau
      End location:
      Hautacam

    • Stage 11

      Distance:
      167.5km
      Start location:
      Lannemezan
      End location:
      Foix

    • Stage 12

      Distance:
      168.5km
      Start location:
      Lavelanet
      End location:
      Narbonne

    • Stage 13

      Distance:
      182km
      Start location:
      Narbonne
      End location:
      Nîmes

    • Stage 14

      Distance:
      194.5km
      Start location:
      Nîmes
      End location:
      Digne les Bains

    • Stage 15

      Distance:
      183km
      Start location:
      Embrun
      End location:
      Prato Nevoso

    • Stage 16

      Distance:
      157km
      Start location:
      Cuneo
      End location:
      Jausiers

    • Stage 17

      Distance:
      210.5km
      Start location:
      Embrun
      End location:
      L'Alpe d'Huez

    • Stage 18

      Distance:
      196.5km
      Start location:
      Bourg d'Oisans
      End location:
      Saint Étienne

    • Stage 19

      Distance:
      165.5km
      Start location:
      Roanne
      End location:
      Montluçon

    • Stage 20

      Distance:
      53km
      Start location:
      Cérilly
      End location:
      Saint Amand Montrond (ITT)

    • Stage 21

      Distance:
      143km
      Start location:
      Étampes
      End location:
      Paris/Champs Élysées
  • Race history

July 27, Stage 21: Étampes - Paris/Champs Élysées 143km

Stage 21 - Sunday, July 27: Étampes - Paris/Champs Élysées, 143km

By:
Cycling News
Published:
June 24, 2008, 00:00,
Updated:
April 22, 2009, 12:15

Finally, the last stage is here and the Tour has reached Paris. For many in the peloton this is a...

Finally, the last stage is here and the Tour has reached Paris. For many in the peloton this is a victory in itself, but many others have designs on a stage win on the most famous boulevard in the world. It's very likely that a breakaway will try to get away and win the day – everybody wants to be the first man on the Champs Élysées – but it's almost inevitable that they will be reeled in by the sprinters teams and one of the fast men will triumph.

The Champs Élysées is a much more complicated sprint than many other places though. Aside from the cobbles, the course crosses the Place de la Concorde with less than half a kilometre to go and the resulting chicane serves to disrupt a sprinter's train. The winner is usually one of the best sprinters, but rarely the one whose team has led him out.

Étampes is yet another first time stage town, but Paris of course has hosted all 95 of them. Before the course reaches the capital though, there are two fourth category climbs to negotiate – unusual for the final day – which could decide a close polka dot jersey classification.


Images ©:ASO/Cyclingnews

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