Stage 21 - July 27, 2014: Évry - Paris Champs-Élysées, 137.5km
Stage preview
Stage details
Distance: 137.5km
Category: Flat
Highest point: 172m
For the second year in a row, the Tour de France's final stage has been put back to the evening and will culminate in an atmospheric sprint on the Champs Élysées around 7.15pm. Also like last year, the peloton will ride past the Louvre before starting the first of nine laps of the finishing circuit and pass around the Arc de Triomph rather than turning just short. After the 80km exhibition ride from the satellite town of Évry – a chance for the jersey wearers to sup champagne for the cameras – the pace will gradually ratchet up as the sprinters' teams prepare to light the fireworks. If the green jersey competition's tight – but don't expect it to be expected if Sagan's there – the intermediate sprint on the second lap could also be contended.
Nor will any running green jersey battles prevent the ever hopeful but inevitably doomed breakaways seeking one last hit of publicity by riding in the gutter of the Champs-Élysées. The city's cobbles and long drag up to the Arc de Triomph make the circuit a lot harder than it looks. Riders with three weeks' worth of riding in their legs will be able to taste the finish.
Traditional lore has it that the sprinter who's shepherded around the last right hand corner in the Place de la Concorde in the second wheel will win the day. Marcel Kittel pulled it off last year but he was run very close by André Greipel and Mark Cavendish – the latter who has won the stage four times in his career.
Koen de Kort says... "The big finale, the world championships of sprinting, the one every sprinter wants to win. Cavendish has won here many times already but I'm going to say that I expect Marcel to take this one. He'sgot one of the fastest sprints around."
Local history
Walter Godefroot was the first rider to win on the Champs Élysées in 1975 after the finish line was moved from the Vélodrome de Vincennes. The so called Bulldog of Flanders became a manager and, in 2005 directing T-Mobile, his rider Alexander Vinokourov caused a historic upset by keeping the sprinters at bay to win the stage after a late attack. Just don't question what means he used to achieve it.
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Most Popular
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Decluttering mass starts, rewarding podium riders top changes to 2024 Life Time Grand Prix
Life Time marketing director talks about creating 'fandom' for cycling with more real-time race content, but live streaming on hold -
Flèche Wallonne winner Kasia Niewiadoma: 'I hope people will be inspired'
Polish rider takes her first Classics win in five years on Mur de Huy -
Mattias Skjelmose hit by hypothermia as only 44 men finish wet and cold La Flèche Wallonne
Lidl-Trek rider recovers quickly as Uno-X impress in terrible conditions, while Gaia Realini suffers in women's race -
As it happened: Kasia Niewiadoma breaks streak to take first victory since 2019 at La Flèche Wallonne Fèminine
Canyon//SRAM rider got the better of Demi Vollering and Elisa Longo Borghini on the Mur de Huy