Parties, pomp and criteriums for riders following the French Grand Tour
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Chris Froome gives a final thumbs up as looks back toward the Arc de Triomphe following the final stage of the 2015 Tour de France. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Chris Froome, Peter Sagan and Belgian national champion Preben Van Hecke of team Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise hold pints of beer as they celebrate on the podium of the 80th 'Natourcriterium Aalst' in Aalst. The race is a part of the traditional 'criteriums,' local races in which mainly cyclists who rode the Tour de France compete.
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MTN-Qhubeka's Daniel Teklehaimanot signs autographs during 'Daags na de Tour,' in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, on July 27.
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Robert Gesink signs autographs during 'Daags na de Tour,' in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, on July 27.
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MTN-Qhubeka's Daniel Teklehaimanot signs autographs during 'Daags na de Tour,' in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, on July 27.
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(Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Peter Sagan gives his girlfriend Katarina Smolkova a ride on his bike following the last day of the 2015 Tour de France. (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde flank Chris Froome on the final podium. (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Team Sky support cars had special paint for the final stage. (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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The top three on the final posium at the 2015 Tour de France. (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Chris Froome kisses his wife, Michelle, following the last stage of the 2015 Tour de France. (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Nairo Quintana (from left), Chris Froome and Alejandro Valverde (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Jets launch the final day of racing along the Champs Elysees (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The peloton rolls past the Eiffel Tower during the final stage of the 2015 Tour de France (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Peter Sagan and his girlfriend, Katarina Smolkova, leave the 2015 Tour de France behind. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Peter Sagan and his girlfriend, Katarina Smolkova, ride away from the 2015 Tour de France behind. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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MTN-Qhubeka's Edvald Boasson Hagen (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The peoton in action with the Arc de Triomphe behind. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Peter Sagan clowns around on the podium while Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana look on. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Chris Froome and his wife, Michelle, following stage 21 of the 2015 Tour de France. (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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A birds-eye view of the Champs Elysees. (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)
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Thibaut Pinot and his girlfriend leave their hotel for the team's party following the 2015 Tour de France
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Peter Sagan and his girlfriend Katarina Smolkova leave their hotel for the team's party following the 2015 Tour de France
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Romain Bardet and his girlfriend leave their hotel for the team's party following the 2015 Tour de France
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Andre Greipel celebrates with his daughters winning stage 21 of the 2015 Tour de France
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Peter Sagan clowns around with his trophy on the Tour de France's final podium.
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Nicolas Roche and his girlfriend leave their hotel for the team's party following the 2015 Tour de France
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Nairo Quintana on the final podium of the 2015 Tour de France.
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Alejandro Valverde and his children on the final podium of the 2015 Tour de France.
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Team Sky line up duing the final stage of the 2015 Tour de France.
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Team Sky approach the finish line of the 2015 Tour de France's final stage.
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Peter Sagan and his girlfriend Katarina Smolkova leave their hotel for the team's party following the 2015 Tour de France
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Nairo Quintana leaves his hotel for the team's party following the 2015 Tour de France
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Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Chris Froome (Team Sky) take part in the 80th edition of the Natourcriterium Aalst on July 27 in Aalst.
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Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Chris Froome (Team Sky) take part in the 80th edition of the Natourcriterium Aalst on July 27 in Aalst.
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Chris Froome (Team Sky) takes part in the 80th edition of the Natourcriterium Aalst on July 27 in Aalst.
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Wout Poels and Luke Rowe wear the yellow jersey of their team Sky leader, Chris Froome.
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Bernard Hinault looks on during the trophy ceremony following stage 21 of the 2015 Tour de France.
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Cadel Evans of Australia signs autographs for fans following stage 21 of the 2015 Tour de France
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Chris Froome is interviewed for EuroSport by three-time winner of the Tour de France Greg Lemond.
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Oleg Tinkov, owner of Team Tinkoff-Saxo, looks on during the trophy ceremony following stage 21 of the 2015 Tour de France
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Dave Brailsford, manager of Team Sky, looks on during the trophy ceremony following 21 of the 2015 Tour de France
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Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) and his girlfriend Loulou leave their hotel for the team's party.
After three weeks of competing in one of the most unpredictable and exciting Tours in years, the riders and staff from the 2015 Tour de France were definitely ready to unwind from the stress and pressure. There's no shortage of post-race parties to attend, as teams and sponsors show their appreciation for the people who make the race happen both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes.
The days after the Tour de France are also filled with local criteriums, which pay the overall victor and other jersey winners to compete in their events. On Monday, 2015 overall winner Chris Froome and green jersey winner Peter Sagan were in Alast, where Sagan took a criterium win. Others, like MTN-Qhubeka's Daniel Teklehaimanot and LottoNL-Jumbo's Robert Gesink, went to The Netherlands. Check at the photo gallery above for a glimpse of what goes on immediately following cycling's most high-profile event.
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