Kittel wins on the Champs-Elysees
Froome enjoys his first Tour de France victory
Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) sprinted to victory in the final stage of this year's Tour de France, ending Mark Cavendish's four-year winning streak on the Champs-Élysées. Kittel lead from the front inside the final 200 meters, with Andre Greipel and Cavendish unable to close the gap.
Under the Parisian dusk, and with the Arc de Triomphe providing a spectacular backdrop, Kittel was delivered to the line perfectly, his Argos-Shimano team forging their path to the front of the peloton with immaculate timing.
With Greipel and Cavendish struggling to draw level in the closing meters Kittel was able to claim his fourth stage of this year's race, marking a complete turnaround from last year when he abandoned his debut Tour through illness and injury.
"The best thing a sprinter can do is win on the Champs-Élysées. The sprint was tough but it went perfectly. My legs felt good and so I'm really happy," he said after being first on the final Tour de France podium.
"It's difficult to say after such a great Tour de France. I've won four stages. I'm proud of myself and my team. We had some hard days in the mountains but we give it everything together that what's made the difference."
Team Sky's Chris Froome finished the final stage safely, rolling across the finish line with his six teammates 53 seconds after Kittel, and winning his first Tour de France, while Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) rounded out the final podium of the 100th Tour de France. For the second year in a row Sky toasted their Tour de France champion as race organisers ASO pulled out all the stops to celebrate the Tour's 100 edition.
Froome savoured every moment on the podium as the winner of the Tour de France.
"It's absolutely incredible! I could actually feel myself welling up with tears it was really quite an emotional feeling riding across the line with my teammates who have just killed themselves to keep the yellow jersey on my back for these past two weeks," he said.
"It has been an absolutely incredible journey. It's been a tough journey – a bloody tough journey – but to be here, standing on the top step of the podium on the Champs-Elysées is all worth it, 100 percent worth it."
Froome read a message on the podium.
"I'd like to thank my teammates who buried themselves day-in, day-out to keep this yellow jersey on my shoulders and the Team Sky management for believing in me and building this team around me. Thank you to all the people who have taken the time to teach me over the years. Finally, I'd like to thank my close friends and family for being there for me every step of the way," he said.
"This is a beautiful country and it hosts the biggest annual sporting event on the planet. To win the 100th edition is an honour. This is one yellow jersey that will stand the test of time."
Historic evening finale to 100th Tour de France edition
The stage from Versailles set off in the early evening, with the peloton reaching Paris just as dusk began to fall. By then the customary roll call of photos had been ceremoniously concluded, the champagne flute discarded and Peter Sagan green wig to celebrate his second straight green jersey, discarded.
As the race wound through the streets of Paris and around the Arc de Triomphe for the first time there was even time for Miguel Indurain, Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault to enjoy an open top parade.
Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) was watching from the sidelines, however, having pulled out with 38 kilometres remaining due to illness, a reminder of how cruel luck can be in cycling.
Cavendish, looking for an unprecedented fifth straight stage in win Paris, had to chase back after an early puncture. It was left to another British rider to open the attacking proceedings with David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) the first rider to escape the clutches of the Sky-led field. Millar, who has struggled at times in this year's race, was joined by fellow veteran Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil-DCM).
The pair kicked out an advantage that stretched to 25 seconds but with 23 kilometres remaining the Spaniard was forced to yield, allowing Millar to soak up the atmosphere as he raced around Norwegian corner, bouncing his way through the gutters that line the edges of the Champs-Élysées and across the line.
As the sky dimmed and the lights from the race motorbikes flickered into life Millar's energies began to fade.
Jeremy Roy was the next rider to launch a move but he was unable to match Millar's attempt and was quickly passed by the trio of Manuel Quinziato (BMC), Bram Tankink (Belkin) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). Although a more dangerous proposition than Roy, they, too were reeled in, the sprinters not to be denied after a week in the Alps and the Champs-Élysées finishing line in sight.
Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) summoned his teammates into action, Cavendish neatly tucked into the final slot as the peloton flew into the final three kilometres. Lotto Belisol and Cannondale muscled their way to the front as Argos-Shimano drifted in, their lead-out now arguably the best in the world.
Kittel still needed to finish the job off and despite Cavendish and Greipel breathing down his neck, the 25-year-old German was able to hold his line and his strength.
As night fell the attention turned to Froome, the British rider completing a staggering journey that has culminated in a dominant win in this year's race. He dedicated the win to his late mother, and flanked by Quintana and Rodriguez, becomes the second British winner of the world's biggest race.
Quintana, second overall, pulled on the white jersey, with Sagan ruling green and Alberto Contador's Saxo-Tinkoff winning the team classification.
Full Results
1 | Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano | 3:06:14 |
2 | André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Yohann Gene (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Daniele Bennati (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) FDJ.fr | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Belisol | 0:00:04 |
15 | Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Boy van Poppel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Egoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Julien El Fares (Fra) Sojasun | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Belisol | 0:00:10 |
26 | Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin-Sharp | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack Leopard | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Sojasun | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Andy Schleck (Lux) RadioShack Leopard | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Pavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack Leopard | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) Sojasun | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack Leopard | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Romain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel-Euskadi | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
87 | Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) RadioShack Leopard | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack Leopard | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
90 | Jan Bakelants (Bel) RadioShack Leopard | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Alexandre Geniez (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Lampre-Merida | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Sojasun | 0:00:26 |
96 | Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp | 0:00:28 |
97 | Elia Favilli (Ita) Lampre-Merida | 0:00:29 |
98 | Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 0:00:34 |
99 | Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
100 | Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
101 | Julien Simon (Fra) Sojasun | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
102 | Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
103 | Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
104 | Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
105 | Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
106 | Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Sharp | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
107 | Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack Leopard | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
108 | Brian Vandborg (Den) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
109 | Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Merida | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
111 | Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
112 | Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
113 | Jerome Coppel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
114 | John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
115 | Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Merida | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
116 | Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
117 | Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
118 | Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
119 | Laurent Didier (Lux) RadioShack Leopard | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
120 | Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-Merida | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
121 | Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar | 0:00:41 |
122 | Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
123 | Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
124 | Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team | 0:00:43 |
125 | Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling | 0:00:53 |
126 | Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky Procycling | Row 125 - Cell 2 |
127 | David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Sky Procycling | Row 126 - Cell 2 |
128 | Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling | Row 127 - Cell 2 |
129 | Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling | Row 128 - Cell 2 |
130 | Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Procycling | Row 129 - Cell 2 |
131 | Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Sky Procycling | Row 130 - Cell 2 |
132 | Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 0:00:56 |
133 | Wouter Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 132 - Cell 2 |
134 | Bram Tankink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | Row 133 - Cell 2 |
135 | David Veilleux (Can) Team Europcar | 0:00:58 |
136 | Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | Row 135 - Cell 2 |
137 | Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 136 - Cell 2 |
138 | Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 137 - Cell 2 |
139 | Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 138 - Cell 2 |
140 | Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol | Row 139 - Cell 2 |
141 | Thomas Leezer (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 0:01:05 |
142 | Albert Timmer (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano | 0:01:14 |
143 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Spa) Movistar Team | 0:01:15 |
144 | Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:01:18 |
145 | Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 144 - Cell 2 |
146 | Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 145 - Cell 2 |
147 | Maxime Mederel (Fra) Sojasun | Row 146 - Cell 2 |
148 | Brice Feillu (Fra) Sojasun | Row 147 - Cell 2 |
149 | Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team | Row 148 - Cell 2 |
150 | Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Katusha | 0:01:34 |
151 | Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 0:01:36 |
152 | Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 151 - Cell 2 |
153 | Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 0:01:51 |
154 | Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 0:02:01 |
155 | Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.fr | 0:02:21 |
156 | Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ.fr | Row 155 - Cell 2 |
157 | Maarten Wynants (Bel) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | Row 156 - Cell 2 |
158 | Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 157 - Cell 2 |
159 | Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano | 0:02:30 |
160 | Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano | Row 159 - Cell 2 |
161 | Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol | 0:02:52 |
162 | David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Sharp | 0:03:13 |
163 | Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Sojasun | 0:04:09 |
164 | Jean-Marc Marino (Fra) Sojasun | Row 163 - Cell 2 |
165 | Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 164 - Cell 2 |
166 | Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | Row 165 - Cell 2 |
167 | Svein Tuft (Can) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 166 - Cell 2 |
168 | Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 167 - Cell 2 |
169 | Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team | 0:04:24 |
DNF | Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 169 - Cell 2 |
1 | Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano | 45 | pts |
2 | André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol | 35 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 30 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 26 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida | 22 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha | 20 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar | 18 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Yohann Gene (Fra) Team Europcar | 16 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Daniele Bennati (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 14 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) FDJ.fr | 12 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge | 10 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 8 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | 6 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Belisol | 4 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | 2 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
1 | Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 20 | pts |
2 | David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Sharp | 17 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Julien El Fares (Fra) Sojasun | 15 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 13 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 11 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team Europcar | 10 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 9 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team | 8 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling | 7 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Procycling | 6 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 5 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 4 |