Like anything that’s been around for over a century, the Tour de France has evolved and changed to become what it is today. The inaugural event, with single-speed bikes, 6 stages averaging over 400 kilometres each and no mountain passes, could hardly be more different to the modern-day version. Amongst all this change, however, there has been one consistency – the Paris finale.
That said, even within this constant there has been change. In 1903 – the first ever Tour de France – the finish took place in Ville-d’Avray, a commune in the western suburbs of the capital. From 1904 to 1967, the race concluded in the east of Paris at the Parc de Princes. The final stage then moved to the Vélodrome de Vincennes back on the western side of the city until 1974. And finally, like a pendulum coming to rest at its equilibrium position, the finish settled on la plus belle avenue du monde, the Champs-Élysées.
In most cases, the race for the yellow jersey is settled by the time the peloton streams past the Louvre and turns into the Rue de Rivoli to complete the Tour with between 6 and 8 (and occasionally 10) laps of the Champs-Élysées. GC riders tend to drink champagne and pose for photos.
Of course, the yellow jersey has changed shoulders once on the famous avenue. In 1989, the race concluded with a time trial (the first and only on the Champs-Élysées). Laurent Fignon went into the 24.5km stage with a 50-second lead over American Greg LeMond. Most thought this would be enough; some French newspapers had even prepared their front page celebrating a French victory.
It wasn’t enough. Fignon, his ponytail flapping in the wind and sans aero helmet or triathlon bars, completed the test 58-seconds slower than LeMond, giving the American the overall by just 8 seconds – the closest finish in the race’s history. LeMond’s average speed of 54.55 km/h was at the time the fastest individual time over a distance greater than 10 kilometres.
In most cases though, the final stage marks the Tour’s – and even the year’s – most important day for the sprinters. Without exception there are those who try to spoil it for the fast men with a breakaway (and get their team sponsors some special exposure), but these attempts are almost always futile. In fact, Vinokourov’s 2005 win is the only example of a breakaway success since 1987. In the last 7 years, with more organised sprint teams, the winners have been Cavendish, Cavendish, Cavendish, Cavendish, Kittel, Kittel, Greipel.
At 113 km, the final stage of the 2016 Tour de France is the shortest besides the time trials. As has been the case since the 100th edition in 2013, the stage takes place later than the others and finishes close to twilight. This is largely to net a larger global TV audience but also makes for a special atmosphere. For the first time since 1984, the peloton will approach Paris from the north, starting the 21st stage in Chantilly (think whipped cream), about 40km from the capital.
It wasn’t enough. Fignon, his ponytail flapping in the wind and sans aero helmet or triathlon bars, completed the test 58-seconds slower than LeMond, giving the American the overall by just 8 seconds – the closest finish in the race’s history. LeMond’s average speed of 54.55 km/h was at the time the fastest individual time over a distance greater than 10 kilometres.
In most cases though, the final stage marks the Tour’s – and even the year’s – most important day for the sprinters. Without exception there are those who try to spoil it for the fast men with a breakaway (and get their team sponsors some special exposure), but these attempts are almost always futile. In fact, Vinokourov’s 2005 win is the only example of a breakaway success since 1987. In the last 7 years, with more organised sprint teams, the winners have been Cavendish, Cavendish, Cavendish, Cavendish, Kittel, Kittel, Greipel.
At 113 km, the final stage of the 2016 Tour de France is the shortest besides the time trials. As has been the case since the 100th edition in 2013, the stage takes place later than the others and finishes close to twilight. This is largely to net a larger global TV audience but also makes for a special atmosphere. For the first time since 1984, the peloton will approach Paris from the north, starting the 21st stage in Chantilly (think whipped cream), about 40km from the capital.
