A little road stage, the shortest of the Tour (120 km). But it will no doubt be an apotheosis, with the traditional finish on the Champs-Élysées. Always the same, always magnificent since 1975. We already know more or less what will happen: a festive start in Rambouillet, two short hours before things really get going, and then a sudden, spectacular acceleration to mark the peloton’s arrival in the Parisian circuit. All of this before 1.5 billion TV viewers, nothing to sneeze at! For the rest, I do not think any brave riders will be able to slip under the radar of the sprinters’ teams. On paper, Mark Cavendish can dream of a fourth straight win.
Wiggins in yellow leads out Cavendish in world champs stripes. Paris is invaded by British people. I get something in my eye and need to be excused. British cycling is never the same again.
I was watching the stage when Wiggins got the yellow jersey in the tent at 24/12. Every cheered. I couldn’t. Suddenly got very dusty despite all the rain.
Wiggins leading Cav out for the sprint today would be a fairytale ending. Not sure he will though. Probably better to stay safe at the back. It’s all a bit weird though. Every time you turn on the news, pick up a newspaper, cycling is all over it. Even as I type radio 5 is talking in detail about a cyclist’s nutrition. Bizarre. Wonder if all this attention will translate into more respect for cyclists on UK roads?
Can someone explain the route through Paris? Looks like they come through the circuit, then then go off somewhere else for a lap before doing the circuit another 5 times, or is the elevation diagram not drawn well, basically i can’t see the hill where the 2nd lap should be?
Perhaps in an alternate universe. White van man will just shout ‘**** off wiggo’ rather than just ‘**** off’.
There’s usually a few weeks of niceties as the MAMILS fill up the roads and drivers expect to see cyclists, then normal service will be resumed. Might last a bit longer this year as there’s the Olympics.
Pootle to Paris drinking champagne, chatting and probably passing a video camera round each other.
8 laps of the champs d’elleyse [ like i will have got that right] 54 km iirc where they will probably race and end up with a sprint finish with the manx missile pwning everyone
Pootle to Paris drinking champagne, chatting and probably passing a video camera round each other.
8 laps of the champs d’elleyse [ like i will have got that right] 54 km iirc where they will probably race and end up with a sprint finish with the manx missile pwning everyone
That’s what I assumed, but the graphic show’s something different in the 2nd/3rd lap.
Wiggins leading Cav out for the sprint today would be a fairytale ending. Not sure he will though. Probably better to stay safe at the back.
On the contrary – far safer at the front. Normally the reason he wouldn’t be riding on the front is to save his energy, but that’s not really an issue today. As I commented in a thread yesterday, expect to see the MJ doing his motorbike impression on the front from about 2km out, but more likely for EBH to be the final leadout man. It would be nice to see the rainbow jersey on the wheel of the MJ in the final straight, but Sky aren’t the sort of team to do sentimentality.
I’m gonna have to find something to do for the next couple of hours. I’ve been a gibbering wreck for 3 days now. If Cav wins today I don’t think I will be able to blame dust.
Not wishing to tempt fate but has it ever been lost on the last day? If Wiggo crashed I guess they’d go slow as usual until he’d caught up and he’s got a hefty margin anyway, but has anyone ever crashed and been unable to finish?
My first thought when I woke up this morning was “I hope Bradley doesn’t fall off today” and I’ve been willing him on to Paris all day (even before he was even on his bike!).
It’s amazing, I think I will cry when he goes over the line in Paris.
Mleh that was a TT so it is not the same as this stage.
I get what you are saying but no one has lost it in the last stage without a TT as it largely a procession with a sprint.
I had forgotten that to be fair and the fastest TT over 10 km
How could you ever forget that stage? 😉 The sight of Fignon fighting but still visibly dropping seconds is one of the classic images of the Tour. Haunting stuff