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Champs-Élysées stage in the Tour de France

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Champs-Élysées stage in the Tour de France
Final stage on the Champs-Élysées in 2015
VenueChamps-Élysées
LocationParis, France
Also known asFinal stage of the Tour de France
TypeCycling stage race
Organised byAmaury Sport Organisation
Inaugural winnerWalter Godefroot (1975)
Won most timesMark Cavendish (4)
RouteEnter Paris then, six-to-eight times:
The Champs-Élysées lap is 6.8km (4.1mi) in length

Every year between 1975 and 2023, the final stage of the Tour de France has concluded on the Champs-Élysées, an emblematic street of the city of Paris. As the final stage of the most recognised bike race in the world, winning it is considered very prestigious.[1]

The stage typically starts on the outskirts of Paris, and teams agree on a truce for the opening portion of the race, with cyclists taking the opportunity to have a moment of tranquility, laughing, and celebrating the achievement of finishing the Tour de France. The rider leading the general classification - whose lead is by custom not contested on the final stage, though usually it is by that point unassailable - poses for photographs, often taking a glass of champagne on the way.[2][3]

The second part of the race is more hotly contested. This consists of between six and ten laps of a circuit of the Champs-Élysées, a wide partly-cobblestoned road. Riders try to break away from the peloton to secure victory, though as of 2023 such attempts have only resulted in a victory on six occasions (and on only three since 1979). On the other occasions (except 1989, when the final stage was a time-trial), the winner has come from a mass sprint and has therefore typically been a specialist sprinter. At times this means that the final stage has settled the points classification, which is usually won by a sprinter.[1]

Between 2014 and 2016, the course was also used for La Course by Le Tour de France, a women's one-day race. The first edition of Tour de France Femmes in 2022 also used the course, as the first stage of the race.[4]

History

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In the first Tour of 1903, the finish was at Ville-d'Avray. From 1904 to 1967 it was at the Parc des Princes track and from 1968 to 1974, during the heyday of Eddy Merckx, at the Vélodrome de Vincennes.[5][6]

In 1974, Félix Lévitan, co-director of the Tour, and reporter Yves Mourousi suggested a finish on the Champs-Élysées. Mourousi directly contacted French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing to obtain permission.[7][8] The first stage took place in 1975: this was a Paris-Paris stage of 25 laps (163.5 kilometres (101.6 mi)). The Belgian Walter Godefroot won the sprint and Bernard Thévenet received the yellow jersey from the hands of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. In 1977, French Alain Meslet became the first rider to win alone.

Since 1978, the final stage has generally started from outside the city, with only the final part of the stage following the core route. The number of laps has varied between six and ten. Major innovations have generally been avoided, with the notable exception of the 1989 stage which operated as a time-trial.

Mark Cavendish on the final stage of the 2012 Tour, the only time a reigning road world champion won on Champs-Élysées

In 2013, in celebration of the 100th Tour de France the stage was shifted to a late afternoon start, finishing in the evening. The course also entered the Champs Elysées via the courtyards of the Louvre Palace, passing directly by the Louvre Pyramid, and utilising the traffic circle around the Arc de Triomphe rather than making a u-turn short of it; these changes have been retained in subsequent years.[9] In 2015, bad weather caused the Tour organisers to declare the overall classification neutralised upon entry to the Champs-Élysées, 70 kilometres (43 mi) before the stage finished.[10]

The course was also used for the first three editions of La Course by Le Tour de France, a women's one-day race held between 2014 and 2021. In these years the race was held in a kermesse-style circuit racing format.[11] The first edition of Tour de France Femmes in 2022 used the course as the first stage of an 8-day race.[4]

Due to Paris hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics, the 2024 Tour de France will not finish in Paris but instead in Nice.[12]

Arrivals

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Cobblestones in parts of the Champs-Élysées final stage, photographed in the 2015 Tour
Map of the circuit used since 2013 (with the Arc de Triomphe inside the circuit). Before 2013 the riders turn back before the Arc de Triomphe.[13]

Due to the high profile of the last day as well as its setting, the stage is prestigious. The overall Tour placings are typically settled before the final stage, so the racing is often for the glory of finishing the Tour and, at times, to settle the points classification. The leader of the Tour de France is, by convention, not challenged for their lead on this final day. Traditionally, the stage starts with champagne served by the race leader's team, on-the-road photo opportunities and joking around.[14]

As the riders approach Paris, the racing heats up as the sprinters and their teams begin the real racing of the day. When the riders reach central Paris, they enter the Champs-Élysées riding up the Rue de Rivoli, on to the Place de la Concorde and then swing right on to the Champs-Élysées itself. The riders ride now a total of eight laps (including around the Arc de Triomphe, down the Champs-Élysées, round les Tuileries and the Louvre and across the Place de la Concorde back to the Champs-Élysées). In past Tours, the riders would complete ten laps before the Tour was over.

When a rider has reached a significant milestone over the course of the concluding Tour, it is customary for the peloton to let him enter the Champs-Elysées section of the stage in first place. Such an honor was bestowed upon American George Hincapie in 2012, in recognition of his final and record setting 17th Tour de France.

While a number of riders will try to pull away from the peloton on the Champs-Elysées, chances of success are slim and these attempts are often seen as one last opportunity for teams to showcase their colors. It is extremely hard for a small group to resist the push of chasing sprinter's teams on the stage's flat circuit, even more so than in a linear race, and the overwhelming majority have ended in a mass sprint.

In early years, breakaway wins did not appear uncommon. A surprising three straight occurred between 1977 and 1979. However, with the advent of modern racing tactics, the feat has become very rare, lending an increasingly valued place in Tour lore to the few who have achieved it. Those are Frenchmen Alain Meslet (1977), Bernard Hinault (1979) and Eddy Seigneur (1994), Dutchman Gerrie Knetemann (1978), American Jeff Pierce (1987), and Kazakhstani Alexander Vinokourov (2005).

General classification

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Although generally uncontested, there have been two occasions on which the last stage saw attacks on the leading position in the general classification. In 1979, Joop Zoetemelk was 3:07 behind Bernard Hinault before the final stage. Zoetemelk attacked on the last stage, hoping to win enough time to claim the victory. Hinault chased Zoetemelk, and beat him for the stage victory.[15]

Bernard Hinault in 1979 and in 1982 was the only rider winning on Champs-Élysées in yellow jersey (LeMond in 1989 won the jersey after the stage but didn't wear it during the stage).

In 1989, Greg LeMond beat Laurent Fignon by 58 seconds over a 24 km time trial from Versailles. In doing so, he closed a 50-second gap to win the 1989 Tour de France by eight seconds. It was the first (and only) time trial final stage on the Champs-Élysées. The 1964, 1965 and 1967 Tours finished with time trials to the Parc des Princes, and the 1968 to 1971 stages had time trials to the Vélodrome de Vincennes (Cipale).

In 2005, Lance Armstrong had a comfortable lead in the general classification, but behind him Alexander Vinokourov and Levi Leipheimer were only two seconds apart, on fifth and sixth place. Vinokourov succeeded in a breakaway during the last kilometre and, because of his stage win and bonus seconds, overtook Leipheimer for fifth position overall.[16] As of 2023, this is the last time the stage was not decided in a bunch sprint.[14]

Points classification

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While points classification is mainly associated to a top sprinter competition, the jersey wearer is generally unlucky on Champs-Élysées. The three riders with most green jerseys, Peter Sagan, Erik Zabel and Sean Kelly, never won on Champs-Élysées. Only five times the green jersey wearer won: Freddy Maertens in 1976 first semi-stage and in 1981, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov in 1993, Robbie McEwen in 2002, Mark Cavendish in 2011 and Sam Bennett in 2020. In 1979, Bernard Hinault led the points classification when he won on Champs-Élysées but he did it wearing the yellow jersey. In some years, the points classification was decided on that last stage.

In 1984, Frank Hoste had been leading the points classification for most of the race, but Sean Kelly had taken over the lead on the penultimate stage, with a difference of 4 points. Hoste ended third in the last stage against Kelly fifth, which made Hoste the winner by 4 points.

In the final stages of the 1987 Tour de France, the lead in the points classification switched between Jean-Paul van Poppel and Stephen Roche. Before the final stage, Roche was leading by 17 points, but during the last stage Van Poppel won back 16 points by intermediate sprints. Van Poppel's ninth place in the stage was then enough to win the points classification by 16 points.

In 1991, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov clipped his wheels on barriers. With less than 100m left he tumbled head-over-heels in a spectacular crash. After he regained consciousness, he was helped across the line to clinch the sprinters' competition.[17]

In 2001, Stuart O'Grady had been leading the points classification for most of the race, but Erik Zabel overtook him at the final moment.[18]

In 2003, the green jersey was settled by a close finish between Baden Cooke and Robbie McEwen finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively, that resulted in Cooke finished with 216 points to McEwen's 214.

Winners

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Winner of the Champs-Élysées stages in the Tour de France
Year Date Stage Starting place Distance Stage winner
km mi
1975 20 July Stage 22 Paris 163.4 102  Walter Godefroot (BEL) [19]
1976[a] 18 July Stage 22a (ITT) Paris 6 4  Freddy Maertens (BEL) A green jersey.
Stage 22b 90.7 56  Gerben Karstens (NED)
1977[a] 24 July Stage 22a (ITT) Paris 6 4  Dietrich Thurau (GER)
Stage 22b 90.7 56  Alain Meslet (FRA)
1978 23 July Stage 22 Saint-Germain-en-Laye 161.5 100  Gerrie Knetemann (NED)
1979 22 July Stage 24 Le Perreux-sur-Marne 180.3 112  Bernard Hinault (FRA) A yellow jersey.
1980 20 July Stage 22 Fontenay-sous-Bois 186.1 116  Pol Verschuere (BEL)
1981 19 July Stage 22 Fontenay-sous-Bois 186.6 116  Freddy Maertens (BEL) A green jersey.
1982 25 July Stage 21 Fontenay-sous-Bois 186.8 116  Bernard Hinault (FRA) A yellow jersey.
1983 24 July Stage 22 Alfortville 195 121  Gilbert Glaus (SUI)
1984 22 July Stage 23 Pantin 196.5 122  Eric Vanderaerden (BEL)
1985 21 July Stage 22 Orléans 196 122  Rudy Matthijs (BEL)
1986 27 July Stage 23 Cosne-sur-Loire 255 158  Guido Bontempi (ITA)
1987 26 July Stage 25 Créteil 192 119  Jeff Pierce (USA)
1988 24 July Stage 22 Nemours 172.5 107  Jean-Paul van Poppel (NED)
1989 23 July Stage 21 (ITT) Versailles 24.5 15  Greg LeMond (USA)
1990 22 July Stage 21 Brétigny-sur-Orge 182 113  Johan Museeuw (BEL)
1991 28 July Stage 22 Melun 178 111  Dimitri Konyshev (URS)
1992 26 July Stage 21 La Défense 141 88  Olaf Ludwig (GER)
1993 25 July Stage 20 Viry-Châtillon 196.5 122  Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB) A green jersey.
1994 24 July Stage 21 Disneyland 175 109  Eddy Seigneur (FRA)
1995 23 July Stage 20 Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois 155 96  Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB)
1996 21 July Stage 21 Palaiseau 147.5 92  Fabio Baldato (ITA)
1997 27 July Stage 21 Disneyland 149.5 93  Nicola Minali (ITA)
1998 2 August Stage 21 Melun 147.5 92  Tom Steels (BEL)
1999 25 July Stage 20 Arpajon 143.5 89  Robbie McEwen (AUS)
2000 23 July Stage 21 Paris 138 86  Stefano Zanini (ITA)
2001 29 July Stage 20 Corbeil-Essonnes 160.5 100  Ján Svorada (CZE)
2002 28 July Stage 20 Melun 144 89  Robbie McEwen (AUS) A green jersey.
2003 27 July Stage 20 Ville-d'Avray 160 99  Jean-Patrick Nazon (FRA)
2004 25 July Stage 20 Montereau 163 101  Tom Boonen (BEL)
2005 24 July Stage 21 Corbeil-Essonnes 144.5 90  Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ)
2006 23 July Stage 20 Antony–Parc de Sceaux 152 94  Thor Hushovd (NOR)
2007 29 July Stage 20 Marcoussis 130 81  Daniele Bennati (ITA)
2008 27 July Stage 21 Étampes 143 89  Gert Steegmans (BEL)
2009 26 July Stage 21 Montereau-Fault-Yonne 160 99  Mark Cavendish (GBR)
2010 25 July Stage 20 Longjumeau 102.5 64  Mark Cavendish (GBR)
2011 24 July Stage 21 Créteil 95 59  Mark Cavendish (GBR) A green jersey. [20][21][22]
2012 22 July Stage 20 Rambouillet 120 75  Mark Cavendish (GBR) A rainbow jersey.
2013 21 July Stage 21 Versailles 133.5 83  Marcel Kittel (GER) [23]
2014 27 July Stage 21 Évry 136 85  Marcel Kittel (GER) [24]
2015 26 July Stage 21 Sèvres 109.5 68  André Greipel (GER) [25]
2016 24 July Stage 21 Chantilly 113 70  André Greipel (GER) [26]
2017 23 July Stage 21 Montgeron 103 64  Dylan Groenewegen (NED) [27]
2018 29 July Stage 21 Houilles 116 72  Alexander Kristoff (NOR) [28]
2019 28 July Stage 21 Rambouillet 128 80  Caleb Ewan (AUS) [29]
2020 20 Sept. Stage 21 Mantes-la-Jolie 122 76  Sam Bennett (IRL) A green jersey. [1]
2021 18 July Stage 21 Chatou 108.4 67  Wout van Aert (BEL) [30]
2022 24 July Stage 21 Paris La Défense Arena 116 72  Jasper Philipsen (BEL) [31]
2023 23 July Stage 21 Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines 115.1 72  Jordi Meeus (BEL) [32]
2025 27 July Stage 21 Mantes-la-Ville 120 75

Multiple winners

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The following riders have won the Champs-Élysées stage in the Tour de France on more than one occasion.

Multiple winners of the Champs-Élysées stage
Cyclist Total Years
 Mark Cavendish (GBR) 4 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
 Freddy Maertens (BEL) 2 1976 (ITT), 1981
 Bernard Hinault (FRA) 2 1979, 1982
 Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB) 2 1993, 1995
 Robbie McEwen (AUS) 2 1999, 2002
 Marcel Kittel (GER) 2 2013, 2014
 André Greipel (GER) 2 2015, 2016

By nationality

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Champs-Élysées stage winners by nationality
Country No. of wins No. of winning cyclists
 Belgium 13 12
 Germany 6 4
 France 5 4
 Italy 5 5
 United Kingdom 4 1
 Netherlands 4 4
 Australia 3 2
 United States 2 2
 Uzbekistan 2 1
 Norway 2 2
 Switzerland 1 1
 Soviet Union 1 1
 Czech Republic 1 1
 Kazakhstan 1 1
 Ireland 1 1

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b last stage was divided in two half-stages

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sam Bennett: I'd Never Thought I'd Win Here with the Green Jersey". LeTour. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  2. ^ Quiceno, Juan Diego (July 28, 2019). "¿Por qué la última etapa del Tour es la más "tranquila"?" (in Spanish). Medellín: El Colombiano. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  3. ^ "Today's back pages: Egan Bernal's 'champagne moment' at the Tour de France". The Week. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b "The women's peloton reacts to the Tour de France Femmes route". CyclingTips. 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  5. ^ Augendre, Jacques (2009). "Guide Historique" (PDF) (in French). Amaury Sport Organisation. p. 179. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  6. ^ McGann, Bill; McGann, Carol (2008). "1969-1975, The Merckx years". The Story of the Tour de France: 1965-2007, Volume 2. Indianapolis: Dog Ear Publishing. p. 95. ISBN 978-159858-608-4. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  7. ^ Bonniel, Marie-Aude (July 24, 2015). "Le 20 juillet 1975: première arrivée du Tour de France sur les Champs-Élysées". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  8. ^ Loncin, Pol (July 19, 2017). "Le 20 juillet 1975: la première arrivée sur les Champs-Elysées" (in French). Brussels: RTBF. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  9. ^ Fortheringham, Alasdair (22 July 2013). "Tour de France 2013: Mark Cavendish's reign on Champs Elysées curtailed by Marcel Kittel". Independent.co.uk.
  10. ^ "Rain forces neutralization of Tour de France finale". VeloNews.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-28. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  11. ^ Bonville-Ginn, Tim (28 August 2020). "La Course 2020: All you need to know about the one-day race". Cycling Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  12. ^ Hurford, Molly (2 December 2022). "The 2024 Men's Tour de France Will Finish in Nice". bicycling.com.
  13. ^ "Map of the circuit between 1975 and 2012". Memoire du cyclisme. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Champs Élysées - The most iconic street in cycling". ProCyclingUK.com. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  15. ^ McGann, Bill; McGann, Carol (2008). The Story of the Tour De France: 1965–2007. Dog Ear Publishing. p. 137. ISBN 978-1-59858-608-4.
  16. ^ "www.cyclingnews.com presents the 92nd Tour de France".
  17. ^ McGann, Bill; McGann, Carol (2008). The Story of the Tour De France: 1965–2007. Dog Ear Publishing. p. 201. ISBN 978-1-59858-608-4.
  18. ^ Zabel bags the green in exciting finale
  19. ^ "Memoire du cyclisme" (in French). Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  20. ^ "Bradley Wiggins wins Tour de France title". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 July 2012. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012.
  21. ^ Gallagher, Brendan (22 July 2012). "Tour de France 2012: Mark Cavendish sets stage perfectly for Olympic road race glory". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012.
  22. ^ Fotheringham, Alasdair (23 July 2012). "Tour de France: Mark Cavendish enters history as best-ever Tour sprinter". The Independent. Independent Print. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012.
  23. ^ "Mark Cavendish outsprinted by Marcel Kittel in Tour de France stage 12". The Guardian. Press Association. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  24. ^ Hurcomb, Sophie (27 July 2014). "Vincenzo Nibali wins 2014 Tour de France; Marcel Kittel takes final stage". Cycling Weekly. United Kingdom. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Tour de France: Chris Froome wins Tour de France 2015". Cyclingnews.com. 26 July 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  26. ^ Wynn, Nigal (24 July 2016). "Chris Froome wins 2016 Tour de France as André Greipel takes final stage". Cycling Weekly. United Kingdom. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  27. ^ Fotheringham, William (23 July 2017). "Chris Froome wins fourth Tour de France after Champs Elysées procession". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  28. ^ Windsor, Richard (29 July 2018). "Geraint Thomas wins the 2018 Tour de France as Alexander Kristoff takes final stage victory". Cycling Weekly. United Kingdom. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Caleb Ewan wins Tour de France final stage, Egan Bernal takes overall honours". ABC News. Australia. Associated Press. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  30. ^ Ostanek, Daniel (18 July 2021). "Tadej Pogacar wins 2021 Tour de France as Van Aert takes final stage". CyclingNews. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  31. ^ Fotheringham, Alasdair (24 July 2022). "Vingegaard crowned Tour de France champion while Philipsen wins stage 21". CyclingNews. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  32. ^ Lamoureux, Lyne (23 July 2023). "Jonas Vingegaard crowned Tour de France champion in Paris". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 24 July 2023.

Further reading

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Media related to Champs-Élysées stage in the Tour de France at Wikimedia Commons

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