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The 100th edition of le Tour de France departs with a monumental grand finale upon the Champs-Élysées. As the race concludes in the midst of the extraordinary celebratory atmosphere expected, and amidst the impressive backdrop of the Parisian sunset.
Having cycled some 3,404 kilometres, the peloton receive the opportunity to celebrate, before refocusing on the historical stage victory at stake.
Such a historic occasion requires an impressive stage beginning, and race organisers ASO have not disappointed.
The peloton shall begin the neutralised section of Stage 21 near the Palace of Versailles, skirting her lush landscape and grand canal en route to the official beginning of the stage.
The parcours will journey through some of the countryside which skirts the metropolis, encountering two Category 4 climbs during the journey.
The King of the Mountains points, like the Intermediate Sprint, will be contested by the peloton solely for the prize money and pride on offer.
With the peloton first encountering the Category 4 Côte de Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, one kilometre in length at an average gradient of 6.9%.
While the Category 4 Côte de Châteaufort follows shortly afterwards, at 900 metres in length at an average gradient of 4.7%.
More suited and comparable to sprinting in effort than a gruelling 40 minute battle ascending one of the French Alps.
The Intermediate Sprint will be a decisive battle for pride and prize money than the coveted Maillot Vert (green jersey) of the Points Classification.
The peloton will have completed four passages of the extended Champs-Élysées circuit before the Intermediate Sprint arrives on the horizon.
The sprint will likely be won by someone from the traditional breakaway that usually forms on the Champs-Élysées.
Upon arriving on the fabled Champs-Élysées, the peloton shall complete eleven circuits of the legendary course.
Unlike previous years, the peloton shall circle around the Arc de Triomphe, rather than the usual makeshift 180 degree hairpin bend negotiated by the peloton nearby.
Upon completing their tenth passage of the Champs-Élysées circuit, the peloton shall hear the bell signalling the final lap and fiercely contest for the stage victory during their eleventh passage.
The finish upon the Champs-Élysées should be familiar to everyone, however, if you are indeed new to the sport and the Tour de France then a warm welcome to thee. Positioning leading in to, and going out of, the final corner before the finish upon the Champs-Élysées will be important once again.
The sprinter’s teams can be expected to maintain a fierce pace on the front of the peloton to position their respective sprinter ahead of his rivals approaching the finishing straight.
Despite considerable competition from Lotto-Belisol and Argos-Shimano, Mark Cavendish and Omega Pharma-Quickstep are, arguably, outright favourites for the stage victory. The ‘Manx Missile’ constantly delivers on the Champs-Élysées, and has taken the stage honours for four consecutive years.
While Cavendish has not been as dominant in the sprints as he would have desired in the 2013 Tour de France, he usually manages to rediscovery his greatest form for the Champs-Élysées.
Another factor favouring Cavendish is the weakening of the Lotto-Belisol sprint train, following the unfortunate abandonment of Marcel Seiberg. However, the superb organisation of Andre Greipel’s lead out should, and probably will, cover for the manpower loss.
Should his Lotto-Belisol team guide him in to the optimal position, we could be witnessing the death of Cavendish’s hegemony upon the Champs-Élysées finish.
Just like Lotto-Belisol, the Argos-Shimano sprint train has also been weakened by the abandonment of a key member.
However, the loss of Tom Veelers could be far worse for Marcel Kittel than Seiberg’s loss may be for Greipel. In spite of that, Marcel Kittel has the confidence and form to defeat both Greipel and Cavendish in the bunch sprint.
The dominant German has even shown that he can switch lead outs should the need arise.
Almost certain for a finish somewhere within the top five for the stage is Peter Sagan. He arguably lacks the top end speed required to defeat Cavendish, Greipel and Kittel.
However, he compensates through his excellent positioning and ability to, usually, follow the right wheel. Sagan’s ability to position himself could see him in the opportune position to snatch an unexpected victory should something befall the stage favourites.
Another outsider for the stage victory will be Orica-GreenEDGE’s Matthew Goss. Quite like Sagan, his chances of a stage victory seem slim and restricted to the favourites faltering.
However, with the absolute support of his team and a decent lead out, the Australian cannot be entirely discounter. It would be quite the superb conclusion to their successful 2013 journey, should they somehow unexpectedly steal the stage victory.
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