After three weeks of racing, the Tour de France has finally made it to Paris, where the victors will be crowned. As the race heads to its conclusion at the iconic Champs-Elysees, join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 21 from 11:30pm (AEST) onwards.
The final stage has come in for some criticism over the years, mainly it feels like a procession for the most part. However, the beautiful streets of Paris and the best riders in the world competing for one last stage win.
Starting in the commune of Houilles, this stage is almost entirely flat. The first fifty kilometres will be essentially neutral racing, with the riders easing along at a leisurely pace, and, if either they or their team have enjoyed success at this year’s race, quaffing champagne in the Parisian suburbs.
Once the race hits the actual Champs-Elysees circuit itself, the tempo will pick up and the real racing will start. Essentially a criterium from here on in, the race will then consist of eight 7km laps between Jardin des Tuilerie and the Arc de Triomphe.
A breakaway will form, but will struggle to get more than thirty seconds to a minute in front of the main field, with several teams still desperate for a sprint finish and a stage win. Expect to see the grand old man of French cycling, 39-year old Sylvain Chavanel off the front of the peloton, even for just a brief period, in what is widely expected to be his final Tour appearance.
Prediction
After his crash on Stage 17, Peter Sagan will be too exhausted to win today’s stage and will be content to make it to the finish and collect the green jersey that he wrapped up several stages ago.
Instead, from a depleted field it will be one of the two remaining pure sprinters, Arnaud Demare or Alexander Kristoff will take today’s stage honours.
For me, I’m tipping that Demare will just get there off the back of a strong team performance in the run-in from Francois-De-Jeux.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The Tour was a little predictable this year, especially once Richie Porte crashed out. I was hoping that Dumoulin would mount a challenge however Team Sky's planning and precision was just too good. For me it missed the general classification drama of this year's Giro, however some of the descents were wicked. On to Spain where we get to see the Yates twins in action. Hopefully all those years of pushing each other out of the cot and stealing each other's toy's will be forgotten :)
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
Well, that just about wraps it up for tonight. Thanks for joining The Roar's live coverage of the 2018 Tour de France and I hope you have enjoyed every single moment! Special thanks to the other members of the team, Scott Pryde and Ryan Day, for the late nights spent covering the race. On behalf of the team, it's been a pleasure covering the race for you. Au Revoir, farewell, and see you next year!
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
And here are the words of the man who has pulled off perhaps the biggest win in Welsh sporting history, Geraint Thomas: "When I rode it for the first time, 2007, that was insane, just to finish the race and just to be part of it. And now to be riding around winning it, you’ve got to pinch yourself. I think it won’t sink in for a few months. For now it’s a whirlwind. I just seem to be floating around, on cloud nine. Maybe when I’m like 70, sat in a corner of a pub telling some 18-year-old what I used to be. It’s just incredible. It’s the stuff of dreams. It’s insane. I stayed off Twitter for most of the race. I didn’t want to get distracted. I went on last night and it was insane to see the response from back home. The amount of well-wishers, compliments from fellow riders and fellow sportsmen from Wales, people I’ve always looked up to, rugby players. It’s insane. I really appreciate all that support. It’s incredible."
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
Here are Kristoff's thoughts on his stage win: "It's a dream come true. I've dreamt about this victory for many years. I've been close many times before but never managed to beat the faster guys like Cavendish, Greipel, or Kittel, but today they're not here, they're out after the mountains, and today I was the fastest, so I'm super happy! "I was a bit far back after the tunnel but I was with [Roberto] Ferrari then Trek did a really good lead-out from behind and I managed to get John's wheel. I started in a good position and passed John, and it was still far out, but I saw nobody, and in the last 20 metres I was sure I was going to win. I'm so happy I managed to do it."
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
Here is the stage result: 1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates 02:46:36 2. John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo 3. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data 5. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 6. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Quick-Step Floors 7. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 8. Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 9. Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert 10. Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto Soudal
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
No changes to the Top 10 overall.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
GERAINT THOMAS WINS THE 2018 TOUR DE FRANCE. It's an historic day for Welsh cycling as Thomas makes it through unscathed.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
It's been a long wait for a third Tour stage win for Alexander Kristoff. After promising so much in his breakthrough 2014 Tour, where he won two stages, he had subsequently failed to register a result over the next three Tours and looked like making it a fourth winless race in a row this year. Many questioned whether he'd ever win another Tour stage. All that doesn't matter now though, today he is the champion on the Champs Elysees!
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
Arnaud Demare put in a good effort but came up third. Just timed it too late in the end.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
Degenkolb went first but Kristoff came over the top and it was the European champion who has won his first Tour stage in four years!
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
ALEXANDER KRISTOFF WINS STAGE 21
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
Lampaert caught.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
Peloton bringing him back gradually but will it be too late?
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
Belgian champion Yves Lampaert makes his move and he'll be hard to stop with a kilometre to go.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
3km to go Attack Marco Marcado of UAE Emirates goes and he's followed by Daniel Oss and Yves Lampaert.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
Bahrain-Merida attempting to move up to the front. They'll be wanting Sonny Colbrelli to finally bring home the bacon after a string of second place results this year and last.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
4.5km to go Multiple teams now trying to make it to the front.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
6km to go It was a valiant effort from Politt but he's been caught by the peloton, led by Bauke Mollema who is working for Trek and John Degenkolb. It's been great to see the climbers working so hard on the flat.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
8km to go Attack Nils Politt looks back at the oncoming peloton and makes a last-ditch effort.
Max Mayer
Roar Guru
8.5km to go Rafal Majka gradually bringing the break back for Bora.