Montgeron > Paris Champs-elysées

103km Sunday, July 23 Start: 16:50 — Finish: 19:18 CET

ne of cycling’s most iconic stages, the ride into Paris allows the GC contenders to enjoy a largely stress-free day while the sprinters battle it out for last-minute glory. The previous eight finishes on the Champs-elysées have been won by either a Brit or a German.

Lay of the land

Montgeron, the start town of this year’s Tour finale, may seem a somewhat unremarkable commune on the southeastern side of the French capital. However, its place in cycling history is guaranteed, as the first-ever stage of this great race began outside the Au Reveil Matin cafe there on July 1, 1903. To promote Paris’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics, the rest of the stage has been made as equally symbolic this year: riders will pass the Stade Roland-garros tennis complex, the Parc des Princes football stadium, the Champ-demars park next to the Eiffel Tower and even ride through parts of the city’s spectacular Grand Palais. All are potential host venues should Paris be awarded the Games.

What to expect

Every cycling fan knows how this stage works. A ceremonial roll-out from the start, the maillot jaune drinks a glass of Champagne, he poses for pictures alongside his team-mates (who no doubt have more yellow incorporated into their jersey design and bikes), the peloton take an age to hit the Champs-elysées (they’re greeted by a Patrouille de France flypast upon arrival), numerous breakaway attempts fail before a sprinter takes the victory about 45 minutes behind schedule. What price for Mark Cavendish to add to the four he won consecutively between 2009 and 2012?