35
17:24
The Favorites: Who Will Win the Sprint Royale?
Among the favorites for the Sprint Royale later on the Champs-Élysées, there are three hot candidates today: Jasper Philipsen as a fast sprinter in top form, Dylan Groenewegen with the strong leadout from BikeExchane and of course Wout van Aert, who simply has everything on this tour succeed.
25
17:18
Degenkolb: “The moment is phenomenal”
In general, all drivers are looking forward to the finale in Paris and the Champs-Élysées. John Degenkolb from Team DSM can hardly wait either: “The moment when you drive onto the Champs-Élysées is phenomenal,” said the German in the Sportschau podcast. “These moments shape an entire cycling career.”
20
17:10
Easy stroll
In the field it continues to be like a coffee trip. The drivers chat relaxedly with each other, wave to the fans and slowly roll towards Paris. The obligatory photo of all three jersey wearers next to each other is already in the can.
10
17:00
Geschke: “Maybe I can inspire other drivers”
Even if Simon Geschke prefers not to take part in the show of the jersey wearers as the second-placed man, the Berliner has now come to terms with his narrow defeat in the fight for the mountain jersey: “I often heard my name at the time trial yesterday. Apparently I didn’t do too much wrong here done,” said Geschke in an interview with the sports show and was delighted with the recognition and encouragement from the French fans. Even if it wasn’t quite enough for him for the mountain jersey, Geschke also wants to be a role model with his driving style: “I hope that I can motivate other drivers to ride more in the mountain jersey with my performance,” said Geschke. “Maybe another German driver will make it soon.”
1.
16:49
To start: show sprint!
The race begins and starts with a show: Wout van Aert in the green jersey gets out of the saddle and surprises everyone with a show attack. Tadej Pogacar and Tour winner-elect Jonas Vingegaard join in and take the Belgian’s attack with a smile. Of course it’s a wonderful motif for the cameras, now all the jerseys are at the front. Only Simon Geschke, who is known to only wear the mountain jersey on behalf of Vingegaard, takes part in the number and prefers to stay in the peloton.
16:40
Spectacular pictures guaranteed
Today’s stage will probably deliver beautiful pictures and recordings from the capital almost every minute. At the end, Paris and France put themselves in the limelight and celebrate their “Le Tour” today. The TV helicopter is already capturing spectacular images of the buildings in the high-rise district of La Défense. And the Seine, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower are yet to come…
16:36
Fictitious start indoors
Here we go: The jersey wearers and winners Wout van Aert, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard drive forward to the cheers of the fans in the hall and now roll out together with the peloton. A total of 136 drivers survived the torture and are only one last stroll away from the Champs-Élysées.
16:32
Selfies at rugby stadium
On the final day of the Tour, the mood of the field of riders is of course in good spirits. The drivers roll slowly towards the start in the darkened rugby arena, making time for the fans along the way. Frenchman Christophe Laporte takes selfies with the fans and superstar Wout van Aert is also happy to grant autograph requests.
16:23
8 laps through Paris
The 115.6 kilometer final stage starts today in the rugby stadium in Nanterre and then heads west and through the suburbs of Paris. After a final and insignificant Category 4 climb at 43km, the riders pass the Louvre and then set course for the grand finale in the capital. Arrived on the Champs-Élysées, the first of a total of eight laps around the boulevard and the Place de la Concorde, to the Arce de Triomphe and back to the Champs-Élysées awaits.
16:09
Preview: champagne and photos
Traditionally, the final stage of the Tour de France is a relaxed affair and initially without any sporting value. The first 60 kilometers from the rugby stadium in Nanterre towards Paris will be much more of a show of the stars and jersey wearers of this year’s tour and will be all about the drivers and their extraordinary performance over the past three weeks. Tour winners Jonas Vingegaard and Jumbo-Visma in particular can celebrate today and will even toast with champagne during the ride. When the peloton slowly reaches the capital after the celebrations and photos for the media, things get serious again and really fast: All the sprinters dream of a big victory on the Champs-Élysées and position themselves for the eight laps through the capital in front of hundreds of thousands Fans and millions of viewers in front of the television. Victory in the Sprint Royale on the boulevard of Paris is every sprinter’s dream and is the crowning glory of the three-week Tour of France.
16:07
Bonjour to the final stage of the Tour de France!
Hello and welcome to the Tour de France! Today is the day: after three weeks of torment on the bike and more than 3300 kilometers on the clock, the riders finally reach their big goal: the Champ d’Elysee in Paris. At 4:30 p.m. the Tour d’Honneur starts in the capital.