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Paris Champs-Élysées
143 km
Sunday 27 July
A hilly course to Paris winding through the Chevreuse Valley before the traditional loop on the Champs-Elysées, la Place de la Concorde and the rue de Rivoli. Once again, the strong men among the sprinters will fight it out for this prestigious stage win.
Town Hall (Picture: Communication Department of Etampes)
First time stage host.
Sub-prefecture of Essonne, 26,000 inhabitants.
Home to French monarchs as far back as the 10th century, reputed for its exceptional architectural heritage, Etampes is a museum in itself. With its 26 listed monuments, its museum and its churches, Etampes attracts more tourists than any other city in the department of Essonne. Proud of its past, Etampes is nonetheless very much turned towards the future, while at the same time taking great care to preserve its flowery and wooded environment. Quality of life and sports are very much a part of the Etampes state of mind. Many competitions and events are held the year round, thanks to top-notch facilities and many associations which take a great part in the life of the community. Lying close to the rural and agricultural region of Beauce, Etampes strives to lead the way in bio and agro energies. Welcome to Etampes, where hospitality is a tradition that lives on!
Glory and Glamour reward a three-week intense race (Picture: A.S.O – B. Bade)
Final stage of the Tour de France since the first one in 1903.
First time in 1903 (Ville-d’Avray); winner: Garin.
Last time in 2006; winner: Bennati.
Capital of France and a département (75) in and of itself consisting of 20 districts (arrondissements), on the river Seine. 2,125,000 inhabitants.
Greater Paris Area: 9.645.000 inhabitants.
The grand finale of the ultimate stage of the Tour de France is a spectacular show and a supreme honour and triumph for the riders who have succeeded in avoiding all the traps and difficulties of a three week long race. For this jewel of the cycling world, the city of Paris is the most beautiful location imaginable, set with monuments and sites of incomparable beauty (the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Rue de Rivoli, the Champs-Elysées). The final stage is spectacularly filmed by France Télévisions, whose pictures, broadcast worldwide, present the Tour and the French capital in all their finery. It is also exclusively reserved to sprinters or, to be more precise, to sprinters who have crossed the mountains without mishap like the Norwegian rider, Thor Hushovd, winner of the prologue in Strasbourg and the last stage in Paris in 2006…; only extraordinary champions can simultaneously wear the green jersey and the polka dotted jersey: Eddy Merckx (the hat trick: yellow, green and best climber jersey in 1969), Bernard Hinault or Laurent Jalabert. Who will be succedding to Daniele Benatti, the winners’ « Champs »?
