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Tour de France Stage 21 Report
July 21, Stage 21: Versailles – Paris – Champs-Elysées 133.5km
Kittel wins on the Champs-Elysees
Article Content from www.cyclingnews.com Report By: Daniel Benson Published: July 21
Video Recap from www.cycling.tv
Froome enjoys his first Tour de France victory
Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) sprinted to victory in the final stage of this year’s Tour de France, ending Mark Cavendish’s four-year winning streak on the Champs-Élysées. Kittel lead from the front inside the final 200 meters, with Andre Greipel and Cavendish unable to close the gap.
Under the Parisian dusk, and with the Arc de Triomphe providing a spectacular backdrop, Kittel was delivered to the line perfectly, his Argos-Shimano team forging their path to the front of the peloton with immaculate timing.
With Greipel and Cavendish struggling to draw level in the closing meters Kittel was able to claim his fourth stage of this year’s race, marking a complete turnaround from last year when he abandoned his debut Tour through illness and injury.
“The best thing a sprinter can do is win on the Champs-Élysées. The sprint was tough but it went perfectly. My legs felt good and so I’m really happy,” he said after being first on the final Tour de France podium.
“It’s difficult to say after such a great Tour de France. I’ve won four stages. I’m proud of myself and my team. We had some hard days in the mountains but we give it everything together that what’s made the difference.”
Team Sky’s Chris Froome finished the final stage safely, rolling across the finish line with his six teammates 53 seconds after Kittel, and winning his first Tour de France, while Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) rounded out the final podium of the 100th Tour de France. For the second year in a row Sky toasted their Tour de France champion as race organisers ASO pulled out all the stops to celebrate the Tour’s 100 edition.
Froome savoured every moment on the podium as the winner of the Tour de France.
“It’s absolutely incredible! I could actually feel myself welling up with tears it was really quite an emotional feeling riding across the line with my teammates who have just killed themselves to keep the yellow jersey on my back for these past two weeks,” he said.
“It has been an absolutely incredible journey. It’s been a tough journey – a bloody tough journey – but to be here, standing on the top step of the podium on the Champs-Elysées is all worth it, 100 percent worth it.”
Froome read a message on the podium.
“I’d like to thank my teammates who buried themselves day-in, day-out to keep this yellow jersey on my shoulders and the Team Sky management for believing in me and building this team around me. Thank you to all the people who have taken the time to teach me over the years. Finally, I’d like to thank my close friends and family for being there for me every step of the way,” he said.
“This is a beautiful country and it hosts the biggest annual sporting event on the planet. To win the 100th edition is an honour. This is one yellow jersey that will stand the test of time.”
Historic evening finale to 100th Tour de France edition
The stage from Versailles set off in the early evening, with the peloton reaching Paris just as dusk began to fall. By then the customary roll call of photos had been ceremoniously concluded, the champagne flute discarded and Peter Sagan green wig to celebrate his second straight green jersey, discarded.
As the race wound through the streets of Paris and around the Arc de Triomphe for the first time there was even time for Miguel Indurain, Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault to enjoy an open top parade.
Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) was watching from the sidelines, however, having pulled out with 38 kilometres remaining due to illness, a reminder of how cruel luck can be in cycling.
Cavendish, looking for an unprecedented fifth straight stage in win Paris, had to chase back after an early puncture. It was left to another British rider to open the attacking proceedings with David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) the first rider to escape the clutches of the Sky-led field. Millar, who has struggled at times in this year’s race, was joined by fellow veteran Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil-DCM).
The pair kicked out an advantage that stretched to 25 seconds but with 23 kilometres remaining the Spaniard was forced to yield, allowing Millar to soak up the atmosphere as he raced around Norwegian corner, bouncing his way through the gutters that line the edges of the Champs-Élysées and across the line.
As the sky dimmed and the lights from the race motorbikes flickered into life Millar’s energies began to fade.
Jeremy Roy was the next rider to launch a move but he was unable to match Millar’s attempt and was quickly passed by the trio of Manuel Quinziato (BMC), Bram Tankink (Belkin) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). Although a more dangerous proposition than Roy, they, too were reeled in, the sprinters not to be denied after a week in the Alps and the Champs-Élysées finishing line in sight.
Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) summoned his teammates into action, Cavendish neatly tucked into the final slot as the peloton flew into the final three kilometres. Lotto Belisol and Cannondale muscled their way to the front as Argos-Shimano drifted in, their lead-out now arguably the best in the world.
Kittel still needed to finish the job off and despite Cavendish and Greipel breathing down his neck, the 25-year-old German was able to hold his line and his strength.
As night fell the attention turned to Froome, the British rider completing a staggering journey that has culminated in a dominant win in this year’s race. He dedicated the win to his late mother, and flanked by Quintana and Rodriguez, becomes the second British winner of the world’s biggest race.
Quintana, second overall, pulled on the white jersey, with Sagan ruling green and Alberto Contador’s Saxo-Tinkoff winning the team classification.
| 1 | Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling | 83:56:40 | |
| 2 | Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team | 0:04:20 | |
| 3 | Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha | 0:05:04 | |
| 4 | Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 0:06:27 | |
| 5 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 0:07:27 | |
| 6 | Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 0:11:42 | |
| 7 | Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team | 0:12:17 | |
| 8 | Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team | 0:15:26 | |
| 9 | Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:15:52 | |
| 10 | Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp | 0:17:39 | |
| 11 | Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 0:18:59 | |
| 12 | Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | 0:20:01 | |
| 13 | Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 0:21:39 | |
| 14 | Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack Leopard | 0:23:38 | |
| 15 | Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:26:42 | |
| 16 | Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 0:26:51 | |
| 17 | Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha | 0:32:34 | |
| 18 | Jan Bakelants (Bel) RadioShack Leopard | 0:35:51 | |
| 19 | Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling | 0:39:41 | |
| 20 | Andy Schleck (Lux) RadioShack Leopard | 0:41:46 | |
| 21 | Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Lampre-Merida | 0:45:08 | |
| 22 | John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:46:00 | |
| 23 | Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | 0:48:07 | |
| 24 | Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar | 0:52:15 | |
| 25 | Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 0:54:00 | |
| 26 | Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 0:54:25 | |
| 27 | Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team | 0:54:34 | |
| 28 | Wouter Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 0:56:33 | |
| 29 | Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ.fr | 0:57:06 | |
| 30 | Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack Leopard | 1:02:43 | |
| 31 | Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 1:03:41 | |
| 32 | Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar | 1:12:42 | |
| 33 | Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp | 1:13:08 | |
| 34 | Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 1:14:59 | |
| 35 | Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 1:20:39 | |
| 36 | Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack Leopard | 1:24:22 | |
| 37 | Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 1:27:57 | |
| 38 | Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol | 1:28:06 | |
| 39 | Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team | 1:30:14 | |
| 40 | Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 1:34:17 | |
| 41 | Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano | 1:34:30 | |
| 42 | Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | 1:36:27 | |
| 43 | Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 1:36:40 | |
| 44 | Alexandre Geniez (Fra) FDJ.fr | 1:38:06 | |
| 45 | Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team | 1:38:57 | |
| 46 | Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) Sojasun | 1:40:05 | |
| 47 | Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Movistar Team | 1:40:35 | |
| 48 | Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha | 1:42:41 | |
| 49 | Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar | 1:44:50 | |
| 50 | Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 1:49:42 | |
| 51 | Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha | 1:49:54 | |
| 52 | Maxime Mederel (Fra) Sojasun | 1:53:01 | |
| 53 | Laurent Didier (Lux) RadioShack Leopard | 1:58:53 | |
| 54 | Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team | 1:58:59 | |
| 55 | Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Merida | 1:59:38 | |
| 56 | Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team | 2:00:03 | |
| 57 | Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida | 2:00:28 | |
| 58 | Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack Leopard | 2:02:59 | |
| 59 | Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ.fr | 2:04:19 | |
| 60 | Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Sharp | 2:05:28 | |
| 61 | Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 2:07:01 | |
| 62 | Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team | 2:07:11 | |
| 63 | Jerome Coppel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 2:09:13 | |
| 64 | Bram Tankink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 2:10:12 | |
| 65 | Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar | 2:12:48 | |
| 66 | Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.fr | 2:15:06 | |
| 67 | Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack Leopard | 2:15:09 | |
| 68 | Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 2:20:14 | |
| 69 | Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | 2:21:32 | |
| 70 | Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp | 2:21:41 | |
| 71 | Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 2:23:11 | |
| 72 | Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol | 2:23:15 | |
| 73 | Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 2:25:25 | |
| 74 | Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge | 2:26:37 | |
| 75 | Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano | 2:27:42 | |
| 76 | Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Merida | 2:28:19 | |
| 77 | Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky Procycling | 2:33:46 | |
| 78 | Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | 2:33:55 | |
| 79 | Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team | 2:34:05 | |
| 80 | Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 2:34:36 | |
| 81 | Julien El Fares (Fra) Sojasun | 2:36:28 | |
| 82 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 2:38:51 | |
| 83 | Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 2:38:55 | |
| 84 | Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team | 2:39:08 | |
| 85 | Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team | 2:39:34 | |
| 86 | Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-GreenEdge | 2:40:22 | |
| 87 | Julien Simon (Fra) Sojasun | 2:41:24 | |
| 88 | Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 2:43:28 | |
| 89 | Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Sojasun | 2:44:13 | |
| 90 | Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Sky Procycling | 2:44:43 | |
| 91 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team | 2:45:05 | |
| 92 | Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 2:47:39 | |
| 93 | Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 2:48:03 | |
| 94 | Moreno Moser (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 2:53:27 | |
| 95 | Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team | 2:53:36 | |
| 96 | Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 2:53:41 | |
| 97 | Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Spa) Movistar Team | ||
| 98 | Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team | 2:54:01 | |
| 99 | Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar | 2:54:53 | |
| 100 | Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 2:57:03 | |
| 101 | Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 2:57:59 | |
| 102 | Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 2:59:09 | |
| 103 | Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) RadioShack Leopard | 2:59:39 | |
| 104 | Brice Feillu (Fra) Sojasun | 2:59:45 | |
| 105 | Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 3:02:52 | |
| 106 | Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 3:05:25 | |
| 107 | Daniele Bennati (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 3:05:55 | |
| 108 | Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Belisol | 3:07:12 | |
| 109 | Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha | 3:07:26 | |
| 110 | Pavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha | 3:09:47 | |
| 111 | Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 3:10:01 | |
| 112 | Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Sojasun | 3:11:38 | |
| 113 | David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Sharp | 3:14:25 | |
| 114 | Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 3:15:15 | |
| 115 | Egoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 3:16:28 | |
| 116 | Jean-Marc Marino (Fra) Sojasun | 3:16:30 | |
| 117 | Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 3:18:40 | |
| 118 | Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar Team | 3:19:12 | |
| 119 | Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha | 3:21:06 | |
| 120 | Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin-Sharp | 3:21:29 | |
| 121 | John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano | 3:23:23 | |
| 122 | Romain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel-Euskadi | 3:23:54 | |
| 123 | David Veilleux (Can) Team Europcar | 3:24:16 | |
| 124 | Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 3:24:28 | |
| 125 | Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 3:27:17 | |
| 126 | Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ.fr | 3:28:39 | |
| 127 | David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Sky Procycling | 3:28:47 | |
| 128 | Elia Favilli (Ita) Lampre-Merida | 3:31:19 | |
| 129 | André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol | 3:32:07 | |
| 130 | Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 3:32:14 | |
| 131 | Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 3:34:33 | |
| 132 | Maarten Wynants (Bel) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 3:37:06 | |
| 133 | Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) FDJ.fr | 3:37:48 | |
| 134 | Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar | 3:38:31 | |
| 135 | Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Procycling | 3:38:49 | |
| 136 | Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 3:38:58 | |
| 137 | Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-Merida | 3:40:31 | |
| 138 | Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano | 3:40:55 | |
| 139 | Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | 3:43:15 | |
| 140 | Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Procycling | 3:43:34 | |
| 141 | Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Katusha | 3:45:02 | |
| 142 | Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 3:45:30 | |
| 143 | Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 3:47:11 | |
| 144 | Boy van Poppel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 3:48:15 | |
| 145 | Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano | 3:48:30 | |
| 146 | Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano | 3:49:02 | |
| 147 | Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha | 3:49:50 | |
| 148 | Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 3:52:04 | |
| 149 | Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 3:52:05 | |
| 150 | Thomas Leezer (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 3:53:55 | |
| 151 | Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Sojasun | 3:57:09 | |
| 152 | Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 3:57:24 | |
| 153 | Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 3:59:14 | |
| 154 | Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 4:00:19 | |
| 155 | Brian Vandborg (Den) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 4:00:21 | |
| 156 | Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team Europcar | 4:01:10 | |
| 157 | Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida | 4:02:09 | |
| 158 | Yohann Gene (Fra) Team Europcar | 4:03:06 | |
| 159 | Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step | 4:03:11 | |
| 160 | Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol | 4:03:18 | |
| 161 | Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 4:03:27 | |
| 162 | Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Belisol | 4:04:26 | |
| 163 | Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol | 4:05:18 | |
| 164 | Albert Timmer (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano | 4:07:19 | |
| 165 | Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi | 4:07:59 | |
| 166 | Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano | 4:10:08 | |
| 167 | Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | 4:21:46 | |
| 168 | Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | 4:24:52 | |
| 169 | Svein Tuft (Can) Orica-GreenEdge | 4:27:55 |
