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| STAGE ONE |
When
Sunday July 27
Where Etampes-Paris Champs-Elysées
How long 143km
IMPACT ON CLASSIFICATIONS
STAGE DESCRIPTION
The final piece if glory in the 2008 Tour de France will probably end in a full-on bunch sprint down the famous cobbles leading away from the Arc de Triumph. The route to Paris is flat but this stage isn’t about hills or mountains – it’s all about the infamous 6.5km criterium based around the Champs Elysées. Attacks are highly unlikely to work as the bunch speeds around this tight circuit. A lone rider can win though – most recently Alexandre Vinokourov won just metres in front of the bunch. The straightest and widest finish straight in the world always provide a great spectacle.
STAGE FACTS
? Every year since 1903 (the first Tour) the race has finished in Paris.
? Belgians have won the most stages on the Champs-Elysees with seven in 33 years. Joint second are the Italians and French with five wins, and then Holland with four.
? In the last 25 years, the final stage has been won in a bunch gallop. The three exceptions were two breakaways and a time trial.
? Only three men have one more than once on the final stage: Bernard Hinault, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov and Robbie McEwen each have two wins.
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