Congratulations Froome
Froome celebrates at the finish line with his team-mates. He has been way ahead of the pack since the second stage and nobody can dispute his talent – even those who have been quite nasty to the Team Sky leader over the past few weeks – no matter the difficult questions fired towards him. Sky were tested at times over the past three weeks but their domination of the Tour has moved up another level here.
To recap, the jersey winners
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Yellow: Chris Froome
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Polka dot: Chris Froome
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Green: Peter Sagan
- White: Nairo Quintana
Classification for stage 21
Classement de l'étape 21 / Stage classification. #TDF2015 pic.twitter.com/GZk34uu3vi
— Le Tour de France (@letour) July 26, 2015
That’s it for the live coverage but do make sure to keep an eye on these pages for William Fotheringham’s Tour report and reaction from Barry Glendenning in Paris. Thanks for your messages. Until next year!
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Froome crosses the line!
And here come Team Sky, arm in arm. Froome gives a thumbs up!
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Bryan Coquard ended up in second. Kristoff went too early there.
André Greipel takes the stage!
Another stage win for Greipel, pipping Kristoff on the line. Cavendish and Sagan both some way back.
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Greipel is gaining …
Alexander Kristoff leads them with 350m to go, Sagan is chasing with Greipel.
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They are under the tunnel for the last time and all bunched together. Nothing to choose between them with 1km remaining.
Dennis and Van Bilsen have been reeled in 3km from the end. Cavendish is on the shoulder of Sagan as they shake over the cobbles before a sweeping bend.
They turn around the Arc for a final time and the sun has finally broken through the clouds. Sky have gathered together towards the back of the peloton – they will be celebrating in a few moments but are now leaving the sprinters enjoy the limelight.
Dennis joins Van Bilsen with 5km to go. The peloton are gaining on them.
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Van Bilsen goes just before the bell! The pack are closing though – it’s now seven seconds. Brace yourselves – this could be quite a thriller.
Eleven seconds as they round the Arc for a penultimate time. Rohan Dennis has joined the lead group.
Funny moment as a brown bag gets lodged into Froome’s rear wheel and he has to change his bike.
The gap is slowly shortening and it’s down to 17secs with two laps remaining.
Just under 18km to go and that gap is 28secs. Pace picking up nicely and the suspects are still lining up waiting for their assault.
Three laps to go, the gap is 27secs from the lead pack of four – now including Grivko, who attempted an audacious break from the lot but was reeled in by the other three.
Four laps to go and Greipel now leading the pack, 18secs behind the breakaway with four laps to go. Cavendish is well placed, too. Yates and Pinot the latest to have suffered punctures but they are back with the pack after a quick repair job.
Pretty much as you were, though the gap has decreased by a couple of seconds. Those you would expect to win a sprint finish are well positioned and it should quickly become quite exciting!
Froome has had a little puncture – just as well the clock has stopped! – but he is soon back with the peloton after a swift change. The leading trio of Oliveira, Vachon and Van Bilsen pass the line for a fifth time and the gap is 27secs, but it remains too early to pay much heed to that.
Greipel is well positioned in the pack, along with Cavendish who should still feature despite being a little ill. Voeckler has maneouvered himself up towards the front of the pack, too.
Those three lead by 22sec as they loop around the Arc de Triomphe. Small change with 40km left.
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Chavanel has run out of gas and there are now three riders 18 seconds clear of the pack – Nelson Oliveira (Lampre-Merida), Florian Vachon (Bretagne-Séché) and Kenneth van Bilsen (Cofidis) – as we cross the line with six laps to go.
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Scrap that – Chavanel has been joined by five others and the peloton are only a few metres behind.
Chavanel has extended his lead to 12 seconds as he crosses the finish for a third time. Seven more laps to go! The 36-year-old had intimated this may be his final Tour earlier in the week – what a way this could be to bow out!
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Intermediate sprint result: Andriy Grivko (Astana) beat Merhawi Kudus (MTN-Qhubeka).
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Sylvain Chavanel tries to leave them all behind. The IAM rider is giving it a go with 50km remaining and soon opens up a healthy gap. Now how well can he maintain it?
It does not matter in terms of the green jersey – that’s already Peter Sagan’s – but we have at least started to stretch out a bit as we approach the intermediate sprint finish. It’s a battle between MTN-Qhubeka and Astana riders, with the former appearing to cross first, though we are awaiting confirmation.
Froome has swapped champagne for an energy gel. Having sampled a lot of those nasty-tasting but effective gels, must say I’d rather a glass of fizzy stuff. There is no breakaway yet.
AG2R’s Belgian rider Jan Bakelants has a puncture but apart from that little to report at the moment. Sky continue to pace them through. The pace has been picked up – they are now zipping along at 30km/h – but we are quite a way behind schedule after that sauntering approach into to Paris.
We are through the finish line again. Nicholas Roche, tracked by his Team Sky friends, leads them over and, with the ground slowly drying out, we might get the full race.
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All Froome has to do is finish the 10 laps, no matter how slowly. Meanwhile, the riders have taken the pace up a few km/h and we now have a stage race on our hands!
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Chris Froome wins the 2015 Tour de France
The Champs-Elysées is passed for the first time. And Chris Froome is confirmed as the 2015 Tour de France winner due to neutralisation! (Assuming he isn’t sabotaged between now and the finish line with the clock stopped)
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A dumb question, perhaps, writes Paul Jaines …
… but why did Froome win the tour yesterday? Does today not count? And why? And if it does, then why is 1m 12s considered unbeatable? I’m a bit of a novice at this but am I missing something really really REALLY obvious here?As for booze - I have plenty - a nice glass of 1990 Chambertin Burgundy Grand Cru. Fancy some?
The final stage has traditionally been a day to celebrate, a jaunt towards the Champs-Elysées for the glory of what had preceded them in the three gruelling weeks before. There have been a couple of exceptions, most recently in 1989 when this happened …
Scott Thoms, meanwhile, has sent this in:
Loving your live update feed! With the decision to shorten the race, will the sprint laps still be contested, you know, just for fun despite the Fifa-esque decision? Or will they end the race after the first crossing? Cheers, Scott
The plan en ce moment is to contest the remainder of the race, leaving the sprinters to it – but there have been murmurs that they might reduce the amount of laps. We’re awaiting confirmation of that but it’s understood no decision has yet been taken.
Mentioned earlier that Froome will be the first since Merckx in 1970 to win both yellow and polka dot jerseys.
The others to achieve that: Sylvère Maes in 1939, Gino Bartali in 1938, 1948, Fausto Coppi in 1949, 1952, and Federico Bahamontes in 1959. Merckx also did it in 1969.
Just the 80km to go now, with 16km remaining before the final times are counted. This could take a while – it has taken them an hour to cover the first 25km.
One of the highlights of this year’s Tour has been the official Twitter account’s use of emojis.
............ 🇫🇷 ........... ◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾ ◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾ ◾◾◾◾◾◾◾◾ ◾◾◾ ◾◾◾ ◾◾◾ ◾◾◾ ◾◾◾ 🔥 ◾◾◾ #TDF2015
— Le Tour de France (@letour) July 26, 2015
Romain Bardet, keeping the polka dot jersey warm for Froome, has been given the combativity award. Peter Sagan might feel aggrieved with that, though he has the green jersey and perhaps the decision makers wanted to share some of the love.
Confirmed: the time will be taken when they cross the finish line for the first time!
“Decision of the judges: the final times of the 2015 Tour de France will be taken at the first crossing of the line on the Champs-Elysées at km 41”
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It is drying up in Paris but now there is a whisper on TV that there may even be fewer laps of Paris and the race will be shortened. Still no confirmation about neutralisation either.
Here’s what it looks like at the finishing line:
Les Champs-Elysées prêts à accueillir les coureurs / ready to welcome the riders! #TDF2015 pic.twitter.com/FyWDNi2SbJ
— Le Tour de France (@letour) July 26, 2015
The final polka dot jersey standings: Froome 119pts, Quintana 108pts, Bardet 90pts, Pinot 82pts, Rodriguez 78pts.
Bardet is wearing the red and white again this afternoon, due to Froome donning yellow and Quintana showing off the young rider’s white.
A spanner in the works, though we are waiting for official confirmation and the rain is still falling (if not as heavily as during an accident-filled La Course)
@alansmith90 Prudhomme live on French TV just now, said no decision yet, but first go past will count if still raining... Also, not his call
— David Roy (@davidrjroy) July 26, 2015
Of little impact in the grander scheme of things. And soon to be forgotten unless you’re a family member or close friend, but Lampre-Merida’s has Pippo Pozzato won the single King of the Mountains point on today’s stage.
We’ve reached the banlieue of Paris, Vanves, to the south west of the city. Not quite the amazing scenery of the Alps and Pyrenees. They’re still sauntering.
(If someone would like to send me some decent quality booze …)
Now Froome is having a glass of bubbly as he crosses the 100km to go barrier – though we are still told the race has been neutralised and the first time they cross the finish will be counted for the overall Tour classification, before the stage then turns into – hopefully – something akin to a race.
Andrew Benton has been in contact again:
All this first go past the line stuff – I thought it’s supposed to be a race, not a procession. They didn’t stop the other stages because its cold and rainy, and yes riding the Champs in the rain might be a bit dodgy, but it’s not over until it’s over and this last stage should be just as much a part of the race as any of the others.
To channel Tupac, Andrew: that’s just the way it is.
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Froome’s jacket is back off and Team Sky are currently linking arms for a photo op, though the rain has yet to abate. Such intensity to it that on Eurosport there is now a discussion about rump steak.
Froome has put his coat back on. “It’s bloody cold,” he says to the car ambling along by his side. It’s 18c.
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Reports coming in that Mark Cavendish is feeling unwell
Mark Cavendish er syg. Hæs stemme og hostede før starten. Vil bare gerne til målstregen i ét stykke. Siger han. #tourtv2
— Rasmus Staghøj (@Staghoj) July 26, 2015
They are currently riding at Boris Bike pace, as you’d expect, and the poor Eurosport’s TV commentators are playing a game, suggesting birthday presents for the riders.
@alansmith90 sure that it's the first go past the line ? L'Equipe says that conditions are considered normal and it's the full circuit..
— David Roy (@davidrjroy) July 26, 2015
Christian Prudhomme said so as they began the stage. And it has also been announced on television.
However, this came from the organisers a few minutes before Prudhomme spoke, so make of it what you will: “Race director Thierry Gouvenou has announced on Radio Tour that no decision has been taken yet with regards to neutralize the time before the final sprint or not. Judges will consider the situation when the riders will approach the circuit in Paris. In any case, the stage will be contested but time gaps might not be recorded.”
That will be a relief for Froome and company, though the forecast indicates the rain may ease up as the afternoon progresses.
We are off!
And some breaking news: the finish time of the day will be taken when they cross the line in Paris for the first time due to the conditions.
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The last time a rider won the maillot jaune and the polka dot jersey was, I’m told, Eddy Merckx in 1970.
Lots of congratulations for Froome from his GC competitors and fellow jersey wearers as they gently make their way to the start. Lots of back-patting, handshaking and smiling, which is sure better than cups of yellow liquid being chucked from unruly spectators.
All the riders at the front have their rain jackets on – apart from Froome, who is the first to zip his off, presumably, to show off the maillot jaune. He’s smiling too, of course. Wouldn’t you be?
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The riders are set and pedalling their way to the start! The rain keeps falling hard on the not-so-humdrum town of Sèvre, in Paris the brollies are out along the Seine and we are almost ready. Who do we fancy to take the stage? Will it be Mark Cavendish, who was so unhappy at the beginning of the Tour but has tasted success here before? Or will it be André Greipel, who took it easy in the Alps with an eye on this sprint finish and is the bookmakers’ favourite but peeved with the rain?
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An email from Andrew Benton
I am wondering if security has been stepped up after the shooting earlier today, and also if anything is afoot to prevent more spitting and urine throwing (?). And Froome’s lead isn’t unsurpassable methinks.
Security has been very high for the final day of the Tour for years now, and this is being treated as a “minor incident” according to French police. They have said it is not terrorism related and was not related to the race.
As for Froome’s lead – Quintana has already conceded!
Chris Froome was quite emotional when speaking to the media near the start line of today’s stage. On his team-mates: “Throughout this tour the guys have just been fantastic. I almost feel as if I don’t deserve the eight guys who have ridden for me. They have turned themselves inside out for me and I’m privileged to be in this position.”
Also worth flagging this incident this morning while we wait for the procession to get underway 25 minutes from now:
@alansmith90 I'm not sure where this puts Froome in the Pantheon of British sporting heroes, but I suspect he merits a place in the top ten.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) July 26, 2015
This is an impossible debate, though – what specific criteria do you judge it on? Do you go as far as awarding bonus points for those who have excelled in sports with greater global reach and higher participation numbers, for instance? And do we (this is somewhat tongue in cheek) use Spoty as a gauge – because if you do, four cyclists have won it and Froome is not one of them!
La Course
Anna van der Breggen has won La Course in dreadfully wet conditions that led to several nasty crashes on the slippery cobbles in a time of 2hrs 05min 1sec. Lizzie Armistead was fourth.
Preamble
Salut! Welcome to today’s ceremonial conclusion final stage of the 2015 Tour de France, where a few hours from now Chris Froome will be awarded his second yellow jersey after three tumultuous weeks of accusations, abuse and, we really should not forget amid all that, some very fine cycling from the man in the maillot jaune.
This was meant to have been a nail-biting tour with four supreme riders jostling for top positions. As it turned out, ever since that amazing break in stage 10, Froome’s lead has been too great. Sure, Nairo Quintana fought hard on Alpe d’Huez yesterday afternoon to reduce the lead to 1min 12 sec, but Froome has never looked like relinquishing his grip. The real difference between the pair did not come on that 10th stage, rather the second when Froome was gliding along but Quintana lost huge chunks of time and the story was focused on Mark Cavendish having a good old whinge.
It’s Sunday afternoon, you’re lazy, so pull up a chair and let’s watch as Froome becomes the 20th rider to win more than one Tour (no Lance, you don’t count).
What to expect today
Back in the 1960s the final stage into Paris could be over 300km, just on the Sunday. In recent years the last day’s racing has been pared right back, and this year – 40 years after the first Champs Elysées finish – the finale will last just two and a half hours.
Once again, it is preceded on the Champs Elysées circuit by the women’s event La Course; once again it will cover the longer circuit, inaugurated in 2013, right up to the Arc de Triomphe.
With successful breakaways a rarity here, the winner will be a sprinter who has managed to survive the final week’s mountains.
Why not a Frenchman like Bouhanni?
And while we wait for events to kick-off properly, do read William Fotheringham on Team Sky’s quest for world domination. Muhawhawhaw!
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