We have a very short final stage today as the riders finally roll into one of the most beautiful and famous cities in the world: PARIS! 50 km or so for the run-in to the City of Light, and another 50 km as the riders complete eight laps of the glamorous Champs-Elysees. It's usually a day for the sprinters, so look out for Cav, and watch the green jersey competition finally get settled on the finish line! Click for more stage background

The Tour has been finishing on the Champs-Elysees since 1975. This final stage usually ends with a big bunch sprint, but not always! In fact, in 1987 our friend Jeff Pierce outfoxed the bunch and soloed to victory. What a way to finish in Paris!

Start Time: 12:00 p.m. Central European Time.

Stage Type: Road Race. Explain

Riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first at the end of the course. Members of teams together to work to give advantage to their fastest riders or to their rider best placed in the overall standings.

Stage Distance: 103 KM or 64 miles. How far is that?

103 kilometers is about 64 miles. Even though that sounds like a long way, it's actually very for short for a TDF road stage. The riders will roll for about 50 km before hitting the famed Champs-Elysees for eight laps of glory!

Estimated Length of Time:2:45 How long is that?

The riders will complete the course today in under three hours. That's about the time of one Lord of the Rings movie! It'll be a fast ride into Paris for sure.

Terrain: flat.

Number of Climbs: no climbs today. What does "cat" mean?

"Cat" is short for "category." The climbs are rated according to how long and hard they are. They are ranked Category 1-4, with 4 being the "easiest" (I'm not sure they're so easy!) and 1 being the "hardest." But wait- there's even a harder one! Climbs that are rated "Hors Categorie" (above category) are longer and steeper than a Category 1. That sounds HARD!

Estimated Calories: 2000 How much would you have to eat?

Today's final stage is rather short, and the first half of the race is traditionally spent taking it easy. The speed will pick up considerably when the riders finally get to Paris, but it still won't be a huge calorie-burning day. Most of the riders calories will be consumed later tonight in the form of Parisian "refreshments!"

The Tour de France will finish in the city of Paris, just as it has with every edition since 1903. The race used to end at the Parc de Princes velodrome, but in 1975 the finish was moved to the famous boulevard of the Champs-Elysees, and there it has stayed ever since. The riders complete 8 circuits of the finishing course around the Place de la Concord and the Arc de Triomphe. The final day of the Tour is the only day each year when the boulevard is completely closed to traffic. 

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Are you hungry?

By Mari Holden at Velo Betty

It's really important for the cyclists to eat and drink while they are on the bike. In a race like the Tour de France the riders can barely keep up with replacing the amount of calories that they burn. So, they have to make sure that they eat while they are riding. Normally they will carry some small bars and gels in their jersey pockets. But, they can go back to their team cars in the caravan to get more food and bottles. There are guys on the team who are designated to help the other riders, and they will make many trips to the car. Their job is really important because they are helping the other riders on the team. There are also areas called "feed zones" where each team has people waiting by the side of the road to hand their riders bottles. They normally hand the bottles to their riders in "musettes which are like cloth purses for food and bottle. That way each rider can get a couple bottles and some food all in one bag. The cyclists have to eat so much every day that they actually get tired of eating and have to work hard to get their calories. So, sometimes the teams add some of the riders favorites in their musette bags... Things like small sandwiches, and cookies are favorites...

 

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