Tour de France
Up-close in Paris at the Tour de France
103rd Tour de France
Mont Saint Michel Credits/Flickr
On July 24, 2016, I had the pleasure of seeing the last leg, the twenty-first and final stage of the Tour de France race in Paris. This premier men's cycling eventis one of twenty-seven UCI World Tour events that take place in several countries across Europe and Canada in 2016.
This year's Tour de France race started at the stunning UNESCO world heritage site - Mont-Saint-Michel, located in the Northwest region of France, with 198 cyclists who rode a total of 3535km, twenty-one stages, through four countries (France, Spain, Andorra, and Switzerland).
Chateau Chantilly the start of stage 21 of the 2016 Tour de France
The Finals
The 21st stage was 113km long, which started in the morning at the beautiful Chateau Chantilly located North of Paris. The weather was partly cloudy and a lovely 84F day with bursts of sunlight peaking out at intervals from underneath the white fluffy clouds that dotted the sky. The streets were lined with spectators, many with their country flags waving energetically, encouraging their fellow country men as they rode past. Other spectators came prepared with refreshments, nibbles, and even chairs to help them enjoy the festivities and keep their energy up while they waited for cyclists to make their entry into Paris. The cyclists did not arrive through the tunnel into central Paris until after 6pm, the cyclists were welcomed with cheers, police motorcade, an airshow, and other festivities as they made their way into center of Paris for the final leg of the race. At the end of the race Chris Froome a member of the "Sky Team" from the United Kingdom was the winner of the coveted yellow jersey, his third win, He is poised to reach heights that only a few cyclists have reached on the Tour de France and he will be someone to watch in 2017.
Paris - The best place to enjoy the Tour de France
Cyclists in Paris for the 21st stage of the 2016 Tour de France competition Credits/ ASO/P.Ballet
To experience the Tour de France up-close is an undertaking that should be on the list of things to do in Paris at the end of July; especially for cycling enthusiasts. The reason Paris is a special place to see the Tour de France is because spectators get more than a passing glimpse of the cyclists, in fact spectators are treated to several rounds of the cyclists riding around Paris to finish the final leg of the 23-day tour. At the end of the race, spectators can participate in the revelry of awards ceremony that takes place immediately after the race on the Champs Élysées.
See you in 2017
It is not too early to begin planning to attend the last leg of the 1o4th edition of the Tour de France in Paris. In 2017 the race will begin in Dusseldorf Germany and end in Paris on the Champs Élysées. If you love cycling, you will definitely enjoy watching these amazing athletes in action. The video of the Best of the 2016 Tour de France is a glimpse of the action and the excitement of the event, and what you can expect if you make that trip to Paris at the end of July 2017. You can be certain to catch a glimpse of more than the Eiffel Tower and Mona Lisa as you explore and enjoy the City of Light.
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