Tour de France 2014 is coming to a close. Stage 21, the last race, will be held on Sunday. Tony Martin of the Omega Pharma Quick Step reigned supreme in the last stage but it is Vincenzo Nibali of the Astana, the yellow jersey holder, who is on the verge of victory in the competition.
In Stage 21, a distance of 137.5 kilometres will be covered as from Evry, the riders head for the finish in the French capital of Paris. The famous Champ Elysees will feature prominently in this stage. Riders whose main strength is sprinting have an opportunity to make hay while sun shines here. Also, watching contestants go up against each other in Champ Elysees is something that would make fans come out numbers.
The stage commences from south-western France and heads toward Paris. A climb, which is not expected to pose much of a problem, will be seen. After completing 31 kilometres of racing, the Cote de Briis sous Forges comes before the contestants. Thereafter, the territory is mostly flat as Paris beckons.
The riders will encounter the city circuit after 81.5 kilometres. This circuit shall see eight laps as they go around the length and breadth of Champ Elysees. In honour of the 100th edition of the Tour de France last year, there was a change. The contestants raced around the Arc de Triomphe in place of the usual 180-degree turn, in front of the monument. This year will also see a repeat of that.
The cobbles make a return in the form of the part at Champ Elysees. As the 46.5 kilometres remain, an intermediate sprint shall be on view on the uppermost point of Champ Elysees. The contestants have to look out for a few turns in the end points of the race. The last sprint contains a couple of 90 degree turns. A couple of more turns will be on view, after the final kilometre starts. The closing 400 metres are straight.
The French look destined to have somebody on the podium - Jean- Péraud is second while Thibaut Pinot is third in the General Classification standings.
Last year, this stage was won by Marcel Kittel. The German, after winning in the first few stages, did not capitalise on his position. But he has a good chance to end well here.
Nibali, the yellow jersey holder, is one stage away from celebrating a Tour de France triumph.
Where to Watch Live:
Ten Sports Day 21
7-45 PM To 9-15 PM (IST) Sunday
France
Online Links
Ten Sports Day 21 HERE
